Purlin Roll Forming Machine
A purlin roll forming machine produces C, Z, CZ and Sigma purlins used in steel structure buildings, solar mounting systems and storage racking. ZTRFM builds single and double profile lines with punching and flying cutting, from open Cee lines for 1.9–2.6 mm coil to heavy duty machines that roll 8 mm plate. All lines are CE and ISO9001 certified, with trial report and video inspection provided before shipment.
What This Machine Produces
One line can form several steel purlin families by changing the forming station inserts:
- C purlin (Cee) – open C profile for roof and wall purlins, sizes from 4 inch Cee up to heavy C sections
- Z purlin (Zee) – nested Z profile that stacks for economical shipping, US style and metric styles
- CZ combined – a single machine that switches between C and Z by changing stations (manual, semi-auto or full-auto changeover)
- Sigma / M purlin – sigma profiles with increased rigidity for longer spans
- Solar C strut 41x21 – small channel used as purlin rail in photovoltaic mounting structures
Available Purlin Machine Types
| Line Type | Profile | Thickness | Forming Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic C & Z Purlin Line | C / Z / CZ | PPGI / PPGL coil | 20 stations, φ75 mm shafts |
| 4 Inch Cee Purlin Machine | Open Cee | 1.9–2.6 mm | 10–15 m/min |
| 4 Inch Zee Purlin Machine (US) | Zee, US style | galvanized coil | high speed line |
| Heavy Duty C & Z Line | C / Z heavy | up to 8 mm plate | reinforced stations |
| Sigma / M Purlin Machine | Sigma / M | steel coil | fully automatic |
| Solar Panel Support Purlin | C strut 41x21 | solar PV coil | PV mounting line |
Machine Configurations
Purlin lines can be equipped in three changeover levels. A manual line changes stations with bolts and is the most economical for one fixed profile. A semi-automatic line uses quick-change tooling to switch between C and Z in 30–60 minutes. A full-auto line moves stations by servomotor from the HMI, which suits manufacturers running mixed daily production. Drive selection matters too: chain drive is standard for light coil; gearbox drive is recommended for heavy duty 8 mm work and long-run factories.
Punching and Cutting
ZTRFM purlin lines support pre-punching (holes punched in the coil before forming, highest output), post-punching with servo tracking punch (holes punched on the fly at exact spacing), and flying shear cutting with length and quantity set from the PLC screen. Length accuracy is controlled by encoder feedback, typically ±2 mm on standard lines.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Standard Line |
|---|---|
| Forming stations | 20 rows (roller stations) |
| Shaft | φ75 mm solid, 40Cr CNC, HRC28–32, finish turned and plated |
| Roller material | High grade 45# forged steel, chrome plated |
| Material | PPGI, PPGL, galvanized steel coil; heavy duty up to 8 mm plate |
| Thickness range | 1.9–2.6 mm standard (see type table above) |
| Forming speed | 10–15 m/min |
| Main motor | 18.5 kW (PLC controlled) |
| Cutting & punching | Pre-punch or servo tracking punch + flying shear |
| Certification | CE, ISO9001 |
| Warranty | 3 years; trial report and video inspection provided |
Production Workflow
Decoiler → leveling → servo feeding → punching (optional) → roll forming → flying cutting → automatic stacking. Each stage is PLC coordinated, so one operator can run the whole line from the HMI in English or Chinese.
Applications
- Steel structure buildings – roof and wall purlins for factories, warehouses, hangars
- Solar mounting – C strut 41x21 and purlin rails for photovoltaic bracket structures
- Storage racking – rack beams and upright purlin sections
- Prefab and LGSF – light gauge steel framing members
Related Machines
- Automatic C & Z purlin roll forming machine – 20 stations, C/Z changeover
- 4 inch Cee purlin machine – open Cee profile, 1.9–2.6 mm
- 4 inch Zee purlin machine (US style)
- Heavy duty C & Z line for 8 mm steel
- Sigma / M purlin machine – fully automatic
- Solar panel support purlin machine – C strut 41x21
- C vs Z purlin: differences and choosing guide
- Guardrail & heavy duty roll forming
- View all ZTRFM machines
FAQ
Q: What is a purlin roll forming machine?
A: It is a cold roll forming line that shapes steel coil into C, Z, CZ, Sigma or U purlin profiles for steel structure buildings, solar mounting and racking systems. One line includes decoiler, leveler, punching, forming stations, flying shear and a PLC control system.
Q: What types of purlins can the machine produce?
A: C purlin (Cee), Z purlin (Zee), combined C/Z on one line, Sigma/M purlin, and solar C strut 41x21. Profile changeover is manual, semi-auto or fully automatic depending on configuration.
Q: What material thickness does it process?
A: Standard lines run PPGI/PPGL and galvanized coil from 1.9-2.6 mm; heavy duty lines form plate up to 8 mm with reinforced stations and gearbox drive.
Q: What is the forming speed?
A: Typical forming speed is 10-15 m/min with PLC synchronized punching and cutting; production speed depends on punch pattern and length.
Q: Can it punch holes?
A: Yes. Pre-punching before forming gives the highest output; servo tracking post-punching punches exact hole spacing on the fly; flying shear cuts to length automatically.
Q: How long does profile changeover take?
A: Manual changeover takes about one hour; semi-auto quick-change tooling reduces this to 30-60 minutes; full-auto servo changeover is done from the HMI in minutes.
Q: What is the MOQ?
A: One set. ZTRFM is a factory-direct manufacturer and accepts single machine orders.
Q: Can the line be customized for my profile drawing?
A: Yes. Send your profile drawing, material thickness and line speed requirement; we design the pass schedule and supply the line with trial report and video inspection.
Send us your purlin profile drawing for a line layout and quotation →
Email: steven@zt-rfm.com | WhatsApp/Tel: +86 131 6656 7923