The invention describes a manufacturing device (1) and a method for bending blanks (4) or workpieces (5), having a bending press (2) and having a manipulator (3), which can be displaced in a raceway parallel to a longitudinal extent of a table and bending beam (10, 14), for workpiece transfer between a feeding or removal apparatus for the blanks (4) or the workpieces (5) and a forming region between bending tools (21). The manipulator (3) has an articulated-arm arrangement (33) having preferably three arms (34, 35, 36) which can be pivoted via pivoting bearing arrangements (37) about pivot axes (39) which are oriented parallel to the raceway, and said manipulator has a rotary unit (41), having a rotational axis (42) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axes (39), at one distal end of the articulated-arm arrangement (33). At least one detection device (50) which has a communications link to the control and monitoring device (25) is arranged on the articulated-arm arrangement (33), for a physical value which brings about a state change of an arm (34, 35, 36) of the articulated-arm arrangement (33) upon loading.