The evolution of metal benders

By Jesse Sanchez.

How advanced tools are transforming the roofing industry.

Roofing professionals know that efficiency and precision are critical in the field. The evolution of metal bending tools has significantly improved how contractors handle on-site installations, allowing them to create custom bends without relying on prefabrication. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with Shane Norman, senior product manager at Malco Tools, to discuss the latest innovations in metal benders and how they are changing the way contractors work.

One of the biggest advancements in metal bending tools is their improved precision and usability. “The metal benders of today are honestly light years ahead of where they were even 10, 15 years ago,” Shane explains. He attributes these advancements to CNC technology, which enhances the tolerance of bending tools, ensuring smoother adjustments and more precise results.

Malco’s extensive line of benders includes single and dual station benders, as well as disc benders, each designed for specific applications. Shane states, “So we have single station benders… You can imagine a bending handheld tool that you’re going to be using to form that metal, right? And then we also have dual station benders… that’s going to provide the trade pros a little bit more stiffness in the tool, more rigidity and then you have two forming wheels at the same time.” These improvements allow professionals to work more efficiently, reducing job time and increasing productivity.

Beyond precision, adaptability is a key feature of modern metal benders. Contractors now have access to tools designed to work with a variety of metals, including softer materials like copper. “If you're working with really soft material like copper doing something intricate, we do have a larger radius set of wheels that you can put on our metal benders to be a little bit more gentle with that material,” Shane mentions. This ensures that delicate metals can be shaped without compromising their integrity.

As metal roofing continues to grow in popularity, these advancements are making the trade more accessible to a wider range of contractors. Roofing companies that once specialized in asphalt shingles are now expanding their offerings to include metal roofing, thanks in part to tools that make the process more manageable. “Now even with our metal benders, you can hand bend inch and a half or one-inch standing seam panels,” Shane notes, emphasizing that contractors can now take on more diverse projects with confidence.

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how these tools can elevate your craft and give you a competitive edge in the roofing market!