Plate rolling: shells and curved parts

What plate rolling is

Plate rolling gives a flat sheet a cylindrical or curved shape. The sheet passes between the rolls of a plate roller, which gradually bend it to the required radius. This produces closed shells, half-shells or arc-shaped parts.

Cut, rolled and assembled on site

In our workshop, the sheet is first laser-cut to the exact flat pattern, perforated if required, and then rolled. Shells can then be closed and assembled by welding: you receive a part ready for integration, without multiplying suppliers.

Defining your rolled part

The achievable diameter depends on the thickness and material: thick plate cannot be rolled to a small diameter. The rolling length, limited to 1,250 mm, is the dimension of the sheet parallel to the rolls. For each request, our engineering office checks the combination of thickness, diameter and length, and tells you about any adjustment needed before quoting.

Solid or perforated sheet

A laser-perforated sheet rolls differently from a solid one: the layout of the perforations affects how evenly it curves. The pattern and rolling direction are therefore studied together, as early as the cutting preparation.

Typical applications

Rolling is used to make drums, guards, protective covers, ducts, urban furniture parts and structural elements. Describe how your part will be used in your quote request: it helps us choose the most suitable manufacturing method.

Rolling or bending?

For a curved shape with a large radius, rolling gives a continuous curve. For a sharp angle or a series of facets, bending is often more suitable. Our engineering office will point you to the most appropriate solution based on the shape, thickness and quantity.