Calculate Your Return on Investment
Estimate how quickly a new CNC tube bender or automation cell pays for itself. This Excel spreadsheet compares your current process with an automated one.
- Enter your labor, cycle times, scrap and production volumes
- See annual savings and payback period
- Use the results to build the business case for new equipment
Free download, Excel (.xlsx). No form required.
Want a second set of eyes?
Our applications engineers are happy to review your numbers, parts or specifications with you, at no cost.
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How Payback Is Calculated
The calculator compares your current process with the proposed one and turns the difference into annual savings:
- Labor: hours per year saved from faster cycles, fewer setups and less handling, multiplied by your loaded labor rate
- Scrap: parts no longer scrapped, multiplied by material and labor cost per part
- Secondary operations: sawing, deburring or rework that the new process eliminates
- Capacity: extra output you can sell, or outsourced work you can bring back in
Payback period = total investment ÷ annual savings. For example, a $300,000 cell that saves $150,000 a year pays back in two years. These figures are only an illustration; enter your own.
Don't Leave These Out
A credible business case counts the full investment, not just the machine price: tooling, freight, rigging, installation, training, floor preparation and any automation or guarding. On the savings side, use realistic volumes. Payback built on a best-case forecast won't survive a finance review.
Gather These Numbers First
- Annual part volume and number of part numbers
- Current cycle time and setup time per job
- Operators per shift and your loaded labor rate
- Current scrap rate and cost per part
- Quoted price of the new equipment, including tooling and installation
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ROI calculator need from me?
Your labor rates, current and proposed cycle times, scrap rates and annual volumes. The spreadsheet calculates annual savings and payback.
Can it be used for automation as well as new benders?
Yes. It compares any current process with a proposed one, including adding loading, unloading or a full automation cell.
Can someone check my numbers?
Yes. Our applications engineers will review your inputs and assumptions at no cost.