Ermaksan Microbend vs Speedbend Pro vs Powerbend Pro
which Press Brake Suits Your Workshop?
Ermaksan manufactures an extensive range of CNC press brakes, from compact machines for small components through to large industrial bending systems.
At Power Machinery, three models are particularly popular with Australian workshops: the compact Microbend, the versatile Powerbend Pro, and the more comprehensively equipped Speedbend Pro.
The Powerbend Pro and Speedbend Pro are closely related machines, sharing much of the same fundamental engineering, bending capabilities and mechanical specifications. The main differences lie in their standard CNC controls, backgauge configurations and level of automation.
This guide explains which machine is best suited to your application.
If you’re still working out how much tonnage you need, start with our press brake sizing guide, or browse our press brakes for sale in Australia.
The Short ANswer
- Choose the Microbend if you primarily bend small brackets, enclosures and components up to approximately one metre in length.
- Choose the Powerbend Pro if you operate a general fabrication or jobbing workshop and need a capable, versatile CNC press brake. Its intuitive 2D graphical control makes programming straightforward, requires relatively little operator training and is particularly well suited to workshops where multiple operators share the machine.
- Choose the Speedbend Pro if you regularly manufacture complex components, have frequent job changeovers or want more advanced CNC programming and automated backgauge positioning. Its sophisticated 3D control offers considerably greater programming capabilities, including the ability to work with imported CAD files such as STEP and DXF through compatible offline software.
All three machines are manufactured by Ermaksan in Turkey and are available through Power Machinery, with Australian installation, training and technical support.
At a Glance: The Three Ermaksan Press Brakes Compared
All three are hydraulic press brakes built by Ermaksan in Turkey and supplied, installed and serviced in Australia by Power Machinery.
Ermaksan Microbend: Compact Bending for Small Parts
- Small fabrication and maintenance workshops
- Sheet metal businesses producing compact components
- Larger manufacturers wanting a dedicated machine for smaller work
Ermaksan Powerbend Pro: The Versatile CNC Workhorse
The Ermaksan Powerbend Pro is a highly capable hydraulic CNC press brake designed to handle a wide variety of sheet metal and plate bending applications.
It is particularly popular with general fabrication and jobbing workshops, where the work can vary considerably from one day to the next.
The Powerbend Pro comes standard with three CNC-controlled axes (Y1, Y2 and X) and can be upgraded with additional backgauge axes, CNC crowning and more sophisticated programming controls.
At Power Machinery, we typically specify our stock machines with an additional R-axis, CNC motorised crowning and a graphical 2D controller, such as the Delem DA-58T or Cybelec CybTouch 12.
This provides a practical balance between flexibility, ease of use and investment cost.
Straightforward Programming
One of the Powerbend Pro’s greatest advantages is its ease of use.
With graphical 2D programming controls such as the Delem DA-58T or Cybelec CybTouch 12, operators can quickly create bending programs by entering component dimensions and bend angles through an intuitive touchscreen interface.
This makes the Powerbend Pro particularly attractive to general fabrication workshops where several operators may use the machine throughout the day.
After basic training, operators can become productive without needing extensive CNC programming experience.
Popular Australian Configurations:
Power Machinery’s most popular Powerbend Pro configurations include:
- 135 tonnes × 3,100 mm x 5 axis with Cybelec Cybtouch 12
- 175 tonnes × 3,100 mm x 5 axis with Cybelec Cybtouch 12
- 220 tonnes × 4,100 mm x 5 axis with Cybelec Cybtouch 12
Other sizes and CNC configurations are available to suit individual requirements.
Who it suits
- General fabrication and jobbing workshops
- Manufacturers producing a wide variety of sheet metal and plate components
- Businesses upgrading from older NC or manually controlled press brakes
- Workshops where multiple operators need to use the machine with minimal additional training
- Businesses seeking a quality CNC machine without paying for automation they may not need
Ermaksan Speedbend Pro: Advanced CNC Bending and Automation
The Ermaksan Speedbend Pro is the most capable machine in the range. It shares much of its fundamental mechanical design with the Powerbend Pro, including comparable bending capacities, daylight openings, strokes and throat depths on equivalent models.
The important difference is its more comprehensive standard equipment and advanced CNC capability.
The Speedbend Pro comes standard with Y1, Y2, X, R, Z1 and Z2 positioning axes, together with CNC motorised crowning.
This allows the backgauge fingers to move independently across the machine and adjust their height automatically, reducing manual positioning and making complex bending operations easier and more efficient.
At Power Machinery, our preferred configuration includes the Delem DA-69S CNC control, providing full 3D graphical programming, bend sequence simulation and collision checking.
Advanced 3D Programming and CAD Integration
One of the major advantages of the Speedbend Pro is its sophisticated CNC control and the ability to integrate with modern CAD-based manufacturing processes.
With Power Machinery’s preferred Delem DA-69S control and its associated Profile-S3D offline programming software, operators can import CAD designs, including DXF drawings and STEP 3D models, to assist with creating bending programs.
Rather than manually entering each component’s dimensions, manufacturers can work directly from their design files, prepare bending sequences, simulate the process and identify potential tooling collisions before commencing production.
This can provide substantial time savings, particularly for complicated components and workshops manufacturing a wide variety of parts.
The additional programming capabilities require greater operator familiarity than a simpler 2D control. However, the benefits can be considerable for businesses that regularly work from CAD designs.
Greater Backgauge Automation
The Speedbend Pro also includes more sophisticated backgauge positioning as standard.
The R-axis automatically adjusts the height of the backgauge fingers, while the Z1 and Z2 axes independently position the fingers along the machine.
These features are especially useful for complex components requiring different gauging positions throughout the bending sequence.
By reducing manual backgauge adjustments, operators can work more efficiently and with greater consistency.
Who it suits
- Manufacturers producing complex sheet metal components
- Workshops with frequent job changeovers
- Businesses working directly from CAD drawings and 3D models
- Workshops seeking to reduce setup time and operator intervention
- Production environments where advanced programming and repeatability are important
Powerbend Pro vs Speedbend Pro: Whats Really Different?
Although the two machines are closely related mechanically, their standard equipment and CNC programming capabilities make them suitable for different applications
| FEATURE | POWERBEND PRO | SPEEDBEND PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Machine construction | Heavy-duty hydraulic | Heavy-duty hydraulic |
| Standard positioning axes | Y1, Y2, X | Y1, Y2, X, R, Z1, Z2 |
| R-Axis backgauge | Optional; commonly included in PMA stock machines | Standard |
| Z1/Z2 independent fingers | Optional | Standard |
| CNC motorised crowning | Optional; commonly included in PMA stock machines | Standard |
| Typical Power Machinery control | Delem DA-58T or Cybelec CybTouch 12 | Delem DA-69S |
| Programming | Intuitive 2D graphical | Advanced 2D/3D graphical |
| Ease of operation | Simple and straightforward | More sophisticated, with additional capabilities |
| Operator training | Relatively straightforward | Greater familiarity beneficial |
| Multiple operators | Particularly well suited | Well suited with appropriate training |
| CAD file integration | More limited, depending on control and software | DXF and STEP with Profile-S3D offline software |
| Typical applications | General fabrication and varied jobbing work | Complex parts, CAD-based manufacturing and advanced automation |
The Powerbend Pro can be configured with many of the advanced features found on the Speedbend Pro, so the choice is not simply about bending power or accuracy. It is about selecting the most appropriate level of automation and CNC capability for your work.
How to Choose The Right Press brake
Work through these in order. Most workshops have their answer by question 3.
- What Are the Maximum Bending Length, Material Thickness and Material Grade? These determine the required machine capacity.Mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium have different bending characteristics, and the tooling selected also affects the tonnage required.
- How Complex Are the Components You Manufacture?Simple bends can be handled efficiently by either the Powerbend Pro or Speedbend Pro.More complicated components, including multiple folds, stepped flanges and different gauging positions, may benefit from the Speedbend’s additional backgauge axes and advanced programming.
- How Frequently Do You Change Jobs, and Who Operates the Machine?For general fabrication workshops where several operators share a machine, the simplicity of a graphical 2D control can be a considerable advantage.Operators can quickly create and modify programs without extensive CNC experience.Where job changeovers are frequent or components are more complicated, the additional backgauge automation and advanced programming capabilities of the Speedbend Pro can substantially reduce setup time.
- Do You Work Directly from CAD Drawings and 3D Models? This can be one of the most important considerations when choosing between the two machines.For workshops programming directly at the machine, a straightforward graphical 2D control may be all that is required.However, manufacturers regularly working with CAD designs may find the Speedbend Pro’s 3D programming and offline software particularly valuable.The ability to import STEP and DXF files, simulate bending operations and prepare programs away from the machine can considerably improve workflow efficiency.
Australian Supply, Installation and Support
Power Machinery has extensive experience supplying and supporting Ermaksan machinery across Australia.
Our services include machine selection, tooling advice, delivery, installation, operator training and ongoing technical support.
We regularly stock popular Powerbend Pro and Speedbend Pro configurations, while other models and specialised configurations can be supplied to order.
Our in-house service team also provides ongoing technical support and spare parts.
The best press brake is not necessarily the machine with the most axes or the highest tonnage. It is the machine properly matched to the components you manufacture and the way your workshop operates.
Talk to a Press Brake Specialist
Contact Power Machinery to discuss your bending requirements and find the most suitable Ermaksan press brake for your workshop.
Our team has helped Australian fabricators choose machinery for more than 50 years, and we’ll recommend the model and size that fits rather than the biggest one.
Call (02) 8445 8555, email info@powermachinery.com.au, or view our full range of press brakes for sale in Australia. Pairing a press brake with a guillotine? Ask us about cut-and-fold packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Microbend, if your parts are under 1 metre long. If you need a longer bed, the Speedbend Pro 60T × 2,600 mm is the smallest full-length CNC option.
The Powerbend Pro is configurable from 3 to 9 CNC axes, so you pay only for the automation you need. The Speedbend Pro comes standard with 8 axes and Delem 3D programming, for faster setups on complex or repeat work.
Axes are best specified when the machine is ordered. Talk to our team about the work you expect to do over the next five years before you choose.
The Powerbend Pro includes Rolleri tooling, and the Speedbend Pro comes with hardened top and bottom tools. Ask us what's included with the size you're considering.
Yes, stock changes regularly. See our used press brakes and other used machinery.