Where forming sits in the workflow
Forming is the middle of the duct shop: cutting turns coil and sheet into blanks, forming shapes those blanks, and then the duct is closed by welding, a TDF flange or a locked seam. Six forming operations cover almost all rectangular and round work:
Lock forming rolls a Pittsburgh or snap-lock profile onto a sheet edge so two panels lock into a duct corner.
Folding bends a flat blank into the sides of a rectangular duct, by hydraulic or pneumatic power.
Roll bending curves sheet into arcs, cylinders and cones for round duct and transitions.
Drive-cleat forming rolls a C-cleat edge for quick slip-together assembly.
Grooving and beading presses stiffening ribs and connection beads into panels.
The comparison table
| Machine | What it forms | Model(s) | Thickness | Capacity | Weight |
|---|
| Lockformer | Pittsburgh & snap-lock corner seams | SBLC-12 / 15 / 1.2 (R, DR, C) | 0.4–1.2 mm Pittsburgh · 0.7–1.5 mm snap lock | 1.5–3 kW | 150–350 kg |
| Hydraulic folder | Powered folding of rectangular duct sides | SBWS-1.5×1500H / 1.2×2000H | 0.4–2.0 / 0.4–1.5 mm | 1550 / 2000 mm length | 850 / 1150 kg |
| Pneumatic folder | Air-powered folding, lighter gauge | SBWS-1.2×1500P / 2000P / 2500P | 0.4–1.5 / 0.4–1.2 / 0.4–1.2 mm | 90°–180° fold, to 2500 mm | 430 / 490 / 550 kg |
| Roll bender | Arcs, cylinders & cones (round duct) | SBW11G-2×1020 / 1.5×1270 / 1.2×1530 | 0.4–2.0 / 0.4–1.5 / 0.4–1.2 mm | 1000–1500 mm wide · min Φ100 mm | 220–260 kg |
| Drive-cleat line | C-cleat edge for slip-together assembly | SBAL-V-1250C | 0.4–1.2 mm | 1250 mm · 14 m/min · 13 kW | — |
| Grooving & beading | Stiffening ribs & connection beads | SBYJ 1.2×1250-5 / 1.2×2000-7 | 1.2 mm | 1250 / 2000 mm throat · 1.5–2.2 kW | 390 / 480 kg |
Source: Taokron Product Catalog 2026, manufacturer nameplate specifications. All machines run 380 V / 50 Hz / 3-phase (60 Hz on request). Where two or three figures appear in a cell, they are the model variants in the same order as the Model column.
Choosing the forming machines
Lockformer is the cornerstone of rectangular-duct corner assembly. If you build Pittsburgh-lock or snap-lock duct, it is not optional — it forms the locking edge that closes the duct without welding. The SBLC range covers 0.4–1.2 mm Pittsburgh and 0.7–1.5 mm snap lock, with R/DR/C variants for reinforced and combination profiles.
Hydraulic vs pneumatic folder. Both fold the blank into duct sides; the difference is power and gauge. The hydraulic folder handles heavier gauge (to 2.0 mm) and longer 1550–2000 mm folds with consistent force. The pneumatic folder is lighter and lower-cost, for thinner material to 1.5 mm in lengths to 2500 mm. Heavy gauge and long sides point to hydraulic; light gauge and budget point to pneumatic.
Roll bender is what makes anything round — arcs, cylinders, cones, transitions. The SBW11G rolls 0.4–2.0 mm across 1000–1500 mm widths down to Φ100 mm minimum diameter. A round-duct or fittings shop needs one.
Drive-cleat line suits markets where the C-cleat (drive slip) connection is standard rather than TDF or Pittsburgh — it rolls the cleat edge for quick slip-together assembly. Grooving and beading adds stiffening ribs to large panels and connection beads to round fittings; it is a finishing detail rather than a primary former.
Tell us your seam type and gauge for a forming-machine recommendation →
FAQ
What is a lockformer (Pittsburgh lock machine)?
It rolls a locking profile onto a sheet edge so two panels lock into a duct corner. The Pittsburgh lock is the classic interlocking seam; the snap lock is a faster press-together seam. The Taokron lockformer (SBLC-12/15/1.2, R/DR/C variants) forms Pittsburgh on 0.4–1.2 mm and snap lock on 0.7–1.5 mm.
What is the difference between a folder and a roll bender?
A folder bends flat sheet along straight lines to form the sides of rectangular duct, 90 to 180 degrees. A roll bender curves sheet continuously into cylinders and cones for round duct. Rectangular shops need a folder; round-duct shops a roll bender.
Which machine forms the Pittsburgh lock seam?
The lockformer (Taokron SBLC series) roll-forms the Pittsburgh and snap-lock corner seams that join rectangular duct, in 0.4–1.2 mm for Pittsburgh and 0.7–1.5 mm for snap lock. The folder then closes the duct box around them.
What is the difference between a hydraulic and a pneumatic folder?
Both fold a flat sheet into duct sides, but a hydraulic folder is more powerful and folds heavier gauge — the Taokron hydraulic folder handles up to 2.0 mm and longer 1550-2000 mm lengths. A pneumatic (air) folder is lighter and cheaper, suited to thinner material up to 1.5 mm, in lengths to 2500 mm. Choose hydraulic for heavy gauge and long folds, pneumatic for light gauge and lower cost.
What does a roll bending machine do in a duct shop?
A roll bending machine curves flat sheet or plate into arcs, cylinders and cones — round duct segments, transitions and cylindrical components. The Taokron roll bender (SBW11G series) handles 0.4-2.0 mm across 1000-1500 mm widths down to a minimum Φ100 mm rolled diameter.
What thickness can Taokron forming machines handle?
The hydraulic folder and roll bender reach 2.0 mm; the lockformer forms 0.4-1.2 mm Pittsburgh lock and 0.7-1.5 mm snap lock; the pneumatic folder handles up to 1.5 mm; the drive-cleat line 0.4-1.2 mm; and the grooving/beading machine 1.2 mm. All run on 380V/50Hz/3-phase (60 Hz on request).
