Compact Benefits

A Q&A with an industry veteran provides insight into a compact press brake

Article written by Abbe Miller, originally published May 12, 2023 in FAB Shop Magazine Direct

Todd Kirchoff, Cincinnati Inc.’s product manager, vertical motion products, has been with the for company for 32 years. His various roles include sales, applications, sales management and, currently, product management. Todd recently took some time to discuss CI’s 60-ton press brake and bending good parts.

Tell us a little about CI’s Autoform 60-ton press brake. What are the major benefits for customers?

The 60-ton Autoform brings smallpart productivity and versatility to CI’s line of hydraulic press brakes. While achieving the industry’s expectations for high-quality machine tools, the 60-ton servomotor pump drive press brake runs fast and quiet and is designed to fit into small work areas. Its small in size and big on benefits.

Who is the ideal candidate for this compact press brake?

That would be a shop that needs to conserve floor space, frequently produces small parts, and at the same time doesn’t want to compromise on speed and versatility. A manufacturer with a small product may not need anything larger than 60 tons. However, because most metal fabricators produce a wider mix of part sizes, a 60-ton brake can complement larger tonnage and bed lengths. Specifying each new machine purchase on the largest possible part can have a negative impact on productivity. Routinely bending small parts on a 175-ton brake with a 12-ft.-long bed isn’t exactly the best use of that size machine.

While smaller press brakes are certainly ideal for small parts, this sturdy 60-ton brake can also produce mid-length parts, such as 40 in. of 1/4-in. steel or even 72 in. of 10-gauge steel, all without the need for a crowning device.

The HMI looks modern and easy to use. What was the thought process behind its development?

A priority at CI has always been to make our press brakes operatorfriendly. To accomplish this, we provide a large 22-in. touchscreen control. Also, we listened to operators who told us they need an easy-tofollow job setup screen to show exactly where to locate the upper and lower tools. This provides two benefits: fast setups and consistent setups. More recently, we’ve taken this one step further with the ability to attach photos and videos to the job setup information.