Efficiency Boosts and Scrap Reduction with All-Electric Tube Bender

Advanced Flow Engineering (AFE) in Corona, California, creates high-performance aftermarket parts like cold-air intakes, exhaust systems, and turbochargers for various vehicles. To produce these components, they rely heavily on precision tube bending with aluminum and stainless steel tubing between 2.5 and 4.0 inches. However, as AFE expanded, they faced significant difficulties bending 3.5-inch aluminum tubes on a 4.0 centerline radius with their old 3-axis machine. The tubes often broke at 90 degrees, leading to wasted materials and production delays.

To address this, AFE invested in the Herber model 2100, an all-electric CNC tube bender. This machine transformed their operations by consistently delivering precise bends, even on difficult parts. The all-electric system is cleaner, quieter, and easier to maintain compared to hydraulic systems. Its user-friendly programming and quick tool changes have streamlined production and cut setup times, allowing AFE to implement just-in-time manufacturing. With the Herber 2100, AFE eliminated tube breakage, achieving a zero percent failure rate on critical components and consistently meeting the demands of the performance aftermarket industry.

Goals Served:

  • Reduce Scrap and Waste
  • Increase Production Efficiency
  • Enhance Product Quality
  • Optimize Operational Workflow
  • Improve Workplace Environment

“We can switch from one tube size to another in about 15 minutes, which has reduced our changeover time by 75 minutes.”

Darrell Contreras, AFE’s director of manufacturing
Director of Manufacturing
Advanced Flow Engineering

Project Outcome

Challenge

AFE faced significant challenges with breaking aluminum tubes during complex bends on a conventional 3-axis machine, leading to increased scrap and production delays. They needed a solution to handle these demanding bends while enhancing overall productivity.

Solution

AFE implemented the Herber model 2100 all-electric CNC tube bender, which resolved the breakage issues, delivered consistent zero-failure bends, and improved productivity with reduced setup times and enhanced operational efficiency.

Boosting Productivity, Reducing Scrap

All-Electric Efficiency

Experience Matters

Putting over 250 years experience building tube & pipe benders to work for you.