Every sheet metal and fabrication shop runs on two machines above all others: the press brake that folds the metal, and the guillotine that cuts it. Get those two right and the rest of the shop follows. Buy them new, though, and you are often looking at a serious capital outlay for machines that will happily run for decades. That is why so many fabricators buy used, and why knowing what to look for, and who to buy from, matters.
This guide walks through what press brakes and guillotines actually do, what to check before you buy second-hand, and why it pays to deal with a specialist machine tool dealer rather than take a punt on an auction.
A press brake bends and folds sheet and plate metal. The metal sits over a bottom die, and a top tool presses down to form the bend, whether that is a simple 90 degree fold, a box section, or a more complex multi-bend part. Press brakes are rated by tonnage, which sets how thick and how wide a piece they can fold, and by bed length, which sets the longest part they can handle.
They range from manual and hydraulic machines through to full CNC press brakes with back gauges and programmable controls that repeat complex bends automatically. For most general fabrication, a good hydraulic or CNC press brake is the heart of the workshop. Buying used press brakes is one of the smartest ways to add folding capacity without paying new-machine money.
A guillotine, or shearing machine, makes straight, clean cuts across sheet and plate. A blade comes down against a fixed lower blade and shears the metal to size, giving you accurate, repeatable cuts to feed the rest of your process. Like press brakes, guillotines are sized by the thickness of material they will cut and the maximum sheet width they will take.
They come as mechanical, hydraulic and CNC machines, with back gauges for accurate repeat cutting. A reliable guillotine is essential kit, and there is a healthy market in used guillotines for sale for shops looking to add cutting capacity or replace a tired machine.
The main reason is simple: value. A quality used press brake or guillotine from a reputable maker can offer a considerable saving compared with buying new, often for a machine with plenty of working life left in it. These are built to last, and a well-maintained example that is ten or twenty years old can still hold tolerances and earn its keep for years to come.
Buying used also means faster availability. Rather than waiting on a new-build lead time, you can often have a proven machine delivered and cutting or folding in a fraction of the time. For a shop that needs to increase capacity now, or replace a machine that has gone down, that speed is worth a lot.
A few things separate a good used buy from an expensive mistake:
Capacity for your work. Match the tonnage and bed length on a press brake, or the thickness and sheet width on a guillotine, to the jobs you actually do, with a bit of headroom.
Condition and wear. Check the blades on a guillotine, the tooling and ram on a press brake, and look for signs of hard use or neglect. Hydraulics, seals and controls all matter.
Controls. Decide whether you need manual, hydraulic or full CNC. CNC brings accuracy and repeatability, but a straightforward hydraulic machine can be the right call for simpler work.
Tooling included. Press brake tooling and guillotine blades add cost, so a machine that comes with a good set of tooling is worth more than the headline price suggests.
Provenance. A machine bought from a specialist who has inspected it, knows its history and stands behind it is a very different proposition to an unseen auction lot.
That last point is the big one. Machine tool dealers who know their stock take the risk out of buying used. A specialist will have inspected the machine, can tell you honestly what condition it is in, and can match you to the right press brake or guillotine for your work rather than just selling you what happens to be in the yard. They also handle the practical side, from tooling to delivery.
Senior Machinery is exactly that kind of dealer. They specialise in buying and selling quality new and used machine tools, including plate and section bending rolls, press brakes, guillotine shears, CNC lasers, CNC punches, saws, steelworkers, lathes, milling machines and grinders. Whether you are kitting out a new shop, adding capacity or replacing an old machine at a real saving over new, dealing with a specialist means you buy with confidence.
Stock changes regularly, so the best way to see what is available is to look through the current machines:
Used press brakes — hydraulic and CNC folding machines across a range of tonnages and bed lengths.
Used guillotines for sale — shearing machines to cut sheet and plate accurately to size.
If you cannot see exactly what you need, it is always worth a call, as new machines come in all the time and sourcing can be arranged.
Whether you are upgrading your fabrication shop, increasing capacity, or simply after a quality used machine at a considerable saving on new, speak to Senior Machinery. Nationwide and international enquiries are welcome.
Call Matt on 07971 871254 or email matt@seniormachinery.co.uk.
Quality machinery. Specialist knowledge. The right press brake or guillotine for the job.
