Lean approach and setup time reduction in tube bending with Stargroup

The May 2025 issue of Deformazione magazine features our supply to VRV, a historic company specialized in the production of storage systems and tanks for technical gases, which has been part of the American group Chart Industries since 2020.

In the production of cryogenic tanks, VRV had a concrete need to optimize the stainless steel tube bending process (steel grades 304, 304L, 316), managing multiple diameters simultaneously (from 33 to 73 mm) while minimizing setup times.

Is it possible to handle multiple diameters at the same time with a tube bender?

With Stargroup, the answer is yes! Starting from the customer’s needs, we designed a custom configuration of the HeavyBend 900 bending machine by Star Technology: a three-level hybrid solution, with CNC-controlled electric movements, capable of housing multi-radius tools without the need to reconfigure the machine for each production change.

How to adopt a lean approach and reduce setup times in tube bending?

The article explains it: automatic programming via Tube Works — the software included in the Stargroup supply — allows operators to independently generate bending cycles starting from 3D CAD files, ensuring high precision from the very first tube. This solution, combined with the ability to mount multi-radius and multi-level tools, drastically reduces setup times and optimizes the production flow, making the entire tube bending process more efficient.