Cold Roll Forming Sourcing Center →

Solar Strut Channel Roll Forming Machine

Unistrut and P1000 strut channel with inline slotting — used for PV mounting frames, racking systems and cable support structures.

Solar Strut Channel Roll Forming Machine

Technical Specifications

MaterialGI, galvanised, stainless 304, aluminium
Thickness1.5 – 3.0 mm
Channel depth21 – 82 mm
Channel width41 mm (P1000 standard) · custom 21–82 mm
Slot pattern9 × 18 mm at 25 or 50 mm pitch
Forming speed10 – 20 m/min
Forming stations14 – 18
DriveGearbox chain drive, 7.5 – 15 kW
PunchingInline slot punch, continuous
CuttingHydraulic flying cut
ControlPLC + HMI, slot pattern presets
CertificationCE Declaration of Conformity
Lead time40 – 55 days

Need a quote or a custom specification?

Get a Quote →
See It Running

Solar Strut Channel Roll Forming Machine in Our Workshop

Solar Strut Channel Machine — Drive Motor, 5.5 kW / 20 m per min | ZTRFM 1:10

Solar Strut Channel Machine — Drive Motor, 5.5 kW / 20 m per min | ZTRFM

the transmission motor and drive of the solar strut channel machine. The specification shown on the machine is 5.5 kW with a forming speed of 20 m/min.

Machine specifications →
Solar Strut Channel Machine — Forming Roll Bank | ZTRFM 1:10

Solar Strut Channel Machine — Forming Roll Bank | ZTRFM

the forming roll bank of the strut channel machine.

Machine specifications →
Solar Strut Channel Machine — Full Line Running | ZTRFM 0:30

Solar Strut Channel Machine — Full Line Running | ZTRFM

the complete strut channel line running, showing all forming stations.

Machine specifications →
Output

What This Machine Produces

01

P1000 / 41 × 41 mm strut channel — the global standard section that accepts all standard strut nuts and fittings, which is what makes it usable without special hardware.

02

41 × 21 mm shallow channel — lower weight and cost where the load is small, such as light cable support and sign fixing.

03

41 × 82 mm deep channel — the highest section capacity in the strut family, used for heavy racking uprights and long spans.

04

Channel depths from 21 to 82 mm and a 41 mm standard width, with custom widths in the 21–82 mm range.

05

Slotted channel — 9 mm × 18 mm slots at 25 mm or 50 mm pitch, matching the pattern used with standard strut nuts and fittings, punched continuously as the strip runs.

06

Storage racking uprights and beams — perforated cold-formed sections in the same thickness class, produced on the same platform with different tooling.

07

Sections in galvanised steel, stainless 304 or aluminium at 10–20 m/min.

Line Composition

Recommended Configuration

A complete working line, not just the forming machine. Each item below is quoted as one package.

  1. 01

    Hydraulic decoiler and straightener

    strut channel is dimensionally critical because it must accept standard fittings, so strip straightness is not optional.

  2. 02

    Inline slot punch

    the key unit on this line. The 9 × 18 mm slots at 25 or 50 mm pitch are punched while the strip is flat, which is the only way to hold a pitch that standard strut nuts will actually slide through.

  3. 03

    Strut channel roll forming machine

    14–18 stations on a gearbox chain drive at 7.5–15 kW, running at 10–20 m/min.

  4. 04

    Polyurethane guide rolls for aluminium

    aluminium 6063-T5 and 6061-T6 can be roll formed, but steel guide rolls scratch the surface. Polyurethane rolls and lower forming pressure are what make an aluminium run saleable.

  5. 05

    Hydraulic flying cut

    cuts continuously at line speed rather than stopping the line for each length.

  6. 06

    PLC with slot-pattern presets

    the slot pitch and cut length are recalled from the HMI rather than re-set, which matters when a job mixes 25 mm and 50 mm pitch.

  7. 07

    Runout table

    channel is cut in production lengths and should be supported rather than dropped.

How It Runs

Production Workflow

  1. 01

    Decoiler

    Coil is loaded and uncoiled at controlled tension. On a section that has to accept standard fittings, consistent tension is what keeps the width in tolerance.

  2. 02

    Straightening

    The strip is levelled before forming. Because strut channel is a closed profile with inturned lips, any residual bow is locked in by the closing stations.

  3. 03

    Slot punching

    The 9 × 18 mm slots are punched at 25 mm or 50 mm pitch while the strip is flat. Punching a closed channel after forming is difficult and inaccurate because the punch has to reach inside the section, so this step comes first by design.

  4. 04

    Roll forming

    14–18 stations close the C profile with its inturned lips, forming the 21–82 mm depth range at 10–20 m/min. Aluminium runs slower and with lighter pressure than steel.

  5. 05

    Cutting

    A hydraulic flying cut runs continuously at line speed, so the line does not stop for each length.

  6. 06

    Output

    Finished channel leaves on the runout table. Slotted channel is normally bundled and packed straight from the line.

Build

Key Components

Forming stations
14–18
Drive
Gearbox chain drive, 7.5–15 kW
Slot punch
Inline, continuous; 9 × 18 mm at 25 or 50 mm pitch
Cutting
Hydraulic flying cut
Control
PLC + HMI with slot-pattern presets
Working range
1.5–3.0 mm · channel depth 21–82 mm · width 41 mm standard
Materials
Galvanised steel, stainless 304, aluminium (with polyurethane guide rolls)
Made To Order

Customization Options

Every line is built to order. These are the points buyers most often change.

ItemWhat can be changed
SectionP1000 / 41 × 41, 41 × 21 shallow, 41 × 82 deep, or a custom depth in the 21–82 mm range
Slot pattern9 × 18 mm at 25 or 50 mm pitch standard; custom slot sizes and pitches can be tooled
MaterialGalvanised steel, stainless 304, aluminium 6063-T5 or 6061-T6
Thickness1.5–3.0 mm
Racking sectionsRacking uprights and beams run on the same platform with different tooling
Power supply380 V / 50 Hz / 3-phase standard; other voltages to your site
Configuration Options

Strut channel variants — Unistrut, P1000 and plain channel

VariantSectionTypical useNotes
P1000 / 41×4141 × 41 mm, 2.5 mmGeneral support framing, PV mountingThe global standard; accepts all standard strut nuts and fittings
41×21 shallow41 × 21 mm, 1.5–2.0 mmLight cable support, sign fixingLower cost and weight where load is small
41×82 deep41 × 82 mm, 2.5–3.0 mmHeavy racking uprights, long spansHighest section capacity in the strut family
Racking uprightCustom perforated sectionStorage racking columns and beamsSame machine, different tooling — racking and strut share the platform
Where This Machine Is Used

Applications

Solar PV Mounting → Storage Racking →
Common Questions

FAQ — Solar Strut Channel Roll Forming Machine

What slot pattern does the machine punch?
Standard is 9 mm × 18 mm slots at 25 mm or 50 mm pitch, matching the P1000 / B11 pattern used with all standard strut nuts. Custom slot sizes and pitches can be tooled — specify the pattern you use when ordering.
Can the machine run aluminium as well as steel?
Yes. Aluminium 6063-T5 and 6061-T6 can be roll formed, but we use polyurethane guide rolls and lower forming pressure to prevent surface scratching. Aluminium runs at lower speed than steel.
Can it produce storage racking sections too?
Yes. Racking uprights and beams are perforated cold-formed sections in the same thickness class, so the same machine platform handles both with different tooling. That is useful if you sell into both the solar and the warehousing market.
Why is inline slotting done before forming?
Because punching a closed channel after forming is difficult and inaccurate — the punch has to reach inside a closed section. Slotting the flat strip first keeps the slots perfectly pitched and lets the forming stations close the section around them.
What is the load capacity of a strut channel?
It depends on depth, thickness, span and support condition. A 41 × 41 mm channel in 2.5 mm steel typically carries several hundred kilograms over a 1.5 m span, but you should always use the manufacturer's span table rather than a rule of thumb.
Can the machine be used for greenhouse framing?
Yes. Greenhouse structures increasingly use galvanised strut and channel sections rather than timber because they resist the humid environment. The same slotting and forming process applies.
Is Unistrut channel the same as P1000 strut channel?
Unistrut is the brand name that became the generic term for 41 × 41 mm slotted channel, and P1000 is the section designation most of the world uses for the same profile — 41 mm wide, 41 mm deep, with 9 × 18 mm slots at 25 or 50 mm pitch. Because the line forms to that standard section, the channel accepts standard Unistrut-type nuts and fittings instead of requiring special hardware.
Can I also produce plain channel without slots?
Yes. The inline slot punch is part of the line and can be disengaged, so a plain run is simply a run without slotting. That matters if you supply both slotted channel for fittings and plain channel for structural framing — it is one machine and one tooling set rather than two.
Can the machine be built for our own profile?
Yes. Send the profile drawing with the section dimensions, the material and thickness, and the coil width you intend to run. We confirm the roll design, forming stations and line layout against that drawing before quoting, so the machine matches the section you actually sell.
How do we get a price for this line?
Send the profile drawing or section dimensions, the material and thickness, the coil width, and your target output per shift. Price depends on the profile, the coil and the level of automation, so we quote against your actual job rather than a catalogue figure.
What material thickness can this machine form?
Material thickness runs 1.5 – 3.0 mm. The roll gap, drive and cutting unit are set for this range, so staying inside it is what keeps the section geometry repeatable run after run.
What is the production speed?
Forming speed is 10 – 20 m/min. Treat this as the line speed: real shift output also depends on cut length, coil reloading and how often the profile is changed.
Related Machines

You May Also Need

Solar Omega Rail Machine → Cable Tray Machine → Floor Deck Machine → All Solar & Cable Tray Machines →

Send us your profile and output target

Tell us the profile and the numbers that matter to you. We confirm the configuration against the specification table above and quote FOB Tianjin within 24 hours.

  • MaterialGI, galvanised, stainless 304, aluminium
  • Thickness1.5 – 3.0 mm
  • Channel depth21 – 82 mm
  • Channel width41 mm (P1000 standard) · custom 21–82 mm
PDF, DWG/DXF, image, ZIP or Excel — if your file is larger, send the form and reply to our confirmation email with the file attached.

We reply within 24 hours. Your details are used only to answer this inquiry.

Get a quote WhatsApp
✓
CE Certified Machines
🌍
FOB Tianjin · 24h Reply
⚡
24hr Inquiry Response
🏭
Factory Direct — FOB Tianjin