Formtek recently supplied two roll formers to a U.S. manufacturer of industrial furnaces and ovens. This manufacturer’s production needs had changed, and “they wanted to expand their capabilities to cover newer applications,” says Jack Pennuto of Formtek.
Thirty years ago, the manufacturer had purchased a 20-gauge roll former from Formtek in order to make insulated panels for the outside of furnace or oven structures. This machine had fit their applications at the time, and it continued to serve their company well until they had a need for producing stainless steel parts and 18- and 16-gauge panels in addition to the 20-gauge. This is when the new lock-former duplex machines were able to expand the manufacturer’s capabilities. Now these furnace panels can be made in different widths and thicknesses depending on furnace enclosure sizes and insulating values. Additionally, instead of being fabricated on a press-break, they could be role-formed, which increases.
For both duplex machines, the manufacturer takes pre-cut sheets of steel and manually feeds these into the roll former. It’s one of the simplest applications for Formtek machinery, but the roll formers have a digital read-outs and precision screw width adjustments to accept whatever panel size they want to produce. The creates tongue-and-groove style panels which fit together with insulation between them. The channel roll former works similarly, creating an open U-channel with whichever thickness is needed for a specific insulating value. This machine also acts as a stiffener for panel edges to provide structure for installation.