Narrow-Width Cable Tray Production, Fully Automated
Not every cable tray project calls for wide-profile trays. Light commercial installations, equipment rooms, and retrofit works run on narrow trays — and producing them on an oversized line wastes both material and capacity.
This fully automatic cable tray forming machine is purpose-built for the 101–304mm width band. It handles steel at 0.6–0.8mm and aluminium at 0.8mm, integrates hydraulic punching, and runs a 22-station main forming section with automatic length control. One operator, one continuous cycle, from coil to finished tray.
Machine Configuration
Main Forming Unit
Control System
Hydraulic System
Drive System
Decoiler
Run-Out Table
Material & Tooling Specifications
Roller and Shaft Metallurgy
This is where forming accuracy is either won or lost. Cr12 tool steel hardened to HRC 58–62 resists the abrasive wear that degrades profile geometry over long production runs. The 45-steel shafts, tempered to HRC 28–32, retain torsional rigidity without becoming brittle under continuous chain-drive load.
Finished Product Capability
Included Accessories
Why the 101–304mm Range Matters
Matched Capacity, Lower Material Waste
A line sized for narrow trays uses narrower coil stock. For manufacturers whose order book is dominated by 100–300mm trays, this means less edge trim and tighter material yield per ton.
Thin-Gauge Precision Where It Is Hardest
Forming 0.6mm steel is more demanding than forming 2mm steel — thin gauge amplifies every alignment error into visible waviness or edge distortion. The 2-upper/3-lower leveling section, 22 progressive forming stations, and 4-roller axial straightening work in sequence to hold the profile flat and square through the entire run.
Dual-Material Flexibility
Steel and aluminium in one line. Switch from 0.6–0.8mm steel to 0.8mm aluminium to serve both standard commercial projects and weight-sensitive or corrosion-critical installations.
Long-Length Output
7–8 meter steel trays reduce the number of joints in an installed run. Fewer joints mean faster installation, fewer couplers, and a cleaner cable path — a direct benefit your downstream contractor clients will notice.
Production Sequence
- Decoiling — 3-ton hydraulic expansion mandrel handles coils up to φ1600mm outer diameter with ф460–520mm inner diameter
- Guided Infeed — guide shaft and guide roller align the strip before it enters the leveling section
- Leveling — 2-upper / 3-lower roller set removes coil set and residual curvature
- Hydraulic Punching — perforation pattern applied; punching quantity directly influences line speed
- 22-Station Roll Forming — progressive forming through 22 stations, chain-driven by 4 kW × 2 motors through Ruibofeng reducers
- 4-Roller Axial Straightening — final geometry correction before cutting
- Rear-Insert Cutting — cut-to-length with scrap cut-off at 5–6mm scrap width
- Run-Out — two 3-meter roller tables receive the finished tray
Control Architecture
The line is managed from a single main control cabinet built around a XinJe PLC and XinJe Electric touch screen, with INVT drivers governing motor output. A length encoder feeds real-time position data back to the controller, so cut length stays accurate across the full 4-meter aluminium and 7–8 meter steel range.
The external jog controller is a practical addition rather than a spec-sheet item: during die changes, threading, and commissioning, an operator can inch the line forward or backward from the point of work instead of returning to the main cabinet.
Component Sourcing
Established domestic industrial brands with mature service networks — spare parts and technical support remain accessible throughout the machine’s service life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What determines the actual output speed? The stated range is 3–5 meters per minute. The governing variable is punching hole quantity — denser perforation patterns require more hydraulic punch cycles per meter, which reduces net line speed.
Can this machine run both steel and aluminium without reconfiguration? Yes. The line is specified for 0.6–0.8mm steel and 0.8mm aluminium. Note that finished length differs by material: 4 meters for aluminium, 7–8 meters for steel.
What coil sizes does the decoiler accept? Coils up to φ1600mm outer diameter, with inner diameter between ф460mm and ф520mm, at a maximum load of 3 tons. Expansion is hydraulic.
Why is scrap generated at the cutting station? The rear-insert cutting design uses a scrap cut-off to produce a clean finished edge on both sides of the cut. Scrap width is 5–6mm per cut.
Is the punching station optional? Hydraulic punching is part of the configuration described in this specification. For requirements without perforation, contact our engineering team to discuss line configuration.
Discuss Your Production Requirements
Tell us your target tray width, material gauge, perforation pattern, and required output volume. Our engineering team will confirm the configuration that matches your production plan.