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Roll forming is the process of passing strip or sheet metal through a set of rolls at room temperature until a specified cross-section profile is achieved. A roll forming manufacturer takes into account that every job and fabrication of a piece requires delicate attention to each and every stage. The roll forming manufacturer needs to make very small but accurate adjustments at each stage depending on the metal’s type, thickness, and formability. The types of metals used by a roll forming manufacturer categorizes into two groups; ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals.

Ferrous metals are metals that have a bivalent iron compound. Most ferrous metals have magnetic properties, and are primarily used for their strength and durability. Most ferrous metals use protective coatings to prevent rust and corrosion. Some ferrous metals used in roll forming are:

• Steel. Steel is mostly made of iron so it is malleable below its melting point. About 0.05 to two percent of its weight is carbon, and could also contain small amounts of manganese, silicon, sulfur, or phosphorus.
• Stainless Steel. Stainless steel has a high percentage of chromium, which means it is highly resistant to stains, corrosion, weak mineral acids, organic acids, and oxidation.
• Galvanized Sheet Steel. Galvanized sheet steel is coated with zinc and heat treated, creating a surface of zinc-iron alloy.

Non-ferrous metals do not have any iron in their metal make up, and do not have magnetic properties. Non-ferrous metals are more malleable and lighter than ferrous metals. Because they do not contain iron, non-ferrous metals are more resistant to rust and corrosion. Some non-ferrous metals used in roll forming are:

• Aluminum. Aluminum is soft, lightweight, malleable, and highly resistant to corrosion.
• Brass. Brass is a copper and zinc alloy that is highly resistant to corrosion and very malleable.
• Copper. Copper has high electrical conductivity and is a ductile metal.