Our Capabilities

Shape Your Metal with Forming and Bending Services

After your parts are cut, SMF’s turnkey, operation facilities are set up to begin forming and bending as needed. Parts of any hardness, thickness, & footprint can be easily formed on SMF’s vast array of press brake machines. With the ability to bend components that are 28′ and require 880 tons of force, SMF can produce products according to your requirements. SMF has created a competitive advantage for producing large, complex bends with extreme accuracy.

Our Metal Forming Process

When forming metal pieces, our go-to choice of machine is our press brakes. SMF possesses press brake machines of all sizes and strength levels, allowing us to bend any material to the desired shape. Or, for longer pieces of metal, we instead utilize roll forming. Both metal forming processes are effective and guaranteed to get clients their desired results.

• Press Braking – Using a press brake, pieces of sheet or plate metal are aligned along an axis. The metal piece is clamped between a punch and a die set, giving leverage for bending the metal to the desired shape. Press braking is one of the preferred methods for forming due to its high precision.
• Roll Forming – Rather than clamping and bending metal, roll forming involves continuous rolling of long strips of metal until bent to the desired shape. Rolling is the process of passing metal between two mounted stands to flatten and shape it. This metal forming method is preferred when working with larger pieces of material and is best for complex shapes.

The Metals We Form

Every type of metal has its own strengths and properties. As such, the more durable the metal, the more difficult it can be to bend. Thankfully, SMF possesses the machinery necessary to bend near any metal type. As mentioned, our press brake machines can exert up to 880 tons of force when forming metal. Examples of the types of materials we work with include:

• Aluminum – Lightweight and inexpensive
• Brass – Affordable material option
• Stainless Steel – Durable and long-lasting
• Titanium – Strong, lightweight, and resistant to corrosion
• Copper – Best for creating electrical connections
• And More

Do More with SMF

When forming and bending isn’t enough, SMF has the equipment and fabrication experts necessary to complete your projects on time and within budget. As a full-service fabricator and machining company, we make great efforts to offer our clients high-quality tools, parts, products and prototypes, no matter the project size. If interested in SMF’s other services/capabilities, contact us today at 309-432-2586. SMF is headquartered in Illinois, serving clients throughout the United States.