Material Handling Options
To further customize your line, you can add different material handling options at the feeding end. There are more options than a typical uncoiler (in a continuous-feed line) or hand-feeding sheets (in a precut line). You can use coil cars, coil upenders, turnstiles, and stacking systems to help decrease changeover time. Quick coil change is important, because the faster you can feed new materials and different colors of coils into the roll forming line, the more panels you can run overall.
The most common choice for the exit end of a panel roll forming mill has been a drop stacker. Another option is a magnetic stacker. While it costs more, it involves less maintenance.
Additional building products that can be roll formed on dedicated machines are soffits, fascia, gutter guards, and drip edges. Most of these lend themselves to being produced on precut or postcut roll forming lines, with the same benefits and limitations as panel manufacturing.
For an in-depth analysis of metal roofing panels for your specific application, it's best to contact a roll forming equipment manufacturer.
