Fully automatic panel bending — from flat sheet to finished panel, with no operator touching the part between bends. Servo-electric precision, automatic tool change, and positive/negative bending in a single uninterrupted cycle. Up to 5× the output of conventional press brake forming.
Panel bending is fundamentally different from press brake forming. Understanding the principle explains why it's dramatically faster and more consistent for the right parts.
The flat blank is loaded and centered automatically. The blank holder clamps the sheet firmly in place. Unlike a press brake, the sheet never moves between bends — the bending tools move around the sheet instead.
Servo-electric bending blades move vertically and horizontally around the clamped sheet, forming each bend automatically — starting at the outermost bend and working inward. Positive and negative bends happen in the same cycle with no manual flipping.
While the EBe bends the current sheet, the operator loads the next blank on the loading table in masked time. When bending finishes, the panel ejects automatically and the next blank feeds in — the machine runs continuously without pause.
The EBe combines fully automatic operation, intelligent tooling, and servo-electric precision to deliver capabilities that no press brake can match — particularly on complex, large, or high-volume parts.
Both positive (upward) and negative (downward) bends performed automatically in the same cycle — no manual flipping, no re-clamping. Parts requiring both up and down flanges formed in a single uninterrupted sequence.
Up + Down in One CycleThe ATC system changes bending tools automatically between parts and between bend sequences — no operator involvement. Combined with the barcode reader, the machine reads the part ID, loads the program, and starts bending automatically. Setup time is zero.
Zero Setup TimeEvery part program includes 3D visualization and integrated bending cycle simulation — detecting collisions, verifying flange heights, and confirming bend order before any material is run. First article is a good article.
Collision Check · 3D PreviewBending length up to 149 inches handles panels no press brake can form in a single setup. Lasertech chose the EBe because it was the only panel bender capable of handling 12-foot material — including parts weighing up to 120 lbs.
Up to 149″ · 120 lb PanelsAll blade movements driven by NC servo axes — no hydraulics means no thermal drift, no oil temperature variation, and perfectly repeatable positions on every cycle. The angle correction database auto-compensates for material springback.
No Hydraulics · Thermal StabilityThe loading table allows operators to prepare the next blank while the machine is still bending the current part. When bending completes, the next blank feeds in immediately — the machine never idles, delivering continuous high-output production.
Continuous ProductionTechnical data for the Prima Power EBe Express Bender at Lasertech Metal Works.
The EBe handles a comprehensive range of panel bending operations — all in automatic sequence, all without operator intervention between bends.
Standard upward flange formation along any edge — the most common operation in enclosure and panel fabrication.
Downward flanges formed automatically in the same cycle — no need to flip or reposition for return flanges and negative profiles.
Smooth radius bends using rolling mode — wider blade contact with no friction produces clean, uniform curves without press brake faceting.
Pre-hem and smashing operations performed automatically — producing tight closed hems and zero-radius flat flanges without separate press operations.
Complex parts with 8 or more bends — including mixed positive and negative bends on multiple sides — completed in a single fully automatic cycle.
For the right parts, panel bending delivers significantly higher productivity, better consistency, and lower labor cost than press brake forming.
"For the parts we run on the Express Bender, there is no comparison for productivity with the press brakes. On the generator enclosures, it would take four people several days on the press brakes. With the EBe, we do them in less than a day with two people."
"Before the Prima Power Express Bender it would take five people with the press brakes hours to complete the job. Now it takes two people minutes with the Prima Power EBe."
The EBe is designed as a scalable automation platform. Loading, handling, and integration options extend its capability from standalone to fully integrated manufacturing lines.
Lasertech's EBe is configured for standalone operation with ATC and barcode-reader automatic setup — maximum job flexibility while keeping the machine running near-continuously.
Tools change automatically between jobs and within jobs — no operator intervention. Seamless transitions between different part numbers without stopping.
Operator scans the part barcode — machine reads the program, confirms tooling, and begins bending automatically. Eliminates manual program selection errors entirely.
Operator loads the next blank while the current bending cycle runs — the machine never idles between parts for near-continuous production.
Standard teleservice connectivity allows Prima Power technicians to remotely diagnose, troubleshoot, and update the machine — minimizing downtime.
Configurable as a robotic bending cell with 6- or 7-axis robots for lights-out operation, or connected in-line with Prima Power punching and laser machines.
The angle correction database stores springback data for each material and thickness, automatically adjusting every bend for consistent results regardless of material variation.
Cold roll and hot roll sheet for production enclosures, panels, and structural components.
Up to 3.2mm (11 ga)304 and 316 grades — including film-coated and pre-finished sheet where scratch prevention matters.
Up to 2.5mm5052 and 6061 alloys for lightweight enclosures, HVAC components, and architectural panels.
Up to 4.0mmCoated and pre-finished sheet bent without surface damage — blade action is far gentler than press brake tooling.
Standard gaugesThe EBe delivers its greatest advantage on parts that challenge press brakes most — large format, multi-bend, and mixed positive/negative profiles.
The EBe's large-format capacity and automatic multi-bend operation make it especially valuable across industries producing enclosures, panels, and complex formed components.
Large generator enclosures, electrical housing panels, and power distribution cabinet components — Lasertech's primary EBe application.
Stainless steel commercial kitchen panels, enclosures, and structural components requiring consistent angles and scratch-free forming.
Panels, doors, and cabinet sides with multiple bends and return flanges — eliminating multi-step press brake forming.
Large duct plenums, air handler panels, and HVAC enclosure components leveraging the full 12-foot bending capacity.
High-volume repeat bending for OEM supply chains where consistent quality, fast cycle times, and low per-part labor cost are critical.
Custom architectural metalwork, decorative panels, and specialty set fabrication where complex profiles and large formats are required.
Precision body panels, enclosures, and structural components where complex formed geometry and tight tolerances are needed.
Target systems, backstop panels, and range structure components — large-format sheet metal requiring the EBe's 12-foot capacity.
Common questions about the Prima Power EBe Express Bender and panel bending at Lasertech Metal Works.
The EBe is a fully automatic servo-electric panel bender. NC servo axes drive bending blades to form all bends on a panel automatically — including positive and negative bends — without any operator handling between bends. Loading and unloading happen in masked time, making it the most productive bending system for the right part types.
A press brake forms one bend at a time with an operator repositioning the sheet between bends. The EBe clamps the sheet and moves bending blades around it — forming all bends automatically, including up and down flanges in the same cycle. No manual repositioning, no flipping, no waiting. For multi-bend parts, the productivity difference can be 5× or more.
The EBe excels on: large panels (up to 12 feet), parts with 4 or more bends per side, parts with both positive and negative bends, high-volume repeat production, enclosures and box forms. Parts requiring very thick material or very high forming force are better suited to Lasertech's press brakes.
Yes — this is one of the EBe's most significant advantages. Negative bends are performed automatically in the same cycle as positive bends with zero manual intervention. At Lasertech, this transformed multi-person press brake operations taking hours into single-operator EBe jobs completed in minutes.
Generator enclosure bending went from 4 people taking several days on press brakes to 2 people in less than one day on the EBe. Complex jobs that previously required 5 people and hours on press brakes are now completed in minutes with 2 operators, per Lasertech owner Randy Williams.
Call us at 770-461-9941 or use our online contact form. Send your drawings or CAD files with material type, thickness, dimensions, bend angles, flange heights, and quantity. We'll evaluate your parts and recommend the optimal process.