is possible for different degrees of deflection of the bending beam carrier 42 in the direction away from the pivot axis 34 to be compensated for to different extents in a corresponding way by the curving device 40 so that the bending edge 44 can approximately be set in such a way as to extend approximately parallel to the pivot axis 34 and therefore also to the bending line it is therefore possible to substantially compensate for the deflection of the bending beam carrier 42 as a function of the bending forces which occur during different bending operations to adjust the curving device 40 a setting device is provided this setting device being denoted overall by 60 and comprising hydraulic cylinders 62 and 64 which are respectively associated with end side wedge pairs 46 1 and 46 n and act on the respective upper wedge body 48 b 1 and 48 b n respectively by means of pressure exerting bodies 66 and 68 with in each case one of the hydraulic cylinders 62 or 64 being active by way of example if the upper wedge bodies 48 b are to be displaced in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder 64 the hydraulic cylinder 62 is active while if the upper wedge bodies 48 b are to be displaced in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder 62 the hydraulic cylinder 64 is active to actuate and operate the two hydraulic cylinders 62 and 64 the setting device 60 is also provided with a hydraulic control unit 70 which can be used to apply hydraulic medium to the two hydraulic cylinders 62 and 64 in a controlled way the hydraulic control unit 70 corresponds with a control unit 72 for.