24m
Max working length
Configuration · Tandem
Two presses.
One control, two modes.
Long sheets? The two machines work in sync as a single press up to 24 m. Short sheets? Decouple them and produce in parallel, doubling capacity. Same installation, two operating modes.
01 — The machine
Synchronous, or independent.
Two DCA press brakes on a single master/slave CNC: they work in perfect tandem on long sheets — continuous Y1/Y2 axis synchronisation with hydraulic compensation — or decouple and produce in parallel as two independent machines. Shared kinematics, ability to work jointly or separately as two independent machines.
6.000t
Total force
<0,02
Sync error
2-in-1
Split mode
02 — Distinctive advantages
Three things that make it different.
Not a one-size-fits-all machine. Every detail addresses a specific problem in the customer's process.
01
Dynamic master / slave
One press acts as master, the other follows in real time over a deterministic fieldbus. Sub-millisecond latency, synchronisation error below two hundredths.
02
Split mode
The two presses can also work separately as two independent machines. Maximum flexibility: a large batch on a long sheet, or two different jobs in parallel.
03
Shared kinematics
Table and crown aligned with sub-millimetre tolerances. Active deflection compensation coordinated between the two machines: the bend stays straight along the full length.
03 — In action
The tandem at work.
Two DCA presses synchronised as a single machine. See a real bending case on heavy sheets.
04 — Work in action
In action, from your shop floor.
Tandem DCAs installed at Italian and international manufacturers: container panels, industrial vehicle frame rails, structural profiles from 14 to 20 metres. Each configuration is commissioned and tested alongside your operators.
> 500
Machines installed
20+
Countries served
04 — Built to measure
Everything is customisable.
There is no standard press brake. Force, length, axes, automation, safety devices: every parameter is sized on your real process.
- →2x and 3x tandem configurations
- →Combined useful length up to 24 m
- →Master / slave or dynamic split
- →Synchronisation over a deterministic bus
- →Unified CNC with 3D graphics
- →Shared or segregated working area
[ standard equipment · each tandem unit ]
Inverter on main motor and crowning.
Integrated start & stop. On both machines.
On a tandem, energy consumption doubles. That's why the standard inverter on the main motor and crowning — plus the start & stop function — becomes crucial: two hydraulic units idling are double the waste.
On the market, the same configuration is often labelled as hybrid. For us, it remains a hardware choice: variable-speed pumps and stop logic. On a tandem running thousands of hours a year, the savings double — measured in MWh.
−40%
Per-unit consumption vs. traditional hydraulic
×2 across the entire tandem line
×2 across the entire tandem line
- Synchronised invertersMaster and slave follow the same cycle: same torque, same instant.
- Coordinated start & stopThe two units stop together during idle times, restart in < 2 s.
- Independent crowningEach machine compensates its own local load, without overdrive.
05 — Configurations & limits
You don't pick a model.
You don't pick a model.
We design your Tandem.
A Tandem is almost always a one-off project: two or three machines that must work in perfect sync. Together we define the operating envelope and the synchronisation system, then we size the frame, bus and CNC. Below is the range we work within.
Total force
200 → 6.000 t
2× and 3× configurations
Useful length
4.000 → 24.000 mm
shared or segregated
Sync error
< 0,02 mm
deterministic bus
What we size to order
- Number of machines — 2× or 3× in line, chosen by the longest part to bend
- Tonnage per unit — calculated on the local load, not the total force
- Inter-machine distance — foundations, anchoring, bending shop layout
- Operating mode — rigid tandem, dynamic split, independent operation
- Sync bus — deterministic, known latency, error budget < 0,02 mm
- Unified CNC — Cybelec/Delem/ESA with 3D simulation of the long part
- Sheet followers — CNC sheet followers mandatory on heavy, long sheets
- Safety devices — Lazer Safe, MCS, shared or segregated working area
- Logistics and installation — transport, coordinated foundations, precision alignment
How we get to the machine
- 01Analysis of the critical part
Drawing, material, thickness, part length, required tolerance. We check whether a tandem is truly needed or a single long press would do.
- 02FEM and sync study
Structural simulation of both machines on the distributed load. Sync error-budget calculation and bus sizing.
- 03Component configuration
Hydraulics, unified CNC, back gauge, sheet supports, safety devices and foundation layout. Tandem/split modes chosen on your mix.
- 04Construction, testing and installation
Assembly at the facility and sync testing. Coordinated on-site installation with precision alignment.
06 — Request info
Configure your Tandem DCA.
Fill in the form: we will get back to you within 24 working hours with a technical configuration and a tailored quote.
FAQ
All about the Tandem DCA configuration.
Answers to the most common questions. For specific requirements write to info@pgsrl.eu.
What is a tandem configuration?
A tandem configuration is made up of two synchronised DCA press brakes driven by a single CNC: they work as one machine to bend very long parts, or independently as two separate presses when flexibility is needed.
When do you need a tandem press?
When the workpiece exceeds 12 metres in length, or when the required total force exceeds 1,500 tonnes: structural profiles for bridges, tunnels, ship hulls, railway cars, industrial tanks, poles and tubes.
Which tandem tonnages and lengths are available?
Standard configurations: tandem 2× DCA 250t (500t total) up to 24 metres, or 2× DCA 500t (1,000t total), 2× DCA 1,500t (3,000t total) up to custom configurations up to 6,000 t total. Beyond 24 m: multi-machine configurations with 3 or more presses (e.g. 7+7+7 m).
Can I use the two presses separately?
Yes. The "split mode" lets you run the two DCA presses independently, each as a standalone press, doubling production capacity when the tandem load isn't required.
Synchronisation: how does it work?
The two machines are linked via fibre optic and driven by a single ESA CNC. Beam synchronisation at micron level, automatic deformation compensation, simultaneous control of all axes.
Delivery time for a tandem configuration?
Typically 6–8 months from contract signing. The design also covers foundations, facility layout and part handling.
Your machine is waiting for you.
Configure it with us. Thicknesses, materials and annual volumes are enough to get started with a solid quote.
Deep dive
Tandem DCA: paired press brakes.
The DCA tandem configuration is built for parts that no monoblock can handle: useful lengths up to 24 metres with 2 synchronised presses, cumulative tonnages up to 6,000 tonnes total. Beyond 24 m: multi-machine configurations with 3 or more presses (e.g. 7+7+7 m). Two or three PG SRL DCA-series presses paired on a single CNC.
Synchronisation
The Y axes of all machines are electronically synchronised through the master CNC. Crowning, speed, positions and cycle times are calculated as if the presses were a single long machine: the angle stays constant even on 18-20 metre parts.
Split mode
When the full length isn't required, the machines can run in split mode: each press becomes independent and can run a different job. Two jobs in parallel on the same machines, doubling the shop's productivity.
Frame and foundations
The presses are installed on a common foundation, sized to prevent misalignment over time. The levelling is set during testing and maintained by adjustable supports.
Applications
Shipbuilding, wind, rail, large tanks, bridge structures, industrial containers. All situations where the part is too long or too heavy to be processed elsewhere.
Calculation tools
Run the numbers first.
Three free PG calculators, real-time and with the formulas explained — from the bend to the right machine.
Calculator
Bending force & parameters
Tonnage, V-die, inner radius, minimum flange and springback — with the suggested PG machine.
Open the calculator → CalculatorDevelopment & K-factor
Bend allowance, bend deduction and flat pattern (DIN 6935), plus your real K from a bent sample.
Open the calculator → CalculatorRadius bending · Calendering
Step-by-step bump table for large radii without a radius punch: angle per hit, pitch and arc development.
Open the calculator →