Century, Inc. News

Century Adds Rollform System Retrofits

Century’s Rollforming Division in Norton Shores, Michigan expanded their product range to include complete rollform system retrofits. The system was shipped in the fourth quarter of 2007 and is being placed in production during the first quarter of 2008.

The system had been rollforming a non-welded open-profile truck frame member. Century Rollforming retrofitted the line to run a closed-form, high frequency welded, closed box type cross section to produce a pickup truck radiator support. The main challenge of the project was the mechanical and electrical system components not only had to be designed and built to accommodate the new part, but also needed to retain the ability to continue to run the simpler, but much larger, existing part.

The retrofit of the existing system included new pre-punch dies to punch the extensive pre-punch pattern into the part before rollforming. Century also designed and built roll tools, and machine rafts, including rollforming stands, shafts, bearings, drive gearing, and mount plates to fit the existing Metform rollformer machine base and drive system. A new EFD High Frequency welder was supplied with Century designed and built weld support equipment including the weld squeeze box, impeder and support stands, weld coolant system, scarf unit, and all other required weld support equipment. All of this equipment was integrated into the line by Century. The welder automatically indexes out of the material path when the existing, non-welded part needs to be run. Subsequent to the weld area, Century supplied a new raft equipped with an auxiliary drive, machine stands, and roll tooling to re-size the part.

After the part is punched, rollformed, welded, cooled, and re-sized, a Century designed and built servo-driven cut-off unit automatically cuts the part to length. After cut off, the new part, as well as the existing part, is automatically unloaded by automation modified by Century. This system retrofit was Century’s largest order to date, and has pushed the company’s capabilities beyond its core products of the design and build of roll tooling and rollforming machine accessories. This information can be viewed on the Century Rollforming website.

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