With a portal for the bending machine MAK 4 Evolution UD, the Schröder Group presents a flexible automation solution for all machines with Advanced Handling System (AHS). The system is designed for ease of use, high productivity, and an economical implementation of automated manufacturing processes. Unmanned production, such as during late or night shifts, operates without robots and can be fully programmed within the machine control system.
Two suction frames on the right and left of the machine load the machine with sheets and remove and stack the finished bent sheet parts. The actual bending process takes place on the MAK 4 Evolution UD thanks to the AHS with a rotatable suction plate stop and bidirectional bending beam, already fully automated. The portal solution can be individually configured for the efficient bending of small, medium, and large batch sizes. The portal has several advantages over a robotic solution: the automation solution is significantly more cost-effective, much easier to program, and can be immediately switched to manual operation of the machine. This offers the benefits of full automation and manual operation, for example, for prototypes or individual parts in one system.
Great flexibility
"We have created a possibility for unmanned production with the MAK 4 Evolution UD portal that requires significantly lower investment and programming effort than companies usually have to undertake if they want to better utilize their bending machine without additional personnel," explains Thomas Ostermair, Sales Manager at Hans Schröder Maschinenbau GmbH. "Of course, we are also happy to implement special solutions, for example, when bent parts need to be handed over to downstream processes via a conveyor. We have the advantage of our own software development, allowing the automation to be fully integrated into the machine control."
Depending on customer requirements, this automation solution can be flexibly adjusted to lengths and sheet thicknesses. Customer modifications and integration with other machines equipped with the AHS are very easy to implement with this concept.
AHS further developed
The Advanced Handling System has also been specifically optimized as part of the machine's further development. By designing a narrower travel path for the manipulator and additionally integrating robust brushes, handling is particularly enhanced for narrower components. This allows them to be guided securely and moved precisely.
This allows for an even broader range of parts to be reliably received, positioned, manipulated, and bent. For the user, the further development of the AHS primarily means more flexibility, a greater variety of parts, and additional application possibilities in daily production.
Automatically curved boxes
The upper arm stroke of the MAK 4 Evolution UD is 1090 mm, and based on the sheet formats that the AHS can handle, different part dimensions can be realized. The sheet sizes range from 500 × 500 to 4000 × 2000 mm or 3000 × 1500 mm depending on the machine version. Sheets weighing up to 300 kg can be processed. Schröder anticipates interest in the automation option from manufacturers of control cabinets, enclosures and housings, furniture, and refrigerators. Smaller batch sizes can be processed fully automatically without extensive preparation. The detection of the pallet position and the boards lying on it allows for a quick and uncomplicated change of products.
Schroeder at EuroBLECH 2026 at booth 11-A48
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