Preda Knowledge Base

HVAC Duct Machine Guides & Specifications

Every technical resource we publish, organised by machine category. The guides are written by the engineers who build and commission these machines — selection rules, real price bands and the trade-offs that decide which model you should buy.

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2026
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Buying & Technical Guides

Guides by Machine Category

Start with the buying guide for the machine class you are evaluating, then use the comparison and maintenance guides to narrow the model.

Spiral & Round Duct Machines

Buying GuideSpiral Duct Machine Buying GuideHow to match tubeformer diameter range, gauge capacity and mould type to your actual order mix.Read the guide → ComparisonSpiral Tubeformer Buying Guide 2026Head-to-head comparison of PD1600, PD1200 and PD2000 — capacity, price band and ideal shop size.Read the guide → ReviewSpiral Tubeformer PD1600 Review & SetupSetup sequence, operator settings and real customer output data from the PD1600 platform.Read the guide → ComparisonSpiral vs Rectangular DuctWhich profile wins on material cost, pressure drop and installation labour — with decision rules.Read the guide → ProcessOval Duct Manufacturing GuideHow flat oval duct is formed from round spiral tube, and when oval beats rectangular.Read the guide →

Rectangular Duct — TDF & TDC Flange Systems

ComparisonTDF vs TDC Flange GuideThe two dominant rectangular duct flange systems compared on sealing, speed and installed cost.Read the guide → Buying GuideTDF Flange Former Buying Guide 2026T-12 vs T-16 vs Duplex vs Dual Head — throughput, gauge range and shop-size fit.Read the guide → Buying GuideTDF Corner Making Guide 2026Corner machine vs corner matics vs hand molds: the real cost per corner at different volumes.Read the guide → ComparisonTDF Bender: Electric vs PneumaticPower source choice for TDF benders — air supply requirements, cycle speed and maintenance load.Read the guide →

Pittsburgh Lock & Seam Closing

Buying GuidePittsburgh Lockformer Buying Guide 2026SA-15HB vs SA-12HB vs snaplock vs S&drive: which lock profile and machine fits your duct class.Read the guide → MaintenancePittsburgh Lockformer Maintenance GuideDaily, weekly and annual service schedule that keeps a lockformer accurate past ten years.Read the guide → TroubleshootingPittsburgh Lockformer Problems & SolutionsSymptom-to-cause troubleshooting table for the faults that stop a lockformer mid-shift.Read the guide → Buying GuideSeam Locker Buying Guide 2026Portable vs CNC hydraulic vs Pittsburgh L-12 closers — where each one pays for itself.Read the guide →

Automatic Duct Production Lines

Buying GuideAuto Duct Line Buying Guide 2026Line 2 through Line 5 compared on labour saved, floor space and payback period.Read the guide → ComparisonAuto Duct Line 3 vs Line 5A detailed spec-by-spec comparison for shops deciding between the two most popular line sizes.Read the guide → MaintenanceAuto Duct Line Preventive Maintenance GuideThe service checklist that protects a six-figure line investment from unplanned downtime.Read the guide →

Elbows, Fittings & Round Flanges

Buying GuideGorelocker Elbow Machine Guide 2026Hydraulic vs electric gorelockers: cycle time, gauge range and which elbow sizes each handles.Read the guide → ComparisonGorelocker Elbow Making MachineHow hydraulic and electric elbow machines differ in setup, tooling changeover and operator skill.Read the guide → ReferenceRound Duct Fittings GuideElbows, tees, reducers and takeoffs: the fittings you need and the machines that make them.Read the guide → ProcessRound Flange Forming GuideAngle ring flange production from coil: roll forming, welding and bolt-hole layout.Read the guide → Buying GuideRound Flange Production Guide 2026Forming line vs angle iron bender vs welder — three routes compared on cost and throughput.Read the guide →

Cutting, Bending & Sheet Metal Work

Buying GuideSheet Metal Cutting Guide 2026Shear vs plasma vs laser for duct blanks: cut quality, speed and true cost per metre.Read the guide → ProcessSheet Metal Shearing Machine GuideBlade geometry, rake angle and capacity selection — how to choose and run a guillotine shear.Read the guide → ROICNC Plasma Cutter for HVAC DuctWhether a plasma table pays off in a duct shop, and what gauge range it realistically handles.Read the guide → Buying GuideSheet Metal Bending Machine Guide 2026Press brake vs pan brake vs roller bender for ductwork and fittings production.Read the guide → ReferenceSheet Metal Brake TypesPress brake, pan brake and box-and-pan folder explained — strengths, limits and typical jobs.Read the guide → SizingHydraulic Press Brake for HVACHow to size tonnage and bed length for duct shop work without overbuying capacity.Read the guide → Buying GuideDuct Beading Machine Buying Guide 2026CNC vs manual vs 5-groove beaders — bead spacing, gauge limits and when beading is required.Read the guide → Buying GuideDuct Welding Machine Guide 2026Spot vs longitudinal seam vs laser welding for round duct and fittings production.Read the guide →

Materials, Gauges & Standards

ReferenceSheet Metal Gauge for HVAC DuctWhich gauge to specify by duct size, pressure class and application — with selection tables.Read the guide → ReferenceGalvanized Steel Gauge ChartFull gauge-to-millimetre reference for duct sheet, with thickness tolerances by standard.Read the guide → ComparisonGalvanized vs Stainless Steel DuctworkCorrosion resistance, cost and fabrication differences between the two common duct materials.Read the guide → ComplianceDuct Leakage Testing GuideSMACNA leakage classes, test procedures and how much energy a sealed duct system actually saves.Read the guide →

Shop Setup, Costs & Compliance

SetupHVAC Duct Factory Setup GuideThe complete equipment list for a new duct factory, from coil handling to finished fittings.Read the guide → SetupHVAC Duct Fabrication Shop SetupEquipment list and floor layout for a rectangular and round duct workshop.Read the guide → SetupSheet Metal Shop Layout GuideWorkflow optimisation that cuts material handling distance and unblocks production bottlenecks.Read the guide → PricingHVAC Duct Machine Cost: 2026 Price GuideRealistic price bands for every machine category, plus financing and total-cost-of-ownership maths.Read the guide → SetupFire Damper Production Line GuideBuilding fire dampers in-house: blade forming, frame assembly, testing and certification steps.Read the guide → ComplianceFire Damper Installation & TestingCode-compliant installation, access panel rules and periodic testing requirements.Read the guide → BusinessHVAC Duct Cleaning Equipment GuideTools, methods and business case for adding duct cleaning as a separate revenue line.Read the guide → ReferenceHVAC Duct Insulation GuideInsulation materials, R-values and installation methods for round and rectangular duct.Read the guide → ReferenceHow to Size HVAC DuctsStep-by-step duct sizing with the friction-loss calculator method and worked examples.Read the guide →
Machine Pages

Full Specifications by Machine

Technical parameters, gauge and diameter range, drive type and configuration options for every machine we build.

Spiral Duct Machines

Flexible Spiral Duct Making Machine PD-1200Φ80–1200 mm, 0.4–1.2 mm gauge, flexible mould head Heavy Duty Spiral Tubeformer PD-2000Φ200–2000 mm heavy-gauge spiral tube production Spiral Pipe Machine Band TypeBand-type mould spiral pipe forming for large diameters Plasma Cut Spiral Tubeformer PD1600-PLASMASpiral tubeformer with integrated plasma cutting Spiral Duct FlangerFlanging the ends of spiral tube for joint connection

Automatic Duct Lines

Straight Auto Duct Line 5 AML-5Full straight-type automatic rectangular duct line

TDF / TDC Flange Machines

TDF Flange Former T-12Single-head TDF flange forming machine TDF Flange Former T-16Heavy-gauge TDF flange forming machine Dual Head Flange Forming Machine DTDF-15Dual-head TDF/TDC flange forming Duplex TDF Flange Forming MachineDuplex TDF flange forming with higher throughput Duplex TDF Machine with CleatTDF flange forming combined with cleat application TDF Corner Making MachineAutomatic TDF corner insertion Pneumatic TDF Corner Matics PC-12Pneumatic corner matics for TDF flange assembly Portable Hydraulic TDF Corner Matics TDF-12Portable hydraulic corner assembly unit TDF Corner Mold PD-01Hand mold for TDF corner insertion Electric TDF Bending MachineElectric TDF flange bending unit TDC Flange Former MachineTDC flange roll forming for rectangular duct TDC Corner Mold PD-02Hand mold for TDC corner insertion G Clamp Mold for TDC Flange PD-03G-clamp TDC flange mold for assembly benches

Pittsburgh & Seam Locking Machines

Pittsburgh Machine SA-15HBPittsburgh lock forming up to 1.2 mm Pittsburgh Lockformer SA-12HBCompact Pittsburgh lock former for lighter gauge S Cleat Lock Former Machine SA-12SS-cleat and drive cleat lock forming S & Drive MachineCombined S-cleat and drive cleat forming Pittsburgh Seam Locker L-12Portable Pittsburgh seam closing machine CNC Hydraulic Pittsburgh Seam Locker HF-1550CNC hydraulic seam closing for long duct sections Duct Seam Closing MachineStandalone seam closing for rectangular duct Drive Cleat Bender CB-700Drive cleat bending for rectangular duct assembly Power Fastener Trumf Fconnect Tool L-25Handheld fastener tool for duct assembly

Elbow & Round Flange Machines

Hydraulic Elbow Making MachineHydraulic gorelocker for elbow segment production Electric Elbow Forming Machine XMWT-AElectric gorelocker for fast elbow segment forming Round Flange Forming Line YFL-40Automatic angle ring flange forming line

Cutting, Bending & Finishing

CNC Hydraulic Shearing MachineCNC hydraulic guillotine shear for duct blanks Sheet Metal Slitter LQ-15Coil slitting for duct production lines CNC Rotary Beading Machine RBM-1600-CNCCNC controlled rotary beading for round duct Duct Groover 5 Grooves 1300mmFive-groove beading and grooving, 1300 mm width Duct Groover 7 Grooves 2000mmSeven-groove beading and grooving, 2000 mm width American Standard Pan Brake 2500mm2500 mm manual pan brake for duct shop folding 3 Roller Bending MachineThree-roll bending for curved plate and duct 4-Roller Plate Rolling Machine W12-4×2000Four-roll plate rolling, 4 mm × 2000 mm Tiltable Punching Machine J23-25T25 tonne tiltable punching press Spot WelderResistance spot welding for duct and fittings

Still Not Sure Which Machine Fits?

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