{"id":4592,"date":"2024-01-12T07:30:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T07:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swforming.com\/?p=4592"},"modified":"2025-10-24T02:09:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T02:09:35","slug":"light-keel-roll-forming-machine-20240112","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swforming.com\/fr\/light-keel-roll-forming-machine-20240112\/","title":{"rendered":"Profileuse pour quilles l\u00e9g\u00e8res"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A light keel roll forming machine<\/a> is an innovative technology used for bending metal sheets and plates into unique keel frame shapes. This advanced forming equipment enables efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective production of lightweight keel structural parts with improved strength for the shipbuilding and construction industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview of Light Keel Roll Forming Machine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Light keel roll forming is an automated continuous process for progressive bending of metal coils into customized open channel beams and frames with keel-like cross-sections. It utilizes a series of consecutive pairs of counter-rotating rolls to incrementally form the sheet metal into the desired structural shape as it passes through the machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits:<\/strong> Higher productivity, reduced labor, superior and consistent quality parts, lower cost, flexible and customizable forming, energy efficiency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applications:<\/strong> Ship hulls and decks, storage racks, automotive frames, rail car and crane structures, building roof supports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials:<\/strong> Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product Types:<\/strong> C-, U-, Z-, L-section keels up to 8 m length<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thickness Capacity:<\/strong> 0.5 – 3 mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppliers:<\/strong> Faccin, Peddinghaus, EPIC, Benko Products, Gasparini<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the following sections, we will explore in detail the working principle, main components, processes, selection factors, advantages, limitations, and applications of light keel roll forming lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Types of Light Keel Roll Forming Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two major categories of keel roll forming systems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table 1.<\/strong> Types of keel roll formers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type<\/strong><\/th>Description<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Fixed Keel Rolling Mills<\/strong><\/td>Consist of forming stands arranged in a fixed linear layout for rolling fixed keel frame shapes continuously<\/td><\/tr>
Flexible Roll Forming Lines<\/strong><\/td>Utilize modular forming units that can be rearranged into customized layouts for producing adjustable variable keel geometries<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fixed Keel Roll Formers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designed for dedicated high-volume production of standard keel sections. Lower cost, simpler design, easier operation. Limited flexibility in profile shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flexible Roll Forming Systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Enable quick changeovers between multiple keel shapes. PLC-controlled. More expensive initial cost but higher adaptability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working Principle of Light Keel Roll Former<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The working concept of light keel roll formers involves continuous and incremental bending of strip metal stock into a keel-shaped open channel structural beam utilizing a series of roll stations, as illustrated step-by-step below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1.<\/strong> Light keel roll forming process<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Sheet coil is loaded at the de-coiler unit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The strip gets fed through the leveler for flattening<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Forming rolls progressively cold-work the metal into the designated keel shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Final keel frame gets extracted and cut at desired length<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Formed keels are offloaded for further fabrication\/assembly<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    During this rolling process, the pre-treated metal strip undergoes consecutive bending and shaping between specialized pairs of gear-driven rolls that operate in opposing directions. As the material passes each stand, incremental deformations are induced leading to the cumulative formation of the keel profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Correct design of the roll pass sequences and precise control of rolling parameters like metal feed rate, roll rpm, inter-stand tensions, and lateral positioning are critical to achieving high-quality keels. The latest computerized keel roll mills enable precision forming, reduce defects, and improve performance compared to manual equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Main Components of Light Keel Rolling Lines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Table 2.<\/strong> Components of keel roll formers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unit<\/strong><\/th>Function<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Sheet Coil Payoff<\/td>Feed metal coil strip<\/td><\/tr>
    Feed Table<\/td>Support and guide metal strip<\/td><\/tr>
    De-coiler<\/td>Unwind sheet coil with controlled tension<\/td><\/tr>
    Entry Guide<\/td>Align strip entering first rolls<\/td><\/tr>
    Sheet Leveler<\/td>Eliminate coil curvature for flatness<\/td><\/tr>
    Forming Stands<\/td>House upper\/lower forming rolls to shape metal<\/td><\/tr>
    Forming Rolls<\/td>Progressively cold-work the strip into keel shape<\/td><\/tr>
    Roll Gear Boxes<\/td>Provide shaping rolls with rotation torque<\/td><\/tr>
    Keel Extractor<\/td>Extract formed keel at output<\/td><\/tr>
    Cut-Off Shear<\/td>Cut keels at specified lengths<\/td><\/tr>
    Runout Conveyors<\/td>Transport cut keels for unload<\/td><\/tr>
    Electrical Cabinet<\/td>Controls, PLC units, instruments<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Key Forming Section Equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The forming stands<\/strong> with specialized keel forming rolls<\/strong> are the most important parts responsible for bending the strip stock into the desired keel structural shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n