V Grooving and folding of sheet metals

V Grooving and folding of sheet metals

Creating precise, sharp angles and folds with V-Grooving machinery

Bending metal using a V-Grooving machine allows it to be folded to a tight radius, or sharp corner. This enables folded metal to mimic solid bar material at around a tenth of the cost and also avoids wastage. V-Grooved profiles look just like solid bar material but are light in weight and easier to transport and install.

See comparison of V-Grooved and folded profile with non V-Grooved profile

We can V-Groove and fold up to 4 metre lengths of material and thicknesses from 0.8mm to 6mm.

The V-Grooving machine in action

Depending on the thickness of the material and the type of fold required, the V-Groove machine cutting head will run a programmed number of times along the sheet material.

See the video of our V-Grooving machine in action in Wimbledon, London, UK

Meeting the demands of today’s architects and interior designers

Designers and architects aiming to achieve upmarket, high-specification interiors and finishes rather than specify solid materials can utilise V-Grooved folding. This method of creating solid-looking trims, architraves and skirtings enables endless design options for specifiers.

Using PVD stainless steel, the V-Grooving process is used to create colour matchable display fixtures, fascias, curtain-walling and cladding.

Where contractors are dealing with an existing specification for solid material this can be value-engineered to V-Grooved profiles with no loss of aesthetic. For boutique hotels and luxury retail brands these lightweight V-Grooved profiles are a cost-effective alternative.

For exterior cladding and curtain-walling V-Groove folds allow for seamless butting-up or can create decorative shadow gaps.

V-Grooving is also called score-folding, V-cutting and back-scoring.

See the video of finished profiles undergoing Quality Control in our workshops in Wimbledon, London

V-Grooving – a summary

V Grooving creates decorative grooves, channels and shadow gaps.

V-Grooving allows for sharp bends to be created from sheet material creating profiles that give the appearance of a solid material.

Solid, or bar, metal is both more expensive to purchase and creates wastage once shaped. Bending sheet material is a more cost-effective alternative.

Both ferrous and non-ferrous materials can be V-Grooved, as follows:-

• Brass
• Bronze
• Copper
• Aluminium
• Stainless steel
• PVD coated coloured stainless steel*
• Mild steel
• Gold
• Zinc.

*PVD coloured stainless steel can be V-Grooved and folded without any damage in appearance to the PVD coating. Therefore PVD sheet material is ideal for V-Grooving and folding as a cost-effective alternative to Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold and Iron.

International services

We have invested in our machinery in order to provide a comprehensive range of metalwork services and produce highly sophisticated architectural metalwork.

We are centrally located in Wimbledon, London and operate globally via our network of international partners.

Benefits of V-Grooving – a summary

Speed – a V-Groover can machine more grooves in one hour than a traditional milling machine or router can perform in eight hours. This means it is cheaper in the cost of labour and large volumes can be handled in relatively quick timescales.

Accuracy – the V-Groover is set to a highly accurate measurement – so much so that a grooved sheet could be put through a second time with no deviation or alteration to the first groove. This means very precise and small profiles can be fabricated.

No wastage – channelling out solid bar material creates waste from an expensive commodity. V-Grooving and folding creates minimum waste and is on average a tenth of the cost of working with solid bar metals. Precision folding – V-Grooving allows for folding to a tight radius, creating sharp bends.

Groove shape options – V-Grooving can be created not just in one shape of V. Wider V, semi-circular and square grooving is also possible allowing for a range of design variations.

Aesthetic – V-Grooved and folded profiles in appearance look as if they are cold-drawn or extruded metal.

See alternative V-Groove shapes

Contact Michael to discuss your project and send your drawings.

A selection of architectural applications for V-Grooving and folding

Elevator entry areas

Button panels, cladding panels and trims are created from V-Grooved and folded metals.

Wall cladding systems

Cladding panels are V-Grooved and folded to create a depth to wall panels. For close butting-up the V-Grooving and folding allows for a visually seamless effect.

Retail fixtures

This decorative display fixture has been created using V-Grooved and folded PVD coated coloured stainless steel in Copper.

Elevator interiors

This elevator cab interior is created from panels with V-Grooved and folded edges.

Exterior cladding detail

These decorative exterior panels are created using V-Grooved and folded PVD coloured stainless steel in Bronze. The edge-folds give depth and the look of a solid material.

Hotel and restaurant detailing

V-Grooved and folded stainless steel creates the appearance of solid brass bar detail.

Typical profiles created by V-Grooving and folding

Capacity

Our V-Grooving machine has the following capacity.

V-Grooving machine capacity

Contact us to discuss V-Grooving