jsreric roll forming machine

Bringing metal roll forming processes into your plant is a complex investment. It’s more than just buying a machine that you turn on and off whenever you need it. There are additional costs and risks you won't understand unless you run a full-blown roll forming factory.

You may have found a used roll forming machine online and thought, “Oh, that seems simple enough.”

You may be considering having a new equipment manufacturer design and install a turnkey custom machine. Maybe you're even looking at portable roll forming equipment.

Or, maybe you're weighing the pros and cons of roll forming in-house vs. outsourcing to an experienced roll forming company.

All of these options can bring success, but the level of success depends on your company's operations, needs, and goals.

Let’s take a closer look at those influencing factors.

WORKING IN-HOUSE VS. A CONTRACTOR'S ROLL FORMING LINE FACTORY
1.  In-House Inventory Control vs. Vendor Deliveries
Control over inventory and quantities is one reason companies bring roll forming in-house. But how does inventory control stack up against the cost of roll forming operations? Ask yourself these questions:

Will there be a full-time line operator?
Will your company be able to balance the cost, output, and other dependent processes of full-time
roll forming?
Roll form manufacturers already have balanced systems to provide full-time roll forming capabilities at a reasonable cost.

They can also manage your inventory for you - whether that means JIT/Kanban management or large volume, make-and-ship orders. Inventory costs are one of those factors that can sneak up on you. Stock should be minimized to reduce costs while providing a buffer for changes in demand. Inexperienced inventory management can cause costly supply chain disruptions.

Additionally, a company that practices pull system inventory management can operate very similarly to an in-house inventory program. Pull system inventory management allows for point-of-use consumption data, auto replenishment, and preset minimum carry levels.

2.  Cost of Roll Forming Equipment vs. ROI
roll forming line factory - managed inventory

Roll forming equipment is more than just the forming machine itself. Here’s an in-depth overview of a standard roll forming production line. This includes:

Material handling equipment
Loading crane
Uncoiling system
Pre-punch press (if your part has holes, slots, or tabs)
Accurate feeder/control system
Flying die cutoff accelerator with controls
Appropriately sized cut-off press
The cost of a complete roll forming system can range from $200,000 to $2,000,000 depending on the complexity of your part family. Most in-house systems can only produce one part profile, and a typical line can generate about 1.5 million linear feet per year in a single-shift operation.

So, if you’re planning on purchasing your own roll forming system, you'll most definitely need high volumes to see a decent ROI.

3.  Roll Form Operator Skills vs. Quality Control
Roll forming training, unlike that of press braking machinery, is quite extensive. Only operators with years of experience in this specific manufacturing process can consistently pump out quality parts. Here are only a few of the considerations for each line:

Commercial metal thicknesses and physical properties vary considerably
Runs with various lots of metal require precise adjustments to produce the expected profile
Adjustments must be made to account for springback of harder metals
Thicker lots require more space between roll forming tools
Unequal pressure on roll forming shafts will cause twist and bow
How to account for part stretching
How to avoid metal crashing into dies
Can your in-house operators cover all of these bases? You’d better hope so.

On the other hand, an experienced roll forming manufacturer is guaranteed to understand and account for these variables. Further, a true roll forming supplier knows how to squeeze the most out of the equipment. Seasoned operators can run multiple profiles and metals on a single line. That means equipment investment costs stay as low as possible.

Equipment adjustment techniques take years to master. Experts are very expensive to hire full-time for your own operations. And, if you need service contractors, they very likely will not have schedules that meet your urgent needs. That puts your supply chain and your customers at risk.

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