A multifunction hydraulic head for use with forming and bending machines for sheet metal and/or metal profiles is equipped with carriages (15) that slide horizontally on guide and shift shafts. Each carriage (15) of the said machine is equipped with a bracket (17) that is integral with the respective carriage, the bracket supporting the interchangeable work assemblies (18, 19, 20, 21) which include a mobile matrix (22, 24, 26, 28) and a fixed pressing unit (23, 25, 27, 29); furthermore, the sheet metal (11) is inserted between the matrices and the pressing unit of the installed unit, to be spot processed by the said work assemblies in accordance with the desired shape.