Metal folding and metal bending are two essential processes in sheet metal fabrication. They are both used to transform flat metal sheets into three-dimensional components. While they are designed to achieve similar results, the methods and outcomes differ in precision, surface finish and machine design.
The sheet metal industry
There are hundreds of UK companies operating in the field of Sheet Metal Fabrication, offering both of these metal shaping processes. In the broader metal structure manufacturing and sheet metal fabrication sectors, there are some 3,000 businesses providing metal forming, bending, folding, welding, laser cutting and associated metal services.
Metal Bending
In metal bending, the sheet is clamped between a punch and a die before a press brake forces the punch downward to form the desired angle. Bending can also be performed on panel benders, where blades move from above and below to shape the metal.
This process is efficient and versatile, although it can create minor surface marks or alignment errors due to the tool contact and material movement.
Metal folding
Metal folding, by contrast, uses a clamping beam to hold the sheet in place while a folding beam swings up or down to create the bend. The folding edge and flange angle are CNC-controlled, delivering high accuracy and consistent results.
Folding tends to preserve surface quality, since the material stays stationary during forming.
Modern folding machines are often electrically driven, which means they require less maintenance and provide greater environmental efficiency than the hydraulic systems typical of bending presses.
