TPT September 2013

Tube mi l ls and rol l forming

Tube and pipe mills RAFTER Equipment Corporation

has provided many upgrades in these areas. For 2013, Rafter will offer a new machine design for the roll forming industry. This design will be targeted for custom roll formed profile producers that require high-quality machinery with quick-changeover capabilities. The new machine will be officially introduced in November of this year at the Fabtech International show in Chicago. Originally started in 1917 as a roll forming machine builder, the company was purchased, relocated, and transformed into a premier tube mill manufacturer in 1988. Since this time, Rafter Equipment has provided nearly 100 tube mills and more than 400 mill accessory upgrades. Its focus is to provide robust equipment that is simple to operate and maintain. It supports its equipment through personalised and dedicated after- sales service and spare parts. By doing all of this, Rafter gives its customers the equipment necessary to be both successful and profitable.

production of drive shaft tubing. The mill is capable of producing tubing up to 127mm OD x 4.8mm wall (5" x 0.188") with a maximum diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio of 78:1. The line included a complete strip entry system with vertical strip accumulator through overseas partnership. All the drive electrics and controls for the mill and entry system were sourced through the US and are serviced locally. Also included was a web-based VPN diagnostic portal that allows Rafter to access the PLC remotely. In addition to mill equipment, Rafter provides mill accessories. These mainly include weld squeeze boxes, seam orientation units, and turkshead straighteners. In the past year, Rafter

manufactures tube mills and pipe mills, roll forming machines, cutoff machines, and other related mill machinery. It is able to provide equipment for tube sizes from 0.188" (4.76mm) to 16" (400mm) OD. It has supplied mills using high-frequency induction (HFI), high- frequency contact (HFC), TIG/plasma, and laser welding. Its equipment has been used for the production of the following tubular products: mechanical, structural, HSS, energy, API, refrigeration, automotive, appliance, and other tubular products. Rafter has remained busy throughout the recent economic downturn. An RT-3000 automotive tube mill was commissioned this year for the

Rafter Equipment Corp – USA Email: sales@rafterequipment.com Website: www.rafterequipment.com

Rafter Equipment Corp – RT-3000 tube forming and welding mill

Order for automated tube mill KENT Corporation of Ohio, USA, has received an order for a new automated tube mill entry line for an ISO Certified customer in North America. The automated entry line will be capable of 24" wide strip and 0.375" thick material. The entry system will be integrated with the existing mill for smooth and reliable operation. The equipment is due to ship in December 2013.

Kent Corporation has been providing entry equipment, strip end welders, accumulators, high-speed cold saws and tube mill consumables to the tube mill, roll forming and stamping industry for more than 40 years. Kent has delivered over 6,000 pieces of equipment that are currently running successfully, with applications that vary from 0.008" (0.2mm) to 0.750" (19mm) thick and from strip widths of 0.5" (12.7mm) to over 80" (2,032mm) wide.

Kent Corporation – USA Email: sales@kenttesgo.com Website: www.kenttesgo.com

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S eptember 2013