RS Machinery Group

Electric VS Hydraulic press brake; What are the pros and cons?

We have previously explained how we could distinguish press brake types based on different factors and our requirements. Based on that, you can choose a mechanical, electric, or hydraulic press brake.

When you realize that there is a need to purchase a press brake, this means that you’re noticing things that can improve in your workshop. Therefore, you know what your plant is lacking, and you know which parts of the production process need improvement with the help of a new machine that you’re ready to invest in.

Considering that you have done this “assessment” beforehand, and you know what you’re looking for, we’re going to analyse the most used among press brakes, the hydraulic and electric press brakes.

Let’s look at these pressbrake types advantages and disadvantages when put under work.

 

Power consumption

One of the first things that you want to notice is how much power consumes a press brake. When compared, hydraulic press brakes perform better, using half of the energy that electrical press brakes need to perform the same force. However, the advantage of electric press brakes is that you can turn them off when they’re not operating, whereas hydraulic presses stay running all the time. This makes electric press brakes more efficient in the long run, as its motors turn off while on idle. 

Speed

Hydraulic press brakes have a higher approach and retraction speed but have slower ram acceleration and deceleration than an electric press brake. This happens because of the oil-powered motor that secures a fast approach but a slower positioning on the material. Overall, electric press brakes are considered to have a quicker output. If you are a company with fast turnovers, you should consider speed in a press brake, as it can make or break duty cycles and plant performance. Also, the speed of electric press brakes is perfect for the production of smaller parts.

 

Accuracy

Speed and accuracy go hand in hand. If you need faster operations in your plant, consequently, you need high-quality, accurate products. When you need to pass a material many times for forming, you lack the operation speed you are striving for.

When compared together, electric press brakes have higher precision and can achieve an accuracy of 1 micron, which is almost 10 times more than the precision of hydraulic press brakes. Because they are this precise, fabricators, use them for expensive materials because the margin of error is lower.

Our Morgan Rushworth electric press brakes have approximately 50% less energy use than hydraulic machines, 30% faster cycle times, 75% less servicing costs than hydraulic machines. If you’re looking for a mechanical system designed to fit the fast pace of your plant, this is the one. Feel free to call us and learn more about our press brakes catalogue.

Flexibility

Even though electric press brakes have many pros, they are not as versatile as hydraulic press brakes. If you’re a fabricator that needs to conduct several operations with a press brake, consider the variety of bends you perform in a day. If you have a more repetitive daily schedule, then you don’t have to worry about versatility as the main driver for your final choice.

On the other hand, for big fabrication shops, hydraulic press brakes paired with a CNC controller are an incredible asset for a workshop. Workers can input their specs to the numerical controller and automate a great deal of their process. This makes them perfect for high workload and versatile production.

 

Pollution

Another factor that every plant should consider is pollution and cleaner energy for more sustainable activities. This industry is undoubtedly a polluter that affects the environment. If you’re turning to fuel efficiency and less pollution for the community and workers, electric press brakes would be a great option.

As we said earlier, hydraulic press brakes never rest, so this causes ongoing noise and energy waste. Also, the use of oil is another detrimental factor. On the other hand, electric press brakes are noiseless and have a “smarter” energy consumption. They don’t use hydraulic oil, so considered the more eco-friendly option.

 

Cost

Besides the model, the brand, or the year of construction, machines also have another process that has its own considerable costs; maintenance. We have discussed the importance of correctly maintaining a press brake and what happens when operators skip this process.

When looking at electric and hydraulic press brakes, the latter needs extra care because of their operating principle. Hydraulic press brakes need oil and filter changes, fixing of leaks, and other monthly inspections to prevent further complications. This results in additional costs.

However, there are ways to keep the cost under control. Some plants install energy-saving enhancements that can halt the motor during idle time to save up when the machine is not performing. When it comes to the machine’s price, electric press brakes are more expensive compared to hydraulic press brake of the same size.

 

Hybrid vs Hydraulic press brake

Hybrid machine systems are a combination of hydraulics without gear pumps. Instead, they are paired with a servo-electric drive. The hybrid system is more energy-efficient than the traditional hydraulic press brake and also more accurate. When considering all the earlier mentioned factors, a hybrid press brake results in the perfect middle ground between hydraulic and electric press brakes.

 

Conclusion

As a shop owner, you must evaluate your options well and understand which press brake will help you reach your goal. The reasons why you are deciding to transition to a press brake are countless. Maybe you have more than a decade working with the same press brake, or you have been using a metal folder until now, or you want to invest in a more accurate model.

Our electric and hydraulic press brake models are made of European high-quality builds and design, with a class-leading warranty. Our team guarantees local support and training for all your shop floor professionals when you purchase RS Machinery. 

To learn more, you can call our team and get additional information.

Latest News

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?


Search by product category, brand, or full name of the machine:

This will close in 0 seconds

Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form

Fill out the form so our team can get in touch about a date for a demonstration

Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form
Fill the form for your one-to-one demo