Kombimatec has introduced an automated PVCu profile bending machine to the UK fenestration sector, designed to address skilled labour shortages and support fabricators entering the premium arched window market.
The PBM60 is a hydraulically actuated three-roll profile bending machine capable of producing controlled curvature on metal and plastic sections. According to Kombimatec, the system combines hydraulic technology with electronic controls to improve precision and repeatability during the bending process.
The company says the technology transforms what has traditionally been a specialist, labour-intensive operation into a single-operator process. Electronic controls manage temperature and speed settings, removing many of the variables associated with manual profile bending.
David Parsons, managing director at Kombimatec, said: “The quality of the finished product surprises fabricators most. It’s not just about the physical result, but the confidence in knowing each bend will be consistent.”
Parsons added that operators can begin using the machine immediately following training, compared with the extended time traditionally required to develop manual bending expertise.
Kombimatec says conventional profile bending typically requires two skilled operatives to manage heating, shaping and cooling processes. The automated system reduces labour requirements while aiming to improve consistency and reduce material waste caused by creasing or over-bending.
The company believes the timing is significant, with demand for premium arched windows remaining resilient across heritage, commercial and high-end residential projects.
According to Kombimatec, the machine is suitable both for established curved window manufacturers looking to improve efficiency and for fabricators seeking to enter the arched window market for the first time.
As part of a wider solution, the PBM60 can also be supplied alongside an EKS432 single-head welder and AFV370 electronic radius end miller to create a complete curved window manufacturing package.
Parsons said: “Finding the right skills within the workforce has been the real barrier to expanding on arched window manufacture, rather than capital investment.”
Kombimatec stated that the system is designed to help fabricators improve production consistency while reducing reliance on specialist labour.
