Plate rolling is a metal fabrication process for forming flat sheets of metal into curved, cylindrical, or conical-shaped pieces. The material is fed into a special machine fitted with rollers that apply pressure to gradually bend and form the material into the desired shape with a specified radius or variable radii. A variety of types and sizes of metal sheets are compatible with this process, so it is a common choice for custom fabrication projects.
As part of our full-service metal fabrication capabilities, Cenflex offers precision plate rolling services. With decades of experience serving the paper industry and others, we can produce custom pieces that meet project requirements and the tightest tolerances. Learn more about how plate rolling is used across industries and about our plate rolling process.
Custom Plate Rolling for Diverse Applications
Plate rolling is an indispensable metal fabrication process for applications in many industries. Some examples of the many applications for plate rolling include:
- Hay balers, silos, and storage tanks
- HVAC components, compressor piping and tubes, water jacket components, ductwork
- Curved structural panels for buildings, storage, and utility structures
- Ship and boat hull panels
- Turbine housings and components
- Spouts and chutes
- Curved or conical cover plates and canopy panels for industrial equipment
- Exhaust system components
- Metal tanks and pressure vessels
How Cenflex’s Plate Rolling Process Works
We strive to understand design intent and meet our customers’ requirements and specifications for each project. Our goal is to balance materials, dimensions, tolerances, and end-use goals with overall component manufacturability, timelines, budget, and production scale. As a result, we can deliver high-quality rolled pieces while minimizing waste, scrap, and rework.
As an ISO 9001:2015 certified metal fabrication company, we are also dedicated to quality control and precision in all the work we do.
Our fabrication process includes these steps:
- Selecting an appropriate material with desired properties
- Cleaning material and inspection for defects
- Loading the sheet metal into the rolling machine
- Rolling and making any necessary adjustments
- Straightening and manual adjustments to achieve final shape or curves
- Quality inspection
- Finishing processes, such as painting, coating, or polishing
Our equipment includes a slip roll machine and a 4-roll hydraulic rolling machine, which offers great versatility in the sizes and shapes of rolled pieces we can manufacture, including cylinders, cones, ellipses, and other curved forms. These machines create pieces with a high degree of repeatability and consistency in dimensions. Because they can handle large sheets of metal, it’s possible to form seamless pieces that require less welding than alternative fabrication methods.
Plate rolling is compatible with many types of metal, including but not limited to:
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Aluminum
- Specialty alloys
Why Choose Cenflex for Rolled Component Fabrication?
The Cenflex team is dedicated to efficient metal fabrication without sacrificing quality. We offer superior customer service, backed by decades of experience in plate forming for a variety of applications and industries, such as:
- Aerospace
- Manufacturing
- HVAC
- Construction
- Transportation
- Shipbuilding
- Medical
- Petrochemicals
- Power Generation
- Water Systems
- Agriculture
Plate Rolling Services You Can Rely On
Cenflex is a leading full-service metal fabrication company with a specialty in plate rolling, along with CNC machining, laser cutting, press braking, welding, and metal finishing processes. We provide expert custom manufacturing services that set us apart from our competition and meet your needs for efficient production.
Contact us to learn more about our precision-manufacturing capabilities or to discuss your next project.
