Clever Bending provides electric and hybrid press brakes with servo‑drive actuation and regenerative braking that cut power use by up to 30 % and reduce acoustic emissions. The modular “Cube” cells and real‑time controller enable robot‑synchronized bending, while the MBend and MRobot software suites deliver offline CNC programming, collision‑free robot simulation, and open OPC UA/Ethernet IP integration for Industry 4.0 workflows.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional hydraulic press brakes consume significant energy, generate high noise levels, and often require extensive manual setup, limiting throughput and sustainability for modern sheet‑metal manufacturers. Additionally, integrating these machines with robotic automation and digital workflow tools is complex and costly, creating bottlenecks in high‑mix, low‑volume production environments.
Solution
Clever Bending delivers electric and hybrid press brakes that combine servo‑driven actuation with energy‑recovery technology, achieving up to 30 % lower power draw and markedly reduced acoustic emissions. The machines feature modular “Cube” cells and RTC (real‑time controller) systems that enable seamless coupling with standalone robot arms or collaborative robots for fully automated bending sequences. Proprietary software suites—MBend for offline CNC programming and MRobot for collision‑free robot simulation—allow engineers to validate tool paths, optimize bend sequences, and generate machine‑ready code without halting production. All hardware and software communicate via open OPC UA and Ethernet/IP interfaces, supporting integration with MES, ERP, and other Industry 4.0 platforms. The solution is delivered as a turn‑key package that includes installation, training, and optional retrofit kits to upgrade legacy equipment to the new energy‑efficient standard.
Target Audience
Primary customers are sheet‑metal fabricators, contract manufacturers, and OEM production lines in automotive, aerospace, and heavy‑industry sectors that require high‑precision bending with minimal energy cost and integrated automation.
Features
- Electric and hybrid press brake designs with servo‑drive motors, regenerative braking, and low‑noise gearboxes
- Integrated RTC controller offering real‑time motion coordination and deterministic I/O for robot synchronization
- Modular “Cube” automation cells that combine bending, material handling, and robot workstations in a compact footprint
- MBend offline programming environment with parametric bend libraries and automatic tool‑path verification
- MRobot simulation engine providing 3‑D collision detection, robot‑to‑machine clearance checks, and virtual commissioning
- Open OPC UA / Ethernet/IP communication stack for seamless MES/ERP integration and data collection
- Retrofit kits and modular upgrades that convert existing hydraulic banks to electric or hybrid operation
- Predictive maintenance dashboards leveraging machine‑level telemetry to schedule service before downtime occurs