Industry 4.0 and 5.0 for press brakes 2026: technical requirements

These are Italian incentive schemes. Eligibility depends on the business, its presence and investment in Italy, and each scheme’s requirements.

01 — OverviewMachine functions and fiscal access.

The previous Transizione 5.0 tax credit concerns investments in 2024–2025; applications already submitted follow the relevant official rules and updates. For new investments in 2026, this article addresses the super-deduction under Italian Law 199/2025.

PG press brakes include 4.0/5.0 functions as standard. Actual access requires assessment of the configuration, interconnection at the customer’s premises, technical and accounting documentation and the applicable GSE procedure. Technical readiness does not guarantee the incentive.

This article explains the technical requirements. For rates and limits on combined support, see the incentives guide.

02 — 4.0 and 5.0Keep technical concepts and schemes distinct.

Industry 4.0 concerns digitalisation, interconnection and process data. Industry 5.0 adds the perspectives of people, sustainability and resilience. The description “5.0 ready” does not by itself establish eligibility for a specific incentive or an additional tax rate.

03 — The technical requirementsThe “5+2 of 3” framework of Annex IV.

Annex IV of Italian Law 199/2025, for Group I (machine tools and processing machines, press brakes included), provides for five mandatory characteristics plus at least two of the three additional characteristics that certify assimilability to a cyber-physical system. Let us look at them one by one, indicating in parallel what a PG press brake fits in standard configuration.

The five mandatory characteristics:

1. Programmable CNC or PLC control — not open manual or pneumatic command. PG press brakes fit ESA Automation S875W CNC as standard, S630 on the entry range.
2. Interconnection with remote loading of instructions and part programs, over documented standard protocols (OPC UA, TCP/IP, MTConnect, MQTT, PROFINET). On the ESA CNCs of PG press brakes, OPC UA, TCP/IP and MTConnect are native and configurable at customer commissioning.
3. Automated integration with logistics, supply system or other machines in the cycle. PG press brakes are prepared for ABB/KUKA/Fanuc robot cell via PROFINET/EtherCAT, and support tandem with synchronisation of two presses in pair.
4. Simple and intuitive HMI: graphic touch, 2D/3D simulation, tooling database. Across the entire PG range the HMI is an ESA 15″ or 19″ touchscreen.
5. Full compliance with workplace safety, health and hygiene standards: CE marking under EN 12622 (hydraulic) or EN ISO 16092-3 (electric), operator protection Category 4 / SIL 3 (EN ISO 13849-1). PG press brakes fit Lazer Safe IRIS or IRIS Plus as standard — Cat. 4, SIL 3, EN 12622, NR12, ANSI B11.3.

The three additional characteristics (at least 2 of 3):

• Tele-maintenance, tele-diagnosis, remote control. ESA Automation provides native tele-diagnosis via Industrial IoT portal on secure VPN — tickets opened by the PG technical office with access to CNC parameters and hydraulic/electrical diagnostics in real time. On our side the operational tool is the service and tele-diagnosis page.
• Continuous monitoring of process parameters with sensors and adaptivity to drift. The DCA/H.DCA fit Bosch Rexroth sensors on the hydraulic blocks (oil pressure + temperature) with dynamic compensation of the ram stroke; on the electric E.DCA each axis is controlled by a high-resolution brushless servo motor with integrated encoder.
• Physical machine / digital model integration (digital twin). PG press brakes expose a parametric digital twin via ESA software + CAD/CAM integrations (Lantek, Radan) for 3D cycle simulation and tooling collision check.

Coverage in summary: 5 of 5 mandatory + 3 of 3 additional in standard configuration. The “at least 2 of 3” framework is amply satisfied without additional options.

04 — Industry 5.0Sustainability, person, resilience on the machine.

Even without a dedicated rate, it is worth building an asset already 5.0 ready: some GSE communications request aggregate consumption data, and EU evolutions (CSRD, Taxonomy, supply chain ESG reporting) will make energy data a prerequisite for access to international supply chains.

On the human-centric level, the press must allow the operator to work with low cognitive load (graphic HMI, visual cycle simulation) and in full physical safety (continuous optical protection, zero risk points). The ESA HMI 2D/3D + Lazer Safe IRIS combination on PG covers both: the hand stays close to the tool without speed loss, the crushing risk is managed by an active laser guard.

On the sustainable level, energy consumption per cycle is the key parameter. The three PG technologies cover different levels:

• DCA hydraulic: optimised Bosch Rexroth blocks, 22-55 kW motor with progressive start, reference for medium and high thicknesses on structural steel.
• H.DCA hybrid: motor running only during the actual bend; in positioning and waiting consumption collapses. Significant energy saving on mixed loads.
• E.DCA electric: high-performance brushless servo motors, zero hydraulic oil, reduced energy consumption compared to hydraulic of equal capacity, contained noise. The choice most aligned with the sustainable 5.0 framing.

On the resilient level, what counts is a documented and reliable component supply chain. The PG supply chain is entirely European (mechanics and assembly Italy, Bosch Rexroth Germany, ESA Automation Italy/Austria, Lazer Safe of the Halma UK group), press built in Mariano Comense (Como). To navigate between DCA, H.DCA and E.DCA based on the work mix, the article how to choose a press brake in 2026 goes into detail.

05 — Decree of 7 May 2026Technical and accounting documentation.

Article 6 provides for a sworn technical appraisal or a statement from an accredited certification body; Article 7 provides for accounting certification. GSE communications and the formalities applicable to the project are also required. The adviser checks the individual case.

The technical assessor may be the qualified professional or the accredited certification body provided for by the decree. Accounting certification follows Article 7.

06 — GSEFive types of communication.

The five types of GSE communication are preliminary, confirmation, annual update, supplementary and completion. Requirements include confirmation within 60 days of a positive preliminary outcome with an order and at least a 20% advance, the annual update by 20 January and the supplementary communication by 30 June. Check the official procedure for methods, effective dates and documents: five types do not mean five submissions in total.

For leasing, Article 3(2) provides the alternative evidence of the financial lease contract and an order signed by the lessor. Check effective dates and the applicable GSE procedure with the adviser before the order.

07 — PG supply chainMade in Italy, compliant in standard configuration.

PG press brakes include 4.0/5.0 functions as standard. Actual access requires assessment of the configuration, interconnection at the customer’s premises, technical and accounting documentation and the applicable GSE procedure. Technical readiness does not guarantee the incentive. For DS shears in PG’s offering, we assess ordinary Sabatini, ZES and ISI subject to their respective requirements. We do not propose the super-deduction or Sabatini 4.0. This distinction concerns PG’s configuration, not all cutting machines.

• ESA Automation S875W CNC (S630 entry range) → req. 1, req. 2 (OPC UA / TCP/IP / MTConnect), req. 4 (HMI), additional a (ESA portal tele-diagnosis), additional c (digital twin).
• Bosch Rexroth hydraulic system → req. 1 (valve safety PLC), additional b (oil pressure/temperature sensors, adaptivity).
• High-performance brushless servo motors on the E.DCA electric → req. 1 + additional b (adaptive monitoring per axis).
• Lazer Safe IRIS / IRIS Plus operator protection integrated via SmartLink → req. 5 (Cat. 4 + SIL 3 + EN 12622).
• Cell/robot preparation via PROFINET/EtherCAT → req. 3 (logistics integration).

All DCA hydraulic press brakes, H.DCA hybrid, E.DCA electric, Roofing and Tandem DCA are declared 4.0/5.0 ready in standard configuration. For DS shears in PG’s offering, we assess ordinary Sabatini, ZES and ISI INAIL subject to their respective requirements. We do not propose super-deduction or Sabatini 4.0 for this configuration.

To set the starting technical configuration the press brake configurator builds the machine around your work; for the fiscal numbers the article on the 2026 super-deduction goes into detail. For a direct estimate or to speak with the PG technical office about the appraisal verification, write to us via the contact page.

Incentive information checked on 9 September 2026. Check the specific investment with the business’s adviser and the current official procedure. Technical sizing remains with PG’s engineering team. See the incentives guide.

08 — FAQRecurring questions on 4.0/5.0.