OEM Purlin Roll Forming Machine

 

Overview

 

An OEM purlin roll forming machine is a specialized industrial equipment system used to continuously mass produce long length metal purlins and girts from coiled steel feedstock for use in original equipment manufactured steel buildings and structures.

 

Purlins act as structural Z, C or U-shaped roof and wall framing members that support exterior covering materials in metal building systems. Roll formed purlin sections optimize strength-to-weight rations with their vertical web and flange cross-sectional shape.

 

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of OEM purlin roll former technology, including:

 

• Machine types and components
• The purlin roll forming process
• Design factors and building standards
• Purlin framing applications
• Cost analysis
• Comparisons with other framing methods
• Leading global manufacturers

 

Gaining technical insight into OEM purlin roll former capabilities and structural framing assists engineers, contractors and architects evaluating optimized building solutions.

 

 

Types Of OEM Purlin Roll Forming Machines

 

There are two primary machine configurations used for high volume OEM purlin production:

 

Pyramid-Type Purlin Roll Formers

 

• Typically 10-16 forming stations in decreasing diameter tiers
• Compact layout, smaller footprint
• Slower production speeds

 

Inline Purlin Roll Formers

 

• Stations horizontally inline
• Longer line lengths
• High volume capacity
• Faster cycle times

 

Main Components Of A Purlin Roll Former

 

A typical OEM purlin roll forming line integrates these key sections:

 

Coil Payoff Reel

 

• Holds raw steel coil
• Powered unwind

 

Entry Guides

 

• Straighten and align strip
• Optimize material feed

 

Accumulator / Bridle

 

• Creates back tension zone
• Smooths flow variations

 

Forming Stations

 

• Progressive die rollers shape strip
• Number & type determine profile

 

Cutter

 

• Pneumatic or servo shear
• Trims finished purlins

 

Exit Conveyor Table

 

• Transfers finished lengths
• Supports long products

 

Automation Controller

 

• Touchscreen HMI
• Stores recipes
• Production data feedback

 

How Purlin Roll Forming Machines Work

 

The OEM purlin roll forming process shapes steel coil strip into C or Z-shaped roof and wall framing sections by bending and forming the feed material incrementally as it passes through a series of roller die stations:

 

1. Powered coil payoff reel feeds raw coiled steel into entry guides
2. Guides align strip and feed into initial roller stations
3. Rolling dies at each station make gradual precision bends
4. Strip exits each stand slightly more formed
5. Finished purlin profile emerges at end of line
6. Pneumatic shear cuts to length
7. Exit conveyor tables transfer finished lengths

 

The number of roller die stands determines possible purlin profile complexity. Quick change tooling allows fast production changeovers.

 

 

Key Design Factors For Purlin Roll Forming

 

Equipment specifiers evaluate numerous characteristics when selecting OEM purlin roll formers:

 

Building Type

 

• Pre-engineered steel structures
• Agricultural & commercial spans
• Residential metal roofing

 

Purlin Type

 

• Zee, Zed, Sigma
• Narrow flange Cee
• Structural tees

 

Material

 

• Low carbon steel
• High strength steel
• Galvanized coatings

 

Thickness

 

• 16 gauge to 7 gauge
• 1.2mm to 4mm+

 

Profile Height

 

• 75mm to 400mm+
• 3” to 18”+

 

Line Speed

 

• 10 to 35 m/min
• 33 to 115 ft/min

 

Changeover

 

• Quick change tooling
• Secondary fab stations

 

Framing Standards For OEM Purlins

 

While often custom engineered for specific buildings, these standards guide commercial purlin designs:

 

Standard	Description
AISI S100	North American cold-formed steel framing
AS/NZS 4600	Australian / New Zealand cold-formed steel structures
BS 5950	British cold rolled steel sections
EN 1993-1-3	European cold-formed steel structural framing
IS 801	Indian standard purlin sections

 

Typical Purlin Framing Applications

 

Common structural framing applications utilizing OEM roll formed steel purlins include:

 

Roof Purlins

 

• Metal building roofing support
• Standing seam roofing
• Single skin systems

 

Wall Girts

 

• Exterior metal panel backing
• Curtain wall framing
• Interior divide framing

 

Platform Framing

 

• Supporting floors
• Structural bridging
• Platform roofs

 

Structural Racking

 

• Warehouse racks
• Mezzanines
• Equipment platforms

 

Agricultural Buildings

 

• Pole barns
• Grain bin rings
• Storage sheds

 

Purlin Specifications

 

Metric	Typical Range
Height	75 mm – 400 mm
Flange Width	30 mm – 100 mm
Thickness	1.5 mm – 4 mm
Length	2 m – 13 m
Load	3 kN/m – 10 kN/m
Span	1.5 m – 8 m

 

Leading OEM Purlin Roll Former Manufacturers

 

Top international OEM purlin roll former producers include:

 

Company	Location
Formtek	USA
Epicenter Machinery	China
BOTOU Xianfa	China
Gasparini	Italy
Metform	Turkey

 

Pricing

 

Machine	Average Cost (USD)
Basic Pyramid Roll Former	$92,000
Inline 20-Station Machine	$185,000
High Capacity Servo Line	$430,000

 

Purlin	Average Cost Per Foot (USD)
12” 18 Gauge Zee	$1.15
8” 14 Gauge Cee	$1.75
4” 11 Gauge Sigma	$2.40

 

Advantages Of OEM Purlin Roll Forming

 

Benefits

 

• High production speeds
• Precision tolerances
• Quality consistency
• Minimal fabrication
• Lower material cost
• Reduced building construction time

 

Limitations

 

• High machine capital costs
• Mainly long, straight shapes
• Can require secondary punching
• Fixed tooling less flexible

 

 

FAQ

 

What is the maximum length of OEM roll formed purlins?

 

Standard exit conveyor tables allow continuous forming of purlins up to 40′ (12 m). Custom extra long beds can produce sections approaching 65′ (20 m).

 

What metals can use roll forming for purlins?

 

All common building steels including low carbon, high strength alloy steels, corrosion resistant alloys as well as lightweight aluminum framing grades.

What if secondary holes or clips are needed in the purlins?

 

Inline punching presses, drilling machines and clip insertion equipment can be integrated on the exit conveyor to add holes or mounting features.

What is the thickest gauge purlin an OEM roll former can produce?

 

Average max thickness is around 7 gauge steel or 4mm plate. Heavy duty custom machines can produce structural shapes from 3 gauge steel and beyond.

 

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