Armor plate presents unique bending challenges

Bending light-gauge armor steel can be a challenge when spring back approaches nearly 45 degrees on a 90-degree bend. Handling such high-strength material could require a company to revise its fabricating methods and equipment, which is what Gary Farmer, COO of Ultra, Shelby, N.C., discovered when his company began processing material for a defense customer.

For its higher-tonnage press brakes, Ultra chose products from Durma USA, Charlotte, N.C. It added the E-Series line of press brakes for its lower-tonnage machines and the AD-S Series for one 1,100-ton brake.

“These are no-nonsense machines,” says Farmer. “The smallest Durma press brakes we have are two 245-ton units. We have two 330-ton Durma press brakes, one 440 ton and one 1,100 ton [brake]. They are dependable, and Durma offers great service. We also purchased a 1,750-ton, 40-ft.-bed press brake from a different supplier, as Durma didn’t make one in this size.”

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