Custom Roll Forming Institute Division

Find A Roll Former | October 2008 meeting minutes

Custom Roll Forming Institute Division Meeting
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.
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Roll Forming is a continuous process in which a strip of metal, usually in coil form, is passed through a series of roller dies and progressively shaped to the desired contour. It eliminates multiple stage production, finishing or sub-assembly operations. Secondary operations such as: notching, punching, tabbing, perforating, edge rolling, bending, deburring, embossing, and mechanical finishing can be combined continuously with the roll forming operation to speed production and reduce assembly costs.

By its very nature, roll forming is a process which permits consistent adherence to close tolerances, working in both heavy and lightweight materials. Roll formed shapes can be economically produced from an almost limitless variety of stock that has been preprocessed: painted, vinyl coated, oiled, anodized, embossed, or mechanically surface treated. Practically all metals can be successfully roll formed.

Custom Roll Forming Is: Roll forming plus design and engineering services. When you consult a Custom Roll Former early in the planning stages he can assist in designing and redesigning parts in a way that will trim costs and simplify production and assembly. For example, during the early planning stages it may be possible to combine several assemblies into a one-unit piece.

The Custom Roll Former can deliver finished shapes, cut to exact length, ready for assembly.

The Custom Roll Forming Institute (CRFI)

The Custom Roll Forming Institute was founded in 1972 as an association of manufacturers who produce nonproprietary, or custom, roll formed shapes. Founders of CRFI realized the basic need for an industry voice to promote the industry and develop the vast potential of market uses for custom roll formed shapes.

It is now one of PMA's 8 process-oriented divisions. Companies join PMA and designate one or more divisions in which it will participate. CRFI Division members carry out their own activities, while enjoying the overall benefits of PMA membership. Membership in the CRFI Division includes companies which produce, at least as part of their production, cold-formed sections to customer order (nonproprietary). Suppliers to the industry are also encouraged to join as associate members, to improve the interchange of knowledge so both regular and associate members may operate more efficiently.

Since its inception, the main thrust of the organization has been to enhance the concept of custom production, which takes advantage of special tooling capabilities and engineering and conceptual expertise of the roll forming specialist.

The activities of the Institute are motivated by the following specific objectives:

To promote custom roll forming as an alternative to in-house roll forming
To promote roll forming as a process
To provide educational opportunities for members
To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information
To serve as a spokesman for the industry.

The Division's Activities

Meetings - Meetings of the members are held 3 times each year featuring programs designed by the membership to meet their needs. Meetings typically include plant tours of supplier facilities, presentations on technical and management issues, and round table discussions on topics of importance to the industry.

Raw Material Suppliers Panel - Every 2 years a meeting is dedicated to a panel discussion of top marketing and technical executives of raw material suppliers to keep members assessed of both market trends and technological advancements to assist in their planning.

Thomas Register Advertising- An ad is placed annually in Thomas Register describing member company contact and capability information. It is intended as a reference guide for designers and purchasers seeking to source roll formed shapes. Members are also referred when staff receives inquiries for roll forming.

Surveys - Members participate in an annual "Wage/Benefit Survey," a quarterly "Business Conditions Survey," and other industry surveys to provide valuable benchmarking information.

Publications and Promotion - Articles promoting the roll forming process are developed for placement in key industry publications.

Seminars - Members participate in seminars to educate designers and potential customers about the tremendous capability of the roll forming process.

A Forum - CRFI provides a valuable forum for networking and exchanging ideas and information with peers to advance the industry.

Recent Accomplishments

Membership in the CRFI Division includes companies which produce, at least as part of their production, cold-formed sections to customer order (nonproprietary). The CRFI has been in existence for nearly 30 years. Its members are very proud of their recent accomplishments. They include:

SIC Industry Code - The organization's 20-year quest to be recognized by the U.S. Bureau of the Census as a viable, significant industry has paid off with an SIC industry code for custom roll forming. The code was assigned for the 1997 Census of Manufactures and has been converted to the new NAICS system, identified as NAICS Code 332114, "Custom Roll Forming." This will provide status and recognition for the industry, hopefully spurring growth all can enjoy.

Design Information -- Roll Forming now has its own chapter along with other metalforming processes in PMA's Design Guidelines book. This important design information is used by hundreds of designers and specifiers.

Skill Standards -- Roll forming skill standards have been published, describing duties which roll forming machine operators and set up technicians need and the skills and knowledge they must possess to do their jobs efficiently. These standards can serve as the basis for a roll forming company's training process.

International Efforts -- Several members participated in a European Study Trip to roll forming facilities in England, Belgium, and Germany. It has generated follow up visits by European roll formers and better communications among custom roll formers throughout the world.

Website Creation - CRFI has this discrete website within PMA's site to promote the attributes and advantages of the roll forming process and the specific capabilities of each member company.