What the fittings machines do
A round-duct system needs five families of fitting, and each has its own machine class. Gored elbows are made by cutting pipe into segments and lock-seaming them at an angle (Spiro’s Gorelocker, Tormec’s SEGTO cutter plus ARC-DUAL seamer and Elbow-Maker); small pressed elbows are alternatively seam-welded from two halves (Taokron’s elbow welder). Reducers, saddles and take-offs are shaped on a fitting shaper (Spiro Fittingshaper 1250, Tormec DT-B700, Taokron SBJQJ-500). Flanged and swaged ends come from a flanging machine (Tormec ARC-DUAL, Taokron SBFB-1600). Flat-oval duct is formed from round spiral pipe on an ovalizer or oval roller (Spiro Ovalizer 36/10 and Roval Roller, Taokron SBHT-3100 and SBOR). Seams on fittings and straight pipe are closed by stitch and seam welders where the specification calls for welded rather than locked seams.
Spiro (Lindab group since 1992) publishes the most complete fittings line and the only output figures; Tormec (independent, Barcelona) publishes diameter and gauge ranges but no output; Taokron publishes catalog specs for each machine and quotes output for the buyer’s fitting mix.
The comparison table
Figures are each maker’s published specifications; “not stated” means the maker does not publish it.
| Fitting family | Spiro (Lindab) | Tormec | Taokron |
|---|
| Gored elbows (segment and seam) | Gorelocker Combi-T: Ø125–1250 mm; galv/Al 0.4–1.5 mm, SS 0.4–1.0 mm; 40 bends/h at Ø200, 4-segment | SEGTO segment cutter Ø125–1000 mm + ARC-DUAL seam closer Ø125–1000 mm, 0.4–1.25 mm; Elbow-Maker (specs not stated) | Segments cut on the plasma table; seams closed on the stitch welder (Ø100–1000 mm, 0.4–1.0 mm) or lock-seamed |
| Pressed / welded small elbows | AEM 400 PRO elbow machine (specs not stated) | Not listed | Elbow welder: Ø80–250 mm, 45°/90°, 0.4–1.0 mm, 3–9 m/min, 45 kVA |
| Reducers, saddles, take-offs | Fittingshaper 1250: Ø125–1250 mm, 0.5–0.9 mm galv; Spiro Shaper | Fittingshaper DT-B700 (specs not stated) | SBJQJ-500 fitting shaper: Ø90–400 mm, 0.4–1.0 mm galv/SS/Al, 3.5 kW |
| Flanged / swaged pipe ends | Edgeformer SME 63, Rollformer AR 800 (specs not stated) | ARC-DUAL: Ø125–1000 mm, 0.4–1.25 mm | SBFB-1600 flanging machine: Ø200–1600 mm, 0.4–1.2 mm, flange 7–20 mm, 1–30 m/min |
| Flat-oval duct | Ovalizer 36/10; Roval Roller 48/20 (specs not stated on page) | Not listed | SBHT-3100 ovalizer: 0.4–1.2 mm, min Ø330, length to 3,100 mm, 18.5 kW; SBOR oval roller: min Ø140, width to 1,500 mm |
| Welded seams | Stitchwelder PRO 2.0, Spotwelder, Litelocker (specs not stated on page) | Stitchwelder DT-SL1 (specs not stated) | Stitch welder Ø100–1000 mm, 2 m/min; seam welders SBFN-35 to -100, 0.4–2.0 mm, 0.5–3 m/min |
| Published output | Gorelocker 40 bends/h at Ø200; tubeformer output published | None | Quoted for your fitting mix; verified in the factory acceptance test |
| Owner | Lindab | Independent | Independent, Australian supplier |
Brand and product names are the property of their respective owners, referenced here for honest comparison only. Ownership, positioning and published ranges are as verified in September 2026 from each maker’s own publications; confirm current specifications and support with each vendor before buying.
Reading the table honestly
- Spiro’s Gorelocker is the reference for gored elbows. One machine cuts, gores and lock-seams a Ø125–1250 mm elbow and Spiro publishes the rate. Tormec splits the job across a segment cutter and a seamer; Taokron cuts segments on the plasma table and closes seams on the stitch welder or by lock seam. For a shop producing large gored elbows all day, the dedicated Gorelocker is the productivity benchmark; for a shop doing mixed fittings, the split approach uses machines it needs anyway.
- Small elbows are a different job. Below Ø250 mm most residential and light-commercial elbows are pressed halves seam-welded together; Taokron’s elbow welder covers Ø80–250 mm at 3–9 m/min. Spiro lists the AEM 400 PRO for elbows without published figures; Tormec does not list one.
- Fitting shaper ranges differ. Spiro’s Fittingshaper 1250 reaches Ø1250 mm at 0.5–0.9 mm; Taokron’s SBJQJ-500 covers Ø90–400 mm at 0.4–1.0 mm. Large reducers above Ø400 are a Spiro strength; small take-offs in heavier gauge favour the SBJQJ-500.
- Flanging and oval are where Taokron publishes the most. The SBFB-1600 flanges Ø200–1600 mm pipe ends and the SBHT-3100 ovalizer forms flat-oval to 3,100 mm length; Spiro’s Ovalizer and Roval Roller pages state no ranges and Tormec lists no oval machine.
- Buy the line, not the tubeformer. Whatever the brand, price the fittings machines for the fittings you actually sell; a Ø1250 Gorelocker is wasted in a shop whose largest elbow is Ø400.
Where Taokron fits
This is our own entry, so read it as a vendor’s case. Taokron is an Australian supplier that has built HVAC duct machinery since 1995, with 5,000+ machines in 100+ countries, ISO 9001:2015 and CE certification and catalog-accurate published specs. Our round-duct line puts the SBTF-1602 or SBTF-2020 tubeformer beside the fitting shaper, elbow welder, flanging machine, ovalizer, oval roller, stitch welder and seam welders, so a shop buys the whole round-duct system from one vendor at export-competitive capital cost with one commissioning team. Best for: shops whose fitting mix is mostly below Ø400 mm with flanged ends and some flat-oval, and any shop buying the fittings line with the tubeformer. Weigh: for high-volume large gored elbows Spiro’s Gorelocker is the dedicated benchmark; tell us your elbow sizes and volumes and we will say plainly whether our split approach keeps up.
Ask for a round-duct fittings line quotation with your fitting mix →
FAQ
What is a Gorelocker?
Spiro’s machine for gored elbows: it cuts spiral pipe into angled segments and lock-seams them into an elbow. The Combi-T covers Ø125–1250 mm at 0.4–1.5 mm galvanised and Spiro publishes 40 bends an hour at Ø200 mm for a four-segment elbow. Other makers split the job between a segment cutter and a seamer, or cut segments on a plasma table.
Do I need a fitting shaper as well as a tubeformer?
Yes, if you make your own reducers, saddles and take-offs. Spiro’s Fittingshaper 1250 covers Ø125–1250 mm at 0.5–0.9 mm; Taokron’s SBJQJ-500 covers Ø90–400 mm at 0.4–1.0 mm. Choose by the largest reducer you sell.
How are small elbows made?
Below about Ø250 mm most elbows are pressed halves welded along the seam. Taokron’s elbow welder handles Ø80–250 mm at 45° and 90° in 0.4–1.0 mm at 3–9 m/min; Spiro lists the AEM 400 PRO elbow machine without published figures.
Which maker publishes an oval-forming machine?
Spiro lists the Ovalizer 36/10 and Roval Roller 48/20 without published ranges; Taokron publishes the SBHT-3100 ovalizer (0.4–1.2 mm, min Ø330, length to 3,100 mm) and the SBOR oval roller (min Ø140, width to 1,500 mm). Tormec lists none.
Do fittings from different brands fit together?
Yes. Diameters, slip couplings and flange dimensions follow the same standards regardless of which machine formed them; confirm gauge and test-fit a sample.
Can I buy the fittings machines from a different maker than the tubeformer?
Yes; nothing ties them technically. The reasons to buy from one vendor are commissioning, controls familiarity, spares and one acceptance test, not compatibility.
