Whether you’re a first-time buyer or upgrading your metalworking operation, choosing the right press brake is critical to achieving precision, productivity, and long-term value. At Asset Plant & Machinery, we proudly supply the trusted Steelmaster range of press brakes , designed for Australian fabricators, by Australian experts.
This guide will help you understand everything you need to know before investing in a press brake.
Types of Press Brakes: What’s Right for You?
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying
How to Choose the Right Press Brake for Your Application
Optional Features Worth Considering
Why Choose Steelmaster Press Brakes?
Browse Our Best-Selling Models
What Is a Press Brake?
A press brake is a machine used to bend sheet and plate material, typically steel or aluminium. It uses force to press material between a punch and die to achieve accurate bends — ideal for everything from brackets and cabinets to large structural components.
Types of Press Brakes: What’s Right for You?
1. Hydraulic Press Brakes
- Best for: Medium to heavy-duty production
- Benefits: Reliable force, easy to maintain, ideal for repetitive tasks
- Steelmaster Series: Steelmaster Industrial Hydraulic Press Brakes
Premium Hydraulic Pressbrake:
SM-PB40-1320NC-S Absolute Hydraulic Pressbrake: This model is a hydraulic press brake with a 1320mm bending length and a 40-ton capacity. It features a 2-axis NC Estun E21 controller.
2. CNC Press Brakes
- Best for: High-precision, automated production
- Benefits: Programmable controls (Delem, ESA), backgauge accuracy, faster changeovers
- Steelmaster Series: Steelmaster 2 Axis CNC Press Brakes has mid-range with bending length of 3200mm and tonnage capacity ranging from 90 Ton and 135 ton. A large range CNC Press brake have a bending length of 4000 mm and tonnage capacity from 135 Tonne,
3. Manual & NC Press Brakes
- Best for: Workshops with low production volume or limited budget
- Benefits: Simple operation, low cost, smaller footprint
- Steelmaster Series: Steelmaster NC Press Brakes
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying
Tonnage Requirements (How Much Force Do You Need?)
Tonnage refers to the amount of force a press brake applies to bend a sheet of metal. Getting this right is essential — too little tonnage can damage your machine or tooling, while too much wastes energy and increases costs.
To estimate the tonnage you need, consider the following:
- Material type (e.g. mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium)
- Material thickness
- Length of the bend
- Die opening size (typically 8x the material thickness for air bending)
Here’s a rough guide:
| Material | Thickness | Bend Length | Approx. Tonnage Required |
| Mild Steel | 1.6mm | 1000mm | ~25T |
| Mild Steel | 3mm | 1000mm | ~40T |
| Stainless Steel | 3mm | 1000mm | ~50T |
| Aluminium | 3mm | 1000mm | ~30T |
🔧 Tip: Always add 10–20% margin to account for springback and material inconsistencies. If in doubt, our team can help you calculate the correct tonnage for your application.
Bending Methods: Air Bending vs. Bottoming vs. Coining
Your choice of bending method affects both your tooling needs and required tonnage.
🔹 Air Bending
- Most common and flexible method
- Punch does not fully contact the die bottom
- Requires the least tonnage
- Allows multiple angles using the same die
- Can cause springback, so angle control is important
🔹 Bottom Bending
- Punch presses material to the bottom of the V-die
- More accurate angles, less springback
- Requires 20–30% more tonnage than air bending
- Better for thicker materials or when precision is critical
🔹 Coining
- Punch compresses the material into the die completely
- Produces very precise bends with almost no springback
- Requires 4–5x more tonnage than air bending
- More wear on tooling and machine
- Used in high-precision applications
⚙️ Steelmaster press brakes are engineered to handle all three bending methods, depending on the model and setup.
Material Type & Thickness
- Mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminium require different tonnage values.
- Ensure your press brake is rated for the thickest and toughest material you’ll use.
✅ Backgauge & Axis Control
- Multi-axis backgauges (X, R, Z1/Z2) enhance positioning accuracy.
- CNC models provide programmable repeatability, reducing human error.
How to Choose the Right Press Brake for Your Application
| Use Case | Recommended Press Brake |
| Light sheet metal & prototyping | Manual or NC Press Brake |
| HVAC ducting & brackets | 40–80T Hydraulic Press Brake |
| Structural steel & heavy fabrication | 160T+ CNC Press Brake |
| Batch production with multiple bends | CNC Press Brake with multi-axis backgauge |
Optional Features Worth Considering
- Crowning System: Prevents deflection for consistent bends
- Quick-Change Tooling: Reduces downtime between jobs
- Safety Light Curtains: Enhances operator protection
- Offline Programming Software: Boosts workflow efficiency
Popular premium products:
- SM-PB40-1320NC-S Absolute Hydraulic Pressbrake: This model is a hydraulic press brake with a 1320mm bending length and a 40-ton capacity. It features a 2-axis NC Estun E21 controller.
- ADH Euro Pro B32135 CNC5 Energy Efficient Pressbrake: This is an energy-efficient CNC press brake with a 3200mm bending length and a 135-ton capacity. It includes a 5-axis Delem DA58T control system.
- 90-3200CNC2 iBend Pressbrake: This press brake has a 3200mm bending length and a 90-ton capacity. It comes with an Ultimo 2-axis graphical CNC controller and precision servo drive.
Budget Hydraulic Pressbrake:
- Asset Industrial PB90-3200MB7-NC2 Hydraulic Pressbrake: This is a budget-friendly hydraulic press brake with a 3200mm bending length and a 90-ton capacity. It features a 2-axis NC E21 controller.
Why Choose Steelmaster Press Brakes?
- ✅ Engineered for Australian workshops
- ✅ Backed by Asset Plant’s expert support team in Australia and New Zealand
- ✅ Full range of tooling & spare parts in stock
- ✅ Competitive pricing with finance options available
Whether you’re running a small shop or a high-volume production line, Steelmaster offers a press brake to match your needs — and budget.
Browse Our Best-Selling Models
- 🔧 SM-PB40NC Press Brake – 40T x 1250mm with NC Control
- 🔧 SM-PB300CNC Large Format CNC Press Brake – 300T x 4000mm
Why Choose an Australian Brand Press Brake?
Choosing an Australian brand press brake offers several distinct advantages, especially for fabricators within Australia.
- Local Support and Service: Opting for an Australian brand like Steelmaster means you have access to local service and support. This translates to quicker response times for maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs. You won’t face the delays often associated with international support.
- Parts Availability: Australian manufacturers typically keep a stock of spare parts readily available within the country. This reduces downtime significantly, as you won’t have to wait for parts to be shipped from overseas. This ensures your operations continue smoothly.
- Engineered for Australian Conditions: Brands like Steelmaster are engineered for Australian workshops and conditions. This means they are built to withstand the specific demands and requirements of the local industry.
- Expertise and Knowledge: Local experts who understand the Australian fabrication industry back Australian brands. This ensures you receive knowledgeable advice and guidance when selecting and operating your press brake.
Need Help Choosing? Let’s Talk.
Our experienced team at Asset Plant & Machinery is here to help you select the right machine, tooling, and accessories to meet your specific job requirements.
Leave A Comment