Why the Flex Cell delivers real value for Australian and New Zealand manufacturers

In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, ANZ businesses face three key challenges: skilled labour shortages, maintaining productivity with smaller batch sizes, and staying agile in fluctuating markets. TRUMPF’s Flex Cell with TecZone Bend software addresses all three.

This mobile bending solution simplifies what was once a complex, time-intensive automation process. For ANZ manufacturers in sheet metal fabrication, HVAC, agricultural equipment, mining components, and general engineering, the Flex Cell offers a practical, accessible pathway to automation without the traditional barriers.

Flex Cell overview

The Flex Cell bending automation transforms your manual TruBend 7050 into the fastest bending cell from TRUMPF. When urgent orders are due, you can use Flex Cell to scale your production capacity for simple parts in no time at all. And without the need for additional staff at the machine. This relieves your team and allows you to run autonomous shifts. Simply connect the mobile robot cell to your bending machine. This gives you a fully automated bending cell with generously sized raw material storage and a compact installation area.

Key benefits:

• Extremely fast: The fastest bending cell for simple components from TRUMPF
• High loading capacity: Double loading capacity of blanks enables autonomous runtime up to 42 hours.
• Minimum space requirements: Automated bending production in the smallest of spaces (< 10 m²).
• Mobile solution: Simply move the mobile robot cell by hand or with a forklift, set it up instantly, and turn your manual machine into a fully automated solution.
• Produce autonomously: Components such as double sheet detection, the centring table, the regripping station and the combination gripper ensure smooth automation of the bending process and enable autonomous production.

High efficiency for small batch production

Designed for parts up to 600 x 400 millimetres and sheet thicknesses of up to six millimetres, the Flex Cell paired with the TruBend 7050 was ideal for manufacturers aiming to enhance productivity through automation or overcome skilled labour shortages. It was particularly beneficial for businesses managing fluctuating workloads or producing small, simple parts. During busy periods, the Flex Cell could automatically handle additional shifts, ensuring consistent output.

TRUMPF’s fastest mobile bending cell became even more versatile

At Blechexpo in Stuttgart, TRUMPF showcased how the integration of TecZone Bend software made this setup remarkable, reducing programming time for both the bending machine and robot to just a few seconds. This made automation viable even for newly introduced components and small production batches. Furthermore, the Flex Cell could be programmed offline using TecZone Bend software, allowing production to continue uninterrupted and boosting overall productivity.

TRUMPF Product Manager Wolfgang Radler stated:

            “With TecZone Bend, the Flex Cell is not only the fastest, but also the most flexible mobile bending cell from TRUMPF. Thanks to the software, users can quickly and easily use it for all kinds of components – without any loss of productivity or time-consuming programming.”

The previous restriction of four bends per part has been completely removed, enabling the Flex cell to handle complex components and assemblies with ease.

All images are courtesy of TRUMPF

Offline programming for continuous production

TecZone Bend allowed both the robot and the bending machine to be programmed remotely, or “offline”. This meant the Flex Cell and TruBend 7050 could continue producing parts during programming, further optimising manufacturing efficiency.

Interested in bringing this level of automation to your factory?

For manufacturers looking to streamline their bending processes with TRUMPF’s advanced Flex Cell technology, we are here to help. Our TRUMPF experts can guide you through the right solution for your production needs, assist with setup, and ensure a seamless integration into your workflow.