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Roll-Kraft Roll Forming Expert Presents at the FMA World Class Roll Forming Workshop, Live Seminar t

MENTOR, OH.,May, 2011

Over fifty participants attended a seminar in Grand Rapids MI, sponsored by Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, and heard Roll-Kraft’s Chuck Summerhill give a presentation on Roll Forming High Strength Steel – A Design Perspective.

Roll-Kraft was the exclusive industry sponsor of the event which took place on April 12 and 13, 2011.

Mr. Summerhill, Vice President of Roll-Kraft, will also be a featured speaker at Roll-Kraft’s Roll Forming Training Seminar, to be held on July 28, 2011, in Mentor, OH. His presentation will cover Basic Roll Design, as well as Finite Element Analysis Software. He will be joined by Mr. Dave Rostocil, Director of Product Applications, who will present information in the areas of Roll Form Tooling Setup and Troubleshooting, and Robert A. Sladky, Vice President of Tube Mill Engineering, whose discussion will be on Mill Integrity and Alignment.

One day prior, on July 27, 2011, Roll-Kraft will host a Tube and Pipe Training Seminar. The featured speaker at this event will be Robert A. Sladky, who is a recipient of the TPA Industry Education Activities Award, acknowledging his outstanding work in the area of providing education to the tube and pipe industry. His main topic will be Tube Mill Integrity and Alignment. He will be joined by Mr. Bret Molnar, Roll Design Engineer, who will also speak on topics such as Roll Design and Copra FEA RE Software. Together they will also present information on Mill Setup and Tooling Maintenance Programs.

Both sessions will include a panel discussion where the presenters will be available to focus on these issues and help answer questions.

For more information or to register for either seminar, click below:

• Tube and Pipe Training Seminar, July 27

• Roll Forming Training Seminar, July 28

About Roll-Kraft

Roll-Kraft is a recognized leader in the tube & pipe and roll forming industry, supplying manufacturers with tooling to produce their specific products. The company has been in business since 1963 and offers custom-designed tube and pipe tooling and roll form tooling to meet a wide range of individual customer specifications.

Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains other facilities in Frankfort, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern), and Ontario Canada. The company phone number is (888) 953-9400 or (440) 205-3100, and the fax number is (440) 205-3110. Please also visit the web site at www.roll-kraft.com. For easy and immediate contact with Roll-Kraft that transcends time zones and working hours, the website features Dr. Resolve. Simply complete and submit an on-line form and Roll-Kraft will respond.
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Roll-Kraft Announces Additions To Staff

MENTOR, OH., May, 2011

Roll-Kraft is a leading producer of tube and pipe roll tooling and roll forming roll tooling. The company is known worldwide for its expertise in the design and manufacture of tooling, as well as training for tube and pipe and roll forming producers. In order to maintain its premier position, Roll-Kraft continually searches for qualified engineers and workers who bring their skills to the company from various locations around the world.
It is with great pleasure that Roll-Kraft announces the addition of the following personnel:

Mr. Roderick Paris, Account Manager
Mr. Patrick Hopkins, Account Manager
Mr. Ivan Pereira, Tooling Engineer for Tube & Pipe
Mr. Tim Jerew, Tooling Designer for Tube & Pipe
Mr. Brad Lazar, Regrind Engineer

Mr. Paris comes to Roll-Kraft from Nuconsteel, where he was part of the national sales team and was a top producer in both sales volume and new business development, consistently exceeding sales goals.   His prior experience includes working as District Sales Manager for Tyco International, Area Manager for Kroy Building Products, District Sales Manager for Alcoa Building Products, and Marketing Account Executive for American International Companies. He has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a B.S. in Business Management, both from Letourneau University in Texas.

Mr. Hopkins comes to Roll-Kraft with experience as a Marketing Associate for Sysco Foods, and an earlier history as a Sales Associate for Fox International and Inside Sales/Customer Service Representative for Wyman Gordon Forgings. He is a recent graduate from Ohio University and holds a B.A. in Health Communications in Business with a minor emphasis in Business and Marketing.

Mr. Pereira joins Roll-Kraft with a strong engineering background. His experience includes Design and Quality Engineering of tube and pipe roll tooling at RMTS and Chicago Roll Company.   Earlier experience includes work as a Jr. Engineer at Motorola, Receiving Analyst at Baxter Healthcare, and Regional Sales Manager for ABS Pumps in New Delhi, India. His education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Engineers, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Technology, both in India.

Mr. Jerew takes the position of Tooling Designer for Tube & Pipe, and will draw upon his past experience as a Production Leader at Component Repair Technologies, in which he designed various aircraft components. His education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Toledo, where he earned Dean’s List honors.

Mr. Lazar is a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Roll-Kraft anticipates continued growth through the rest of the year and is using this opportunity to further develop, strengthen, and embolden the staff in preparation for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains offices in Frankfort, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). For immediate contact, use Dr. Resolve on the Roll-Kraft website, www.roll-kraft.com, call (440) 205-3100, or send a fax to (440) 205-3110.

Roll-Kraft Solves Calculating Estimated Strip Widths for Roll Formed Cross Sections: Metal Roll Form

A new issue of the Solutions Forum is now available on the Roll-Kraft web site ().This issue provides information and solutions to roll forming companies regarding calculating estimated strip widths for roll formed cross-sections.
All roll formed cross-sections consist of at least one bend and most have a combination of bends and flats. The process of calculating a strip (blank) width essentially involves estimating the arc length (neutral line) of the bends and adding the sum of these bends to the lengths of all flat surfaces associated with the finished cross-section.
The full article provides further detail, including diagrams, for the proper calculation of a strip width.
Many technical bulletins are available on the company website to provide basic mill and tooling information, and there is the opportunity to instantly contact the company directly, through Dr. Resolve. This unique feature provides contact every day of the week, with 24-hour access. The company can also be reached by phone at 888-953-9400 or fax at 440-205-3110.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains offices in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com.

Roll-Kraft Solves the Problem of Why Bearings Require Replacement at a High Rate: Tube and Pipe Solu

A new issue of the Solutions Forum is now available on the Roll-Kraft web site. This issue identifies reasons and detailed solutions to tube and pipe companies who find themselves having to replace bearings more often than expected.
To avoid this high replacement rate, it is very important to have the bearings properly preloaded. An excessive preload will result in premature bearing failure.   An insufficient preload will result in loose bearings, which in turn will affect the alignment of any mill.
The full article on this subject details how a company can properly preload tapered roller bearings to avoid the issues described above.
Roll-Kraft is known throughout the roll forming and tube & pipe industry for its unwavering focus on customer service.   Many technical bulletins are available on the company website to provide basic mill and tooling information, and there is the opportunity to instantly contact the company directly, through Dr. Resolve. This unique feature provides contact every day of the week, with 24-hour access. The company can also be reached by phone at 888-953-9400 or fax at 440-205-3110.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains offices in Frankfort, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com.

Most Interesting and Informative Training Seminar

Most Interesting and Informative Training Seminar
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your people for the most interesting and informative presentation that you gave on Saturday. Until now, the only training our people have had has been “OJT”, and problem solving has taken the course of trial and error. Defining conditions and problems of a mechanical nature and their solutions will certainly help us diagnose future troublesome areas. As a matter of fact, our operators on our #3 mill have replaced shafts and bearings in two stands and aligned the entire mill based on Robert’s presentation.
Roll-Kraft has been eager to help us in design problems, quick tooling re-work, and overall quality service.
Robert did an outstanding job!
Thanks Again.
Sincerely,

Jouke E. deVries
Plant Manager
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Roll-Kraft Offers Live Seminars Due to Increase in Demand for In-Plant Tube and Pipe Training and Ro

MENTOR, OH., March, 2011
After seeing a recent significant increase in the number of requests for in-plant tube & pipe training and roll forming training, Roll-Kraft has announced plans to host two live seminars this summer.
Robert Sladky, Vice President of Tube Mill Engineering for Roll-Kraft stated, “The demand for in-plant tube and pipe and roll forming training, both classroom and on-line training has been taking off in 2011. As the economic times turn around for most of our customers, they realize the importance of training to keep everyone on the same page and develop standards for all to follow. This results in consistent, reliable setups and production runs, while scrap and down time are kept at a minimum.”
According to Sladky, the key to the success of tube and pipe training and roll forming training programs is to have everyone attend, including management, maintenance, engineering, operators, and quality departments. This provides stability and sharpens the focus of the company on the steps necessary to make a good product.
“A tube mill operation is everyone’s responsibility,” Sladky said. “It is equally important that everyone follow through after the training to address the issues learned at the programs and change the old-school habits to the proven successful practices of the industry.”
Live Regional Seminars
Roll-Kraft will be holding two seminars near its Mentor, Ohio headquarters this summer. Follow the links below for more information or to register for either seminar.

In-Plant Training
In addition to regional seminars, in-plant training is an alternative valued for its customization. On-site seminars usually average 20-40 attendees, depending on the size of the company involved. Roll-Kraft has conducted many seminars already during 2011, some of which include:

35 participants in Bristol, TN.
40 participants in Indianapolis, IN.
10 participants in Lindsay, NE.
40 participants in South Bend, IN.
8 participants in Edmonton, Alberta Canada
41 participants in North Branch, NJ.
25 participants in Chattanooga, TN.
12 participants in Deerfield Beach, FL.

Visit the links below for more information and to schedule your training session today:

About Roll-Kraft
Roll-Kraft is a recognized leader in the tube & pipe and roll forming industry, supplying manufacturers with tooling to produce their specific products. The company has been in business since 1963 and offers custom-designed roll form tooling and tube and pipe tooling to meet the wide range of individual customer specifications.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains other facilities in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern), and Ontario Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). The company phone number is (888) 953-9400 or (440) 205-3100, and the fax number is (440) 205-3110. Please also visit the web site at www.roll-kraft.com. For easy and immediate contact with Roll-Kraft that transcends time zones and working hours, the website features Dr. Resolve. Simply complete and submit an on-line form and Roll-Kraft will respond.

Roll-Kraft Sponsors World Class Roll Forming Workshop

MENTOR, OH – March, 2011 – Roll-Kraft is the exclusive industry sponsor for the World Class Roll Forming Workshop. The workshop will be held April 12-13, in Grand Rapids Michigan.
In addition to being the event sponsor, Roll-Kraft’s Chuck Summerhill will be presenting the “Roll Forming High Strength Steel – A Design Perspective” workshop session. There will be a total of 12 different workshop sessions presented throughout the event.
World Class Roll Forming Workshop attendees will also:

Attend panel presentations on alternative roll forming methods
Participate in session on continuous improvement techniques
Learn the benefits of laser measurements for roll forming
Meet one-on-one with experts and get answers to questions about existing drawings and parts
Tour HAWORTH, INC’s Holland, Mich. facility

For more information on the seminar, or to register, visit http://www.fmanet.org/training/event.cfm?eventid=522.

About Roll-Kraft
Roll-Kraft is a recognized leader in the tube & pipe and roll forming industry, supplying manufacturers with tooling to produce their specific products. The company has been in business since 1963 and offers custom-designed roll form tooling and tube and pipe tooling to meet the wide range of individual customer specifications.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains other facilities in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern), and Ontario Canada. The company phone number is (888) 953-9400 or (440) 205-3100, and the fax number is (440) 205-3110. Please also visit the web site at www.roll-kraft.com. For easy and immediate contact with Roll-Kraft that transcends time zones and working hours, the website features Dr. Resolve. Simply complete and submit an on-line form and Roll-Kraft will respond.

Roll-Kraft’s Student Education Efforts Spotlighted in FF Journal

MENTOR, OH. (PRWeb) March, 2011
Roll-Kraft and the Alliance for Working Together, a group of Ohio-based manufacturers and educators, are the subjects of a feature article on FFJournal.net, a web site that emphasizes fabricating and forming technology.
The article highlights Roll-Kraft’s latest efforts to spur interest among high school students to consider a career in manufacturing. The Robobots competition allows the students to design and build their own working robots with help from the Roll-Kraft staff. The students use equipment such as CNC turning machines, turning lathes, EDM machines, machining centers, grinders, and CAD/CAM systems.
The competition pits the robots built by various groups of students against one another in a local event. The winner will advance to higher levels of the competition.
According to Roll-Kraft’s president, Chuck Gehrisch, the goal of the competition is “to change the perception of manufacturing by showing students, parents, and schools what modern manufacturing can offer. “
To read the full article on the FFJournal.net web site, visit: http://www.ffjournal.net/common/articlesearchdetail.asp?currentpage=9938.

About Roll-Kraft

Roll-Kraft is a recognized leader in the tube & pipe and roll forming industry, supplying manufacturers with tooling to produce their specific products. The company has been in business since 1963 and offers custom-designed tooling to meet the wide range of individual customer specifications.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains other facilities in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern), and Ontario Canada. The company phone number is (888) 953-9400 or (440) 205-3100, and the fax number is (440) 205-3110. Please also visit the web site at www.roll-kraft.com. For easy and immediate contact with Roll-Kraft that transcends time zones and working hours, the website features Dr. Resolve. Simply complete and submit an on-line form and Roll-Kraft will respond.

Roll-Kraft LTD. Re-Certified to ISO Standard

MENTOR, OH - February, 2011
Roll-Kraft is pleased to announce its Canadian facility, Roll-Kraft Ltd., has recently fulfilled the requirements and received re-certification to ISO standard 9001:2008. The ISO certification is a worldwide method of identifying companies that have an active, structured quality system, recognized and periodically reviewed by a third-party auditor. ISO certified companies give instant recognition to the buyer that there are policies and standards in place to provide the marketplace with products that have met established criteria during the manufacturing process. The continued dedication to maintaining the ISO program underscores the unwavering commitment Roll-Kraft gives to quality.
Roll-Kraft Ltd. is located in Woodbridge, Ontario, and manufactures tooling for companies that produce tube & pipe products and roll formed products in the Canadian market, primarily. This location has had continued growth over the years, since opening as a Roll-Kraft company in 2004.
The Roll-Kraft headquarters is located in Mentor, Ohio, and it maintains another facility in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern), in addition to the Canadian factory. The company phone number is (888) 953-9400 or (440) 205-3100, and the fax number is (440) 205-3110. Please also visit the web site at www.roll-kraft.com. For easy and immediate contact with Roll-Kraft that transcends time zones and working hours, the website features Dr. Resolve. Simply complete and submit an on-line form and Roll-Kraft will be ready to respond.

Metal Roll Forming Solutions Forum, Vol 1

MENTOR, OH January 2011
A new issue of the Solutions Forum is now available on the Roll-Kraft blog. This issue provides information and solutions to roll forming companies regarding the frequent problem of end flare. One factor in reducing end flare is in the design of the tooling. Several steps can be taken, even before manufacturing, to minimize the problem. These are itemized and illustrated within the article.
Roll-Kraft is known throughout the roll forming and tube & pipe industry for its unwavering focus on customer service. Many technical bulletins are available on the company website to provide basic mill and tooling information, and there is the opportunity to instantly contact the company directly, through Dr. Resolve. This unique feature provides contact every day of the week, with 24-hour access. The company can also be reached by phone at 888-953-9400 or fax at 440-205-3110.
Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains offices in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com.

What could be causing marking of tube in the fin section of the mill and weld box?

MENTOR, OH., December, 2010
Roll-Kraft has been providing solutions to tube and pipe producers around the world for years and now wants to share the answers with you. Tube and pipe producers submit their questions through the Dr. Resolve feature on the Roll-Kraft website, www.roll-kraft.com. You can also follow us on the Social Media outlets, Facebook and Twitter, as well as in our monthly newsletter.

What’s the Problem?

What could be causing marking of tube in the fin section of the mill and weld box?

Probable Cause and Solutions:

There could be multiple causes for this problem. Some of the more frequent issues are:

Strip width too wide
Driven roll settings adjusted too tight
Driven rolls not parallel
Driven stands loose - check integrity
Driven rolls not set at metal line
Drive RPM not coordinated with breakdown and sizing RPM
Fin blade worn beyond tolerance
Side rolls setting adjusted too wide
Side rolls boxes loose - check integrity
Side rolls not set to metal line
Side rolls not centered with driven rolls
Side rolls not parallel
Check tube size between each driven and side roll pass
Analyze design for improper forming
Weld roll settings adjusted too tight
Rolls worn beyond tolerance

Roll-Kraft has its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, and maintains offices in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). The headquarters facility can be reached by phone at (440) 205-3100, or fax at (440) 205-3110. More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com.

Roll-Kraft’s Robert Sladky and Bret Molnar to Present at Fabtech 2010

Roll-Kraft’s world renowned instructors, Robert A. Sladky and Bret Molnar will be a part of Fabtech 2010’s technical presentations in Atlanta.
Robert and Bret bring to the table over 65 years of combined experience out in the Tube and Pipe Industry. They will be sharing their experience and expertise on November 2^nd, from 8 AM—10 AM in a presentation entitled: “Today’s Tooling Designs for Today’s Requirements: Tube Mill Set-Up and Tooling Maintenance Programs.”
Robert and Bret will be covering tooling designs, proper set up of the mill, and how to develop tooling maintenance programs.
Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer session.
Click here for more information from Fabtech’s web site or click here to visit the show’s homepage to register.

Roll-Kraft’s Own Internationally Recognized Tube and Pipe Instructor Robert Sladky to Present at Pip

Roll-Kraft’s Own Internationally Recognized Tube and Pipe Instructor Robert Sladky Presents at Pipe and Tube Pittsburgh 2010
Roll-Kraft’s own Robert Sladky presented on a panel entitled, “So, You Want to Make Your Own Tubing?” at Pipe and Tube Pittsburgh 2010. Robert presented “Key Factors That Affect Scrap on a Tube or Pipe Mill.”
“Robert has conducted hundreds of tube and pipe training sessions all over the world,” said Roll-Kraft president Chuck Gehrisch. “After each session, we consistently receive testimonials from attendees pleased with the amount of knowledge they gained from Robert’s training.”
To read technical articles authored by Robert Sladky, click below:

To view technical videos featuring Robert Sladky, click here:

The Roll-Kraft headquarters is in Mentor, Ohio, and there are two satellite facilities. One is in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and the other is in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). The company can be reached by phone, toll-free, at (888) 953-9400, or by fax at (440) 205-3110. More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com. Also, for instant inquiries, please use Dr. Resolve to reach the company quickly.

Roll-Kraft Expands its Three Locations to Serve the Tube & Pipe and Roll Forming Industries

MENTOR, OH., August, 2010
Roll-Kraft facilities in Mentor, OH., Frankfurt, IL., and Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, will each expand their manufacturing capabilities with the addition of machines in each plant to aid in meeting the demands of roll forming companies and tube & pipe producers. The Illinois and Ontario facilities will add CNC (computer numerical control) machines, while the headquarters location in Ohio will install a new wire EDM machine (electrical discharge machine).
The technology of these machines will eliminate several processes in the manufacturing of tooling for the tube & pipe and roll forming industry. They will reduce manufacturing time, while allowing for better tolerance capability in the final product. The new EDM machine will make it possible to burn taller rolls, up to 15.5 inches in height. In addition, the Woodbridge location will hire new personnel to handle the increased capacity their new machine brings.
Roll-Kraft Ltd. is a satellite location of the Roll-Kraft company in Mentor, OH. All engineering is handled by the headquarters in Mentor, however, identical manufacturing processes are provided at both locations. In addition, Roll-Kraft operates a regrind center at their third location in Frankfurt, IL., to address quick turnarounds and emergency regrind services often needed by tube & pipe producers and roll forming companies.
Roll-Kraft is ISO 9001:2000 certified and known throughout the industry for its focus on customer service. In addition to personalized attention, many technical bulletins are available on the company website to provide basic mill and tooling information to the industry, as well as the opportunity to instantly contact the company directly, with questions or inquiries by using Dr. Resolve. This unique feature allows 24-hour access, every day of the week. The company can also be reached by phone at 888-953-9400 or fax at 440-205-3110.

Roll-Kraft Hosts FMA Fabcast for Tube & Pipe Manufacturers

MENTOR, OH., July, 2010
Mr. Bret Molnar, Roll Design Engineer/Sales, for Roll-Kraft, recently was an exclusive presenter of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) “Tube Mill End-to-End” fabcast. During the 90-minute presentation, Mr. Molnar covered all the aspects of tube & pipe mills, identifying the various types of mills, the various tube & pipe roll designs and configurations, reasons for choosing them, roll tooling materials, and roll tooling maintenance. This step-by-step PowerPoint analysis of each component of the tube & pipe mill and roll tooling guided the listeners through the processes they will use to make their own best decisions to benefit their companies.
Roll-Kraft specializes in providing tube & pipe tooling, roll forming tooling, and tube, pipe and roll forming equipment. In addition, the company provides on-site seminars, mill evaluations, and mill alignments to train personnel in issues that are important to good production and the on-going successful performance of the mill. The custom analysis of the mill is then followed up with a written report with recommendations for areas of improvement. On-site seminars for tube & pipe mills and roll forming equipment are often conducted by Mr. Bret Molnar, presenter of this fabcast, along with Robert Sladky, who was a recipient of the 2003 TPA Industry Education Activities Award. These gentlemen have more than 60 years of combined hands-on experience in the tube and pipe mill industry.
The Roll-Kraft headquarters is in Mentor, Ohio, and there are two satellite facilities. One is in Frankfurt, Illinois (Roll-Kraft Northern) and the other is in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada (Roll-Kraft Ltd.). The company can be reached by phone, toll-free, at (888) 953-9400, or by fax at (440) 205-3110. More information about Roll-Kraft products and services is available on the website, www.roll-kraft.com. Also, for instant inquiries, please use Dr. Resolve to reach the company quickly.