TRUMPF Flex Cell Bending Automation Makes U.S. Debut at FABTECH 2024

TRUMPF’s fastest mobile bending cell ever // The new TRUMPF Flex Cell automates the TruBend 7050 // Helps companies handle order surges and combat labor shortages // Designed for small and simple components

Farmington, Conn., June 3, 2024 – TRUMPF Inc. has announced its new, rapid mobile bending cell will make its U.S. debut FABTECH 2024 in Orlando, Florida. The new automation solution, TRUMPF’s Flex Cell offers highly efficient bending in combination with the TruBend 7050 press brake. In just a few simple steps, operators can dock the mobile robot cell onto the bending machine and operate it automatically. The machine can run autonomously for several hours. This automation solution helps companies handle order surges and combat labor shortages. The combined footprint of the Flex Cell and the TruBend 7050 is under 107 square feet, compact enough for any production environment.

“The Flex Cell gives fabricators a quick and easy way to automate the TruBend 7050, which is TRUMPF’s fastest bending machine,” says Julian Schorpp, TRUMPF Inc. Automated Bending Sales Engineer. “This is another great example of how TRUMPF is focused on customer needs and feedback-driven solutions.”

Easy to program, safe to operate even “lights-out” production

The Flex Cell has a double-sized material buffer that ensures it has enough material to feed the TruBend 7050 throughout a night shift. A vacuum combination gripper on the robot arm enables fast and safe loading and unloading. Using the proven TRUMPF TecZone Bend software, a bending program can be created in just a few seconds. The operator is then able to program the robot by means of an app and the teach panel. This makes the TruBend 7050 quick and easy to set up. Thanks to automatic double-sheet detection, the Flex Cell is also able to recognize if unprocessed material has stuck together during loading and then eject it. This reduces rejects and saves resources.

Designed for small and simple parts

The Flex Cell is suitable for components up to 23.6 by 15.75 inches in size. It can process sheet metal of between 0.03 and 0.23 inches in thickness. Combined with the TruBend 7050, the Flex Cell is ideal for companies seeking a solution to problems caused by a shortage of labor and that would like to increase productivity through automation. Companies with fluctuating orders of small and simple parts are particularly suited to benefit from this solution.

TRUMPF’s Flex Cell makes its U.S. debut at FABTECH 2024 (booth S18003) in Orlando, Florida from October 15 to 17, 2024.

About TRUMPF

TRUMPF is a high-tech company offering manufacturing solutions in the fields of machine tools and laser technology. The company drives digital connectivity in the manufacturing through consulting, platform products and software. TRUMPF is one of the technology and market leaders in highly versatile machine tools for sheet metal processing and in the field of industrial lasers. In 2022/23, the company employed some 18,400 people and generated sales of about 5.4 billion euros. With more than 80 companies, the TRUMPF Group is represented in nearly every European country as well as in North America, South America and Asia. The company has production facilities in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United States, Mexico and China.

TRUMPF's Flex Cell

The Flex Cell can be docked onto the TruBend 7050 from TRUMPF in just a few simple steps. This allows automated operation of the highly productive bending machine. (Source: TRUMPF)

TRUMPF's Flex Cell robot handles a component

With the Flex Cell, an industrial robot loads and unloads the TruBend 7050 independently. (Source: TRUMPF)

Simple programming

The bending program for the TruBend 7050 can be created within seconds using the proven TRUMPF TecZone Bend software. (Source: TRUMPF)

Digital images in printable resolution are available to accompany this press release. They must only be used for editorial purposes. Usage is free of charge if the source is cited as follows: "Photo: TRUMPF". Changes to the graphics – with the exception of cropping of the main motif – are not permitted. Additional photos are available in the TRUMPF Media Pool.