A method for roll-forming a tubular member is provided. The method includes providing a roll-forming machine having a pair of rollers and a forming roller adjacent the pair of rollers. Further, cutting a strip of sheet metal to form a segment having free leading and trailing ends extending between a predetermined length; feeding the segment between the pair rollers; calculating the thickness of the segment via feedback from the pair of rollers; automatically adjusting the position of the forming roller in response to the determined thickness of the segment; advancing the segment between the pair of rollers and against the forming roller to form an annulus; and forming a weld joint between the free ends.

Machines for bending profiles, metal sheets and the like are provided. Such machines include those having a structure or frame and a bending device with three rollers. The axis (x.sub.1) of the first roller is fixed relative to the structure or frame, while the axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers are movable relative to each other, and hence each relative to the axis (x.sub.1) of the first roller, so as to define a curved path with an adjustable radius of curvature along which the material to be bent is caused to move passing between said rollers. The bending device may further include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers with two degrees of freedom. The adjustment mechanism may include a pair of tilting arms hinged to the structure or frame so as to tilt about respective fixed axes of rotation (x.sub.4, x.sub.5) oriented parallel to the axes (x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the three rollers. The axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers may be guided each by a respective tilting arm along a respective direction of translation (y.sub.1, y.sub.2) which is fixed relative to that tilting arm.

Machines for bending profiles, metal sheets and the like are provided. Such machines include those having a structure or frame and a bending device with three rollers. The axis (x.sub.1) of the first roller is fixed relative to the structure or frame, while the axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers are movable relative to each other, and hence each relative to the axis (x.sub.1) of the first roller, so as to define a curved path with an adjustable radius of curvature along which the material to be bent is caused to move passing between said rollers. The bending device may further include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers with two degrees of freedom. The adjustment mechanism may include a pair of tilting arms hinged to the structure or frame so as to tilt about respective fixed axes of rotation (x.sub.4, x.sub.5) oriented parallel to the axes (x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the three rollers. The axes (x.sub.2, x.sub.3) of the second and third rollers may be guided each by a respective tilting arm along a respective direction of translation (y.sub.1, y.sub.2) which is fixed relative to that tilting arm.

The apparatus for manufacturing a tubular, sheet metal heat-insulating element (1) from a sheet metal blank (9) successively comprises, in a direction of travel perpendicular to the axis of the heat-insulating element to be produced, a drive unit (5) for conveying the blank (9) flat in the direction of travel (F), a set of shaping rolls (61, 62) comprising shaping rollers (65, 66) for forming a relief on the edge of the blank, and a roll-bending unit (7), situated immediately downstream of the set of shaping rolls, for roll-bending the blank comprising said relief. Firstly, reliefs are shaped on the edges of the blank by means of shaping rolls, then roll-bending is performed, preferably immediately thereafter and in the same operation, the edge-forming and roll-bending being carried out in a single pass.

The apparatus for manufacturing a tubular, sheet metal heat-insulating element (1) from a sheet metal blank (9) successively comprises, in a direction of travel perpendicular to the axis of the heat-insulating element to be produced, a drive unit (5) for conveying the blank (9) flat in the direction of travel (F), a set of shaping rolls (61, 62) comprising shaping rollers (65, 66) for forming a relief on the edge of the blank, and a roll-bending unit (7), situated immediately downstream of the set of shaping rolls, for roll-bending the blank comprising said relief. Firstly, reliefs are shaped on the edges of the blank by means of shaping rolls, then roll-bending is performed, preferably immediately thereafter and in the same operation, the edge-forming and roll-bending being carried out in a single pass.

A manufacturing method for a bumper beam of a vehicle may include pipe making, producing a circular pipe by pipe molding a steel plate having a predetermined thickness between first and second molding rolls, heating the circular pipe to a set temperature in a heating furnace, pressurizing and molding the circular pipe heated in the heating furnace and having flexibility, while inserting the circular pipe between an upper mold and a lower mold to form a molding beam, and thereafter, rapidly cooling the molding beam to form the molding beam into a high-strength molding beam, and curvature-molding the high-strength molding beam at a predetermined curvature through a curvature molding machine.

A method for moving a packed column section about a remote manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the packed column section can include a first course, a second course, packing disposed within the first course and second course, and a plurality of distributors. The method can include the steps of placing the packed column section on top of a movable platform, the movable platform configured to support and distribute the weight of the packed column section; and moving the packed column section from a first point to a second point, the second point being in an open area adapted for stacking a plurality of packed column sections on top of each other to form a column.

A scaffolding assembly configured for use with an assembly table is provided. In one embodiment, the scaffolding assembly can include an inner scaffolding and an outer scaffolding, wherein the inner scaffolding and the outer scaffolding each include: a plurality of main posts having a lower end and an upper end; an extendible arm connected to each of the main posts, wherein the extendible arm is configured to extend substantially perpendicular from the main post; and a tertiary scaffolding support connected to the extendible arm and the main post, the tertiary support configured to transfer at least some of the force from the extendible arm to the main post, wherein the scaffolding assembly is configured to attach to the assembly table, such that the scaffolding assembly receives support from the assembly table.

In a method for manufacturing a metal pipe from a metal plate using a forming tool, the position of the tool is optimized simply and correctly by incorporating individuality of the raw material plate into setting of the tool position. As a preparatory stage, a forming process is analyzed by simulation for each plate. Based on result of the analysis, correlation between a deformed shape value of a raw pipe and tool position information is acquired. Then, the forming process for each plate is stored as correlation between the deformed shape value of the raw pipe and the tool position information. During pipe manufacturing, a deformed shape value of the raw pipe is measured actually while a plate is passed. On the basis of the actually measured deformed shape value, a forming process for the raw pipe is expected and assumed (by using the correlation). Tool position information necessary for implementing the expected and assumed forming process is retrieved from the stored correlation. The retrieved tool position information is realized at a stand array.