SafanDarley Brings Servo-Electric Bending, Automation and Integrated Software to FABTECH 2026
October 23, 2026For fabricators, the question is not whether to add equipment or technology, it is where investments will have the greatest impact. Increasingly, the answer is the right combination of equipment, automation, software, and people. SafanDarley North America will demonstrate how manufacturers are using these technologies to increase productivity, simplify operations, and make better use of available resources at FABTECH 2026, October 21-23 in Las Vegas, NV.
Visitors to booth C3444 will see SafanDarley’s E-Brake 35T Premium Mini Cell, a compact automated bending cell, and 50-ton E-Brake Premium for stand-alone bending. The company will also demonstrate solutions for offline programming, robotic bending, and automated production management.
Add What Matters
Priorities vary widely across the shop floor. For some fabricators, that may mean adding automation to increase production without adding labor. For others, it may mean using offline programming to keep staff focused on higher-value work. Faster bending, lower energy use, easier operation, better connectivity, and equipment that can quickly adapt to production changes may also be priorities.
SafanDarley North America President Matt Garbarino said the company’s "Add What Matters" theme is about leveraging equipment, automation, software, and people where they can have the greatest impact.
“Manufacturers are expected to produce more without added resources, keep costs under control, and pivot faster as customer needs change,” Garbarino said. “The answer isn’t adding technology for the sake of technology. It is taking a hard look at the operation and determining where automation, software, or new bending technology can have the biggest impact. That’s what we mean by 'Add What Matters'.”
Garbarino further explained that a machine’s value comes not only from the technology itself, but from what it can contribute over years of operation through greater productivity, easier operation, reduced energy consumption, and a lower overall cost of ownership.
But that is only part of the equation. SafanDarley North America is not simply selling machines; it sells confidence that the solution is right for the application, and that the team behind it will be there before, during, and long after the installation. From applications expertise and training to service and parts support, that relationship continues well beyond the initial purchase, according to the company.
Making Automated Bending More Accessible
The E-Brake 35T Premium Mini Cell combines a fully electric press brake, FANUC robot, and material handling into a compact automated bending system designed to produce smaller, complex parts. Its FANUC robot has a 25-kg payload, and the cell incorporates configurable infeed stations, a deposit station, and discharge chute.
Automatic tool and gripper changing, angle measurement, and additional product tables can be added or retrofitted as production requirements change. The Mini Cell can also extend productive hours without a corresponding increase in labor. Expanded infeed capacity can support more than eight hours of unattended operation, while additional product tables can further increase capacity.
Bringing Servo-Electric Bending to the Shop Floor
Alongside the automated cell, SafanDarley will demonstrate a 50-ton E-Brake Premium to show servo-electric bending in a stand-alone production environment. The machine uses a fully electric drive rather than a conventional hydraulic system and is designed around productivity, ergonomics, and connectivity. Its controls can also communicate with external systems for Industry 4.0 applications. The E-Brake Premium can deliver up to 30% higher productivity than conventional press brake technology while reducing energy use and maintenance requirements, the company reported.
Extending Automation
SafanDarley will demonstrate AutoPOL, RoboBend, ASC-Control, and E-Control to show how software can streamline programming and coordinate automated bending. Together, these applications reduce reliance on third-party systems and provide a more integrated approach to programming and managing automated bending.
RoboBend extends offline programming into robotic bending, allowing users to program bending operations and robot movements while integrating external devices into the workflow. Offline programming can reduce downtime and keep equipment available for production.
ASC-Control provides a central interface for managing production flow and communication among the press brake, robot, and other elements of an automated cell. Its modular architecture accommodates customer-specific requirements, while a user-friendly interface is designed to make automated equipment manageable by operators of all experience levels, the company reported.
A Local Twist on Automation
To add some Vegas flair while demonstrating the Mini Cell’s robotic capabilities, SafanDarley is turning part of its exhibit into a dice game. Attendees are invited to select a number on a large game board. The robot will then roll dice to determine the winner. Prizes will include license plate holders and miniature Snap-on toolboxes fabricated by the Mini Cell.
“We want to have a little fun and demonstrate the technology in a memorable way,” Garbarino added. “Obviously, throwing dice isn’t what the Mini Cell is designed to do, but it gives visitors a chance to watch the robot at work, interact with the automation, and talk with us about how the same underlying capabilities can be applied to their specific production challenges.”
Breakout Presentation
Attendees can also hear from SafanDarley Senior Robotics Applications Engineer Mike Ruediger during his breakout session, “Press Brake Automation Helps with Versatility and Labor Gaps.” On October 21 at 3 PM (Location N205-206), Ruediger will address how companies can leverage press brake automation not simply to replace labor, but to create more versatile and productive operations.
For more information contact:
SafanDarley North America
us.safandarley.com/
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