Used Metal Forming Equipment for Aerospace

Buying Guide: Used Stretch Formers & Metal Forming Equipment for Aerospace

Expert guidance for aerospace equipment buyers. 3 listings currently available.

What to Look For When Buying Used

Stretch formers are precision machines with tight tolerances on clamp force symmetry — uneven clamping causes thickness variation and spring-back errors across the formed profile. Request the force calibration records showing left-side vs. right-side clamp force balance across the full stroke. A difference greater than 2% between sides indicates worn hydraulic seals or control system drift requiring recalibration ($5,000–$18,000 depending on machine size). For roll formers, inspect the tooling condition and alignment: roll wear shows as inconsistent cross-section geometry. Worn rolls are the single largest cost driver on used roll forming equipment — replacement roll sets for aerospace-spec sections run $12,000–$45,000. Check the die library included with any stretch former sale: aerospace programs lock to specific die sets that may be proprietary to a customer program. A Hufford machine with 40 dies for a 737 program is far more valuable than the same machine without them. Fluid forming presses require bladder inspection — ask for bladder replacement history and current bladder condition report.

Price Ranges by Condition and Age

Metal forming equipment pricing varies widely by type and tonnage: Hufford / ERCO stretch formers (small, < 100 ton): $35,000–$120,000 for functional units with die libraries. Widely available from older aerospace plant closures. Hufford / Cyril Bath transverse stretch formers (100–600 ton): $150,000–$450,000 for large longitudinal skin formers — rare and in high demand from commercial airframe producers. Roll formers (aerospace structural sections): $25,000–$90,000 for standard section sizes; custom-tooled units for specific aircraft sections can command significant premiums if the tooling transfers. Hydroform / fluid cell presses (50–400 ton): $60,000–$250,000 — see the presses buying guide for detailed pricing. Superplastic forming presses: $300,000–$900,000 for production SPF systems — specialty equipment that holds value well due to limited new production. Die libraries add 10–40% to total acquisition value for stretch forming equipment tied to active aerospace programs.

Top Manufacturers and Why They Matter

Hufford (USA) is the heritage name in aerospace stretch forming — Hufford machines built in the 1960s–1990s are still in active production service at Boeing, Airbus, and Tier 1 suppliers. Parts supply is available from specialty suppliers and from used machine dealers who part out non-running units. Cyril Bath (USA) built the large transverse stretch formers used for commercial aircraft fuselage and wing skin production — these machines are extremely rare and highly sought. ERCO (USA) produced stretch wrap forming machines widely used for smaller section forming at Tier 2 suppliers. Farnham Engineering builds specialized roll forming equipment for aerospace structural sections in the UK and maintains an active service organization. Hydraform / Quintus dominates the fluid forming segment (see presses guide). For machines tied to active aerospace programs, verify that the die sets transfer with the equipment and that the customer-specific process documentation (including approved first article records) is available.

Common Applications in Aerospace Manufacturing

Metal forming equipment shapes the sheet metal skin and structure of virtually every aircraft built today: Wing and fuselage skin forming — stretch formers produce the contoured aluminum panels that form the outer mold line of commercial aircraft. A single large commercial aircraft requires hundreds of individually formed skin panels. Stringer and frame forming — roll formers and stretch formers produce the continuous aluminum extrusions that stiffen fuselage skins and wing panels. Floor beam and seat track production — roll forming produces the uniform cross-section structural members used throughout aircraft interiors. Titanium and specialty alloy forming — hot stretch forming of titanium and high-strength steel for military aircraft structure, engine pylons, and landing gear supports. Prototype and low-rate production — smaller hydroform presses handle development-program skins and low-volume defense parts where hard tooling isn't economical. Aerospace forming equipment is one of the most program-specific categories — tooling compatibility with your customer's approved parts list (APL) often determines whether a machine is worth acquiring.

Why Buying Used Makes Sense

New stretch formers from Cyril Bath successors and equivalent builders are capital projects — $1,000,000–$5,000,000 for large transverse machines with 18–36 month build timelines. For most buyers, the used market is the only practical source. Aerospace forming equipment is built to outlast programs — a well-maintained Hufford machine from 1975 is fully production-capable today. The installed base is aging but not disappearing, creating consistent availability as facilities consolidate. The critical value driver on used forming equipment is the die library: dies machined to approved configurations for Boeing 737, A320, or F-18 programs represent $100,000–$500,000+ in tooling investment that doesn't transfer anywhere else. Buying a stretch former with a full program die set from a facility that's transitioning away from that aircraft type is the most capital-efficient way to enter that production niche. Die-less machines require tooling investment before first production, adding 3–9 months and $50,000–$300,000 to the effective acquisition cost.