CNC sheet metal punching
We punch perforations, embossed features and formed shapes in sheet metal with CNC tooling — particularly efficient on repetitive parts with many operations.
Perforations · Formed features · Embossing
What the service involves
Punching works by shearing and forming with tooling: a tool comes down on the sheet and produces the hole or feature in one stroke. When a part repeats the same operation many times — a grille, a perforated panel, a row of fixing holes — this process is highly efficient.
Beyond holes, punching does things laser cutting cannot: embossing, formed countersinks, ribs, louvres and other features that deform the material rather than simply remove it.
Catà Germans installed one of the first CNC punching machines in the area in the late 1980s, and the process remains one of the workshop's core capabilities.
Materials we work with
Materials and thicknesses we work with as standard. If your project needs a material that is not listed, say so in your enquiry and we will confirm whether we can handle it.
This service works with the same materials and thicknesses as the rest of the plant. The full table is on the Sheet metal laser cutting page.
File formats we accept
- DXF
- DWG
- STEP / STP
- STL
- IGS / IGES
- PNG
- JPG
Technical capabilities
| Control | CNC punching machines with interchangeable tooling |
|---|---|
| Operations | Perforations, formed features, embossing and local forming |
| Materials | Sheet in the materials and thicknesses of the laser cutting table |
| Volumes | Particularly suited to batches and repetitive parts |
Parts and applications
- Perforated sheet and ventilation grilles.
- Parts with large numbers of repeated holes.
- Embossed and ribbed features formed in sheet.
- Seats for self-clinching fasteners.
- Batches where the same pattern repeats part after part.
Why work with Catà Germans
- Every process under one roof
- Cutting, forming, machining, welding and finishing in the same plant. The part does not travel between workshops, which cuts lead times and points of failure.
- In-house engineering office
- We review the drawing before manufacturing and prepare production from CAD/CAM. If something does not add up, we ask you instead of interpreting it ourselves.
- Raw material in stock
- We keep sheet and tube permanently in stock, so many standard jobs can start without waiting for material.
- Over 65 years of the trade
- A family business founded in 1958, specialised in industrial subcontracting of metal parts. You deal directly with the people who make the part.
Frequently asked questions
When is punching better than laser cutting?
As a rule of thumb: the laser suits complex outlines, varied parts and thicker material; punching pays off when the same operation repeats many times or the material needs forming. When we receive the drawing we assess which process suits your part and tell you.
Can you produce embossed and formed features?
Yes. That is one of the differences from laser cutting: punching can form the material locally, not just remove it.
Can it be combined with bending and tapping?
Yes, that is the usual flow. A punched part can continue to bending, tapping or fastener insertion within the same plant.
Which file formats do you accept?
We accept PDF, DXF, DWG, STEP/STP, STL, IGS/IGES and also PNG or JPG images. If you do not have a final drawing yet, send us a dimensioned sketch and we will review it all the same.
Do you make one-off parts or only production runs?
We handle one-off parts and prototypes as well as small, medium and large batches and repeat production. You can specify this in the quote request.
How quickly do you reply to an enquiry?
We send a technical response in under 48 hours from receiving the drawing and the part details.
Can several processes be combined on the same part?
Yes — that is the normal way we work. A part can go through laser cutting, bending, welding and finishing inside the same plant, under a single order and a single point of contact.
Request information or a quote
Send us the drawing and the part details and we will come back with a technical answer in under 48 hours.
Technical answer in 48 h