Piper needed a new sheet hydroforming press that could handle their part forming requirements and eliminate downtime. Beckwood provided a Triform 16-5BD fluid cell sheet hydroforming press which decreased downtime and increased cost savings and throughput.

1. Success Story:
Piper Aircraft
Dramatically Improved
Cycle Times
PiperAircraftReliesonTriformforPreciseControl&Repeatability
Piper Aircraft, Inc., located in Vero
Beach, Florida manufactures general
aviation aircraft. Founded in the 1920’s,
they have been using pad forming
and sheet hydroforming for decades.
Their existing large-format, tray-style
hydroforming press required expensive
bladder changes that could take weeks
to complete.
Piper wanted a new hydroforming
press that could handle a significant
percentage of their part-forming
requirements and maximize up-time
with fast, inexpensive bladder changes.
Beckwood evaluated Piper’s needs
and recommended a Triform Sheet
Hydroforming, 5000 PSI Fluid Cell Model,
which features a 16” forming area.
Their new Triform16-5BD allows for
significantly decreased down-time and
increased cost-savings, with bladder
changes taking less than 30 minutes to
complete at a fraction of the cost.
The Triform also increased throughput,
as their cycle time dropped from 90
seconds on the tray-style press to just
15 seconds on the more nimble Triform
16-5BD. Plus, tool changes on the
smaller-format Triform are considerably
less cumbersome than those performed
on the larger machine.
Piper has transitioned over 500 parts
from its line, approximately 20% of the
overall production, to the new press.
These parts are now formed faster on
the Triform, and the life of their aging
tray-style machine can be extended due
to the workload sharing.
“We typically produce 10 to 30 parts per
setup, then change tooling,” says James
Priest, lead press operator. “We might
change tools 15 times or more per shift.
With the Triform, tool changes literally
take seconds. Conversely, changing tools
on our larger hydroforming presses can
take 30 minutes or more.”
Max Chamber
Pressure:
5,000 PSI
Industry: Aerospace
Forming Area: 16” diameter
Form Tool
Clearance:
4.75”
Daylight: 5.5”
Cycle Time: 15 seconds

2. Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Develop a hydroforming solution that is compact and portable.
Solution: Triform’s unique pressure containment systems allow for significantly
reduced press size and weight, without sacrificing structural integrity or
durability. Piper’s Triform requires no special ceiling height requirements or
special foundations due to its flush floor design. The 16-5BD’s portability is in
stark contrast to other hydroforming presses, which due to the size, weight
and need for expensive pits & foundations, have been termed ‘monuments’.
Challenge: Provide a machine with quick bladder changes.
Solution: Triform press systems facilitate fast, simple and inexpensive bladder
changes to increase up-time and minimize overall costs. Bladder changes on
the Triform 16-5BD can take as little as 30 minutes and can be performed by a
team of 1-3 people.
“Our new press is faster, more
flexible and more productive
than our other sheet hydroform
presses.”
Chris See
Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Results
Piper has transitioned over 500 parts from its line,
approximately 20% of the overall production, to the new fluid
cell press.
Built for you. Built to last. Built in the USA.
About Triform
Triform presses are engineered, manufactured, sold, serviced, and supported by Beckwood Press Company, from our
company headquarters in St. Louis, MO USA. Prior to their launch in 2008, companies searching for sheet hydroforming
presses were faced with limited options. Since then, Triform’s product line has expanded to include not only fluid cell and
deep draw sheet hydroforming presses but also hot joggle forming presses, hydraulic ring expanders, and extrusion and
leading edge stretch forming machines.
Today, Triform’s line of specialty forming equipment supports many of the world’s leading aerospace & defense
manufacturers as well as suppliers in the medical, lighting, automotive, appliance and R&D industries.
889 Horan Dr. | Fenton, MO 63026
636.380.2356
info@triformpress.com
www.triformpress.com