As a business owner, you have to make decisions everyday that have an impact on the operations and profit margin of your business. When regularly working with metal roofing and siding panels, some contractors choose to offer on site roll forming for its many benefits as opposed to using factory made panels.
At Western States Metal Roofing, not only do we manufacture metal panels but we also offer an on-site roll forming service to roofing professionals in the state of Arizona. However, if you are located outside our service area or use roll forming often, having access to your own roll forming equipment might be a better fit for you.
Here are the benefits of a portable roll former:
- It’s less expensive to buy metal coil and roll form the panels
- Less shipping damage
- Panel lengths are determined at the jobsite which can lead to less manufacturing mistakes.
- Less packaging and freight cost
If you’ve decided that your roof business needs a portable roll former, the next decision is which roll former do you get?
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 portable roll forming machine manufacturers. In addition, we go over the pros and cons of leasing and buying so you can decide which option is better for your business.
The Top 5 Portable Roll Forming Machine Manufacturers
- New Tech Machinery
- Zimmerman Metals
- Englert Inc.
- Schlebach Maschinen GmbH
- Bradbury Group
New Tech Machinery Portable Roll Formers
New Tech Machinery offers a variety of quality portable roll formers that, depending on the machine you choose, can make up to seven different panel profiles for a metal building in variable widths, multiple gauges, and various material types.
From residential to heavy commercial use, they have different roll formers and gutter machines with available additional optional equipment to suit the demands of your business.
Zimmerman Metals Portable Roll Formers
Zimmerman Metals offers quality compact roll formers made in the US for every type of use from residential to structural. Their free spinning forming rollers minimizes the potential for oil canning on standing seam panels with advanced design that allows for fast tooling change.
Their line of machines can accommodate different widths, lengths, gauges, and use to suit any metal business.
Englert Inc. Portable Roll Formers
Englert Inc. offers more than just machines as they stand behind their machine training, testing, warranties, and engineering to offer the complete quality roll forming package.
With a wide range of portable roll formers available, they have machines from single panel to multi-panel that can accommodate up to 10 panel profile configurations.
Schlebach Maschinen GmbH Portable Roll Formers
With more than 40 years in the industry, Schlebach Maschinen GmbH portable roll formers offer a User-friendly, powerful experience. From mini machines to multi profile machines and more, you can find the right equipment to meet any requirement.
Schlebach is also the manufacturer of the Quadro Cinco portable rollformer.
The Bradbury Group Portable Roll Formers
The Bradbury portable roll former features integrated technology offering mastic application, multi-batch controller, and 100-fpm production.
The Bradbury portable standing seam features rafted roll formers for multiple profile options. In addition to portable options, Bradbury Group also manufactures additional equipment including precision roller levelers, cut-to-length machines, building trim equipment, and more.
Bradbury machines are high quality and reliable roll forming equipment, but they are also very expensive.
Should You Lease Or Purchase Metal Roll Forming Equipment?
Once you have decided on a manufacturer and specific machine, you will have to decide if you want to lease or purchase the machine. Only you know which option is best for your business, but there are multiple unique pros and cons to each choice which we will discuss below. Prior to going over the differences of each, consider the following:
- Does your current financial situation support leasing or purchasing?
- Will the machine be profitable enough to purchase?
- Are you using a roll former everyday for an extended time period, or just for one project?
The Pros Of Purchasing Portable Roll Forming Equipment
- Freedom of ownership
- More cost effective long term
Freedom Of Ownership
As with anything you own, it’s yours to do whatever you choose. You can use and customize the machine how you wish without having to worry about the fine print or returning the equipment when the lease expires.
More Cost Effective Long Term
The more use you get out of the machine, the more value it has for you. If your business is roll forming often, purchasing your own machine will pay for itself in the long term. By purchasing, you also have the ability to resell the equipment and get some of your investment back in the future. In addition, you may also qualify for a tax incentive with a purchased machine which can help offset some of the cost.
The Cons Of Purchasing Portable Roll Forming Equipment
- High upfront cost
- Responsible for maintenance
High Upfront Cost
No matter how much value the machine brings overtime, purchasing portable roll former equipment has a high out of pocket cost that can be overwhelming for some. Make sure you understand the financial commitment of buying a machine and purchase one that best aligns with your budget and your business needs.
Responsible For Maintenance
The downside to ownership of any valuable item is maintenance, and a roll forming machine is no different. As an owner, there is no lease to cover you and you are solely responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the portable machine. You want to make sure you keep up with maintenance to get maximum value out of the investment you’ve made.
The Pros Of Leasing Portable Roll Forming Equipment
- More cost effective in the short term
- Maintenance potentially covered
- Equipment can be upgraded more often
More Cost Effective In The Short Term
Paying a monthly lease fee and avoiding a high up front cost of paying for a machine gives you more financial flexibility to spend on other areas of your business. Also, leasing any type of equipment is generally tax deductible.
Maintenance Is Potentially Covered Under Lease
Every lease is different and we strongly recommend you read everything before you sign, however, some leases will cover the maintenance on a machine. Being protected by a lease can save you money and headaches.
You Can Upgrade Equipment Often
A typical roll former lease is anywhere from 24 to 72 months, which means you can potentially be upgrading your equipment every couple of years. This assures you’re working with the most technologically advanced machinery available.
The Cons Of Leasing Portable Roll Forming Equipment
- Not cost effective overtime
- Cannot resell the equipment
Not Cost Effective Overtime
When you look at the money spent over the course of the lease, it is almost always more than if the machine was purchased outright. If maintenance is not covered under your lease, that’s another expense you’ll be paying out of pocket.
You Cannot Resell The Equipment
Like with anything that you lease instead of own (think housing, cars etc.), you have no equity. You’re paying into something that you can never resell to get back part of your investment.
Deciding On The Right Roll Forming Machine For Your Business
Picking the right roll former, and whether to lease or purchase, is a big decision for your business. We recommend continuing your research and taking important factors into consideration including:
- Cost
- Training availability
- Technical assistance
- Warranties (repair/ maintenance coverage)
When using a roll former, make sure you are purchasing metal coils from a distributor that offers excellent pricing and service. Click out the selection of colors we offer at Western States Metal Roofing in our color resource center.
We offer quick lead times on all metal coil and flat sheet orders and can deliver anywhere within the USA.
If you are located in Arizona and are interested in on-site roll forming, request a quote here.