Bystronic Xpress 160

The Bystronic Xpress 160 is the top-of-the-line model in Bystronic's Xpress series -- their entry-level hydraulic press brake line designed for shops stepping into CNC bending for the first time or adding affordable capacity. At 160 metric tons (176 US tons) of press force and a 3,100 mm (122 in) bending length, it's got enough muscle and bed length to handle the bread-and-butter sheet metal work that most fab shops see daily. It won't replace a high-end Xpert Pro in a precision aerospace cell, but that's not the point -- the Xpress is about getting you bending parts quickly at an attractive price point backed by Swiss engineering.

The closed O-frame design is the structural foundation here, and it's a smart choice for a machine at this price class. The rigid frame minimizes deflection under load across the full bending length, which translates to more consistent bend angles without constantly fiddling with crowning adjustments. Approach speed tops out at 150 mm/s, pressing speed runs at 10 mm/s, and Y-axis positioning accuracy sits at 0.01 mm -- solid numbers for production bending work where you're running parts all day.

Bystronic equips the Xpress 160 with the ByVision Bending control, which is the same touchscreen interface used across their press brake lineup. It's intuitive enough that operators with minimal CNC bending experience can start running parts within hours, not days. The control integrates with BySoft Cell Control Bend software for offline programming and bend simulation, and it includes a comprehensive material database with pre-loaded bend allowance tables. For shops already running Bystronic lasers or other equipment, the software ecosystem ties everything together nicely.

The 4-axis backgauge system covers what most general fabrication work demands: X-axis travel of 500 mm (19.7 in) at 400 mm/s, R-axis travel of 100 mm (3.9 in) at 100 mm/s, and Z-axis travel of 2,300 mm (90.6 in) at 600 mm/s. That Z-axis range is generous for a machine in this class and lets you handle wider parts without repositioning. The modular design means you can configure different tool clamping systems and backgauge options to match your specific workflow.

Machine weight comes in at approximately 11,500 kg (25,353 lb) with overall dimensions of roughly 3,910 mm (154 in) long x 1,880 mm (74 in) wide x 2,718 mm (107 in) tall. Power requirement is 480V, 3-phase, 60 Hz with an 18.5 kW main motor and 30 kW total connected load. Hydraulic drive keeps things simple and proven -- no servo-electric complexity to maintain.

New Xpress 160 machines typically run $80,000-$130,000 depending on tooling package, backgauge configuration, and regional pricing. That positions it well below the Bystronic Xpert series ($150,000-$250,000+) and significantly under premium competitors like the Amada HG-1003 ($180,000-$250,000). Used Xpress units from 2018-2022 trade for $50,000-$90,000 depending on hours and condition.

Direct competitors include the Amada HG-1003 and HG-2204 (higher-end), Trumpf TruBend 5170 and TruBend 7036 (different tonnage classes), and various offerings from LVD and Ermaksan. The Xpress 160's edge is the combination of Bystronic's build quality and software ecosystem at an entry-level price point -- you're getting a Swiss-engineered machine without the premium price tag. Specs sourced from Bystronic published technical data, The Equipment Hub listings, and The Fabricator Press Brake Buyers' Guide.