Who makes what, and who owns whom
Spiro International (Bösingen, Switzerland) invented the Tubeformer in 1956 and has belonged to the Swedish Lindab group since 1992; Spiral-Helix in Illinois is its own US sales and service arm. Lockformer is a Mestek Machinery brand (with Iowa Precision, Engel and Roto-Die), built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa alongside Iowa Precision and Engel. Tormec is independent, built in Barcelona with a Swiss office. Taokron is an independent Australian supplier. So “Spiro or Spiral-Helix” is one owner; every other pairing on this page is a genuine alternative. See the brand ownership map for the wider industry.
The comparison table
Figures are each maker’s published specifications; “not stated” means the maker does not publish it. US gauges are converted to millimetres in brackets by us.
| Machine | Class | Diameter | Galvanised | Stainless | Cutting | Published output | Drive | Owner |
|---|
| Spiro Tubeformer 1602/3600 | 1602 | Ø80–1600 mm | 0.4–1.3 mm (1.7 heavy-gauge build) | 0.4–0.6 (PRO 0.8, HG 1.0) | Hydraulic Slitter Model H | 180/h Ø100/0.5; 53/h Ø500/0.7; 23/h Ø1250/0.9 (3 m ducts, standard build) | Not published by Spiro | Lindab |
| Spiro Tubeformer 2020/3600H | 2020 | Ø80–2500 mm | 0.4–2.0 mm | 0.4–1.3 mm | High Performance Slitter Model H and/or plasmacutter | Standard: 180/h Ø100/0.5; 53/h Ø500/0.7; 23/h Ø1250/0.9; 19/h Ø1600/1.25; 15/h Ø2000/2.0. High Speed build: 275/h Ø100/0.5; 93/h Ø500/0.7; 40/h Ø1250/0.9 (Ø80–1800 mm, 0.4–1.3 mm) | Not published by Spiro | Lindab |
| Lockformer Spiral 1.2E | 1602 | 3–64 in (76–1626 mm) | 28–18 ga (0.4–1.3 mm) | 28–22 ga (0.4–0.8 mm) | On-the-fly slitting device | 241 ft/min line speed (73 m/min); no ducts-per-hour figure | 15 hp | Mestek |
| Lockformer Spiral 2.0 | 2020 | 3–100 in (76–2540 mm) | 28–16 ga (0.4–1.5 mm) | 28–20 ga (0.4–1.0 mm) | On-the-fly slitting device | 344 ft/min high capacity, 287 ft/min heavy gauge (105 / 87 m/min); no ducts-per-hour figure | 30 hp | Mestek |
| Tormec Tube-Former | 1602 | Ø80–1600 mm | 0.4–1.2 mm | 0.4–0.8 mm | Not published by Tormec | Not published by Tormec | 11 kW | Independent |
| Tormec Tubo Nova (die-based) | Below 1602 | Ø125–1400 mm | To 1.0 mm | Yes, range not stated | Not published by Tormec | Not published by Tormec | Not published by Tormec | Independent |
| Taokron SBTF-1500 | Compact | Ø80–1500 mm | 0.4–1.2 mm | 0.4–0.8 mm | Saw blade | Quoted per diameter, FAT-verified | 5.5 kW + 4 kW saw | Taokron |
| Taokron SBTF-1602 | 1602 | Ø80–1600 mm | 0.4–1.3 mm | 0.4–0.8 mm | Patented flying slitter | Quoted per diameter, FAT-verified | 11 kW | Taokron |
| Taokron SBTF-2020 | 2020 | Ø80–2500 mm | 0.4–2.0 mm | 0.4–1.2 mm | Plasma + flying slitter | Quoted per diameter, FAT-verified | 22 kW | Taokron |
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
- The 1602 class is a shared envelope. Spiro 1602, Lockformer 1.2E, Tormec Tube-Former and Taokron SBTF-1602 all publish Ø80–1600 mm; galvanised ceilings differ slightly (Tormec 1.2, the rest 1.3, Spiro 1.7 on the heavy-gauge build). Compare stainless and aluminium ceilings, not just galvanised: they vary more.
- The 2020 class is where the makers separate. Spiro 2020 and Taokron SBTF-2020 publish 2.0 mm galvanised to Ø2500 mm; Lockformer 2.0 publishes 16 ga (1.5 mm) to 100 in; Tormec lists no 2020-class machine. Mining, industrial exhaust and jacketing buyers should start here.
- Only Spiro publishes guaranteed ducts per hour. That is to its credit. Taokron quotes throughput for your diameters and gauge and writes it into the factory acceptance test. Neither Lockformer nor Tormec publishes a ducts-per-hour figure for its tubeformers; Lockformer does publish line speed (241 ft/min on the 1.2E, 344 or 287 ft/min on the 2.0), and Tormec publishes line speeds for some of its other machines. Ask every vendor for the same three figures at your top diameters and put them in the contract.
- Cutting system decides noise, dust and consumables. Flying slitters (Spiro, Taokron 1602) give clean cuts at speed; a saw blade (Taokron 1500) suits part-time work; plasma (Taokron 2020) handles heavy gauge. Lockformer and Tormec do not state the system on their pages.
- Heads and strip are the switching cost. Forming heads (or dies on the Tubo Nova) are diameter- and brand-specific; strip widths are 137/140 mm in the 1602 class and 150 mm for heavy gauge. Price the head set for the diameters you sell, not the brochure range.
- Service geography. Spiro publishes a US subsidiary and unnamed partners; Lockformer a US and Canadian dealer network; Tormec a presence in 60-plus countries; Taokron has machines installed in 100-plus countries and offers direct engineer support. Ask each for the nearest stocked forming head.
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 certification and CE marking and catalog-accurate published specs. We are the only maker on this table that publishes a compact saw-blade machine, a 1602-class flying-slitter machine and a 2020-class plasma machine as one range: the SBTF-1500 for part-time spiral, the SBTF-1602 for everyday round duct and the SBTF-2020 for heavy gauge to Ø2500 mm, with the fitting shaper, elbow welder, flanging machine, ovalizer and welders around them. Best for: shops that want the class they need at export-competitive capital cost, a full fittings line from one vendor and direct engineer support. Weigh: Spiro is the benchmark with published guaranteed output; hold us to the same figures in the acceptance test. Our Spiro 1602 versus SBTF-1602 page compares the two head to head.
Ask for a spiral machine quotation with your diameters and gauge →
FAQ
What is the difference between a 1602-class and a 2020-class spiral machine?
The 1602 class covers Ø80–1600 mm round duct in 0.4–1.3 mm galvanised, the everyday commercial range; the 2020 class covers Ø80–2500 mm to 2.0 mm for mining ventilation, industrial exhaust and jacketing. Spiro and Taokron publish both classes; Lockformer’s 2.0 reaches 100 in at 16 ga; Tormec lists only the 1602 class.
Which spiral machine is fastest?
Only Spiro publishes guaranteed output: 180 ducts an hour at Ø100/0.5 mm, 53 at Ø500/0.7 and 23 at Ø1250/0.9 for the standard 1602. Taokron quotes throughput for your diameters and verifies it in the factory acceptance test. Lockformer publishes line speed rather than ducts per hour (241 ft/min on the 1.2E; 344 or 287 ft/min on the 2.0), and Tormec publishes line speeds on some machines but none on its tubeformer. Ask every vendor for the same three diameters.
Are Spiro and Spiral-Helix different machines?
No. Spiral-Helix Inc. in Illinois is Spiro International’s own North American company and builds Tubeformers for the Americas. Both are Lindab group.
Do forming heads transfer between brands?
No. Heads and dies are machine-specific. Price the head set for the diameters you actually sell on any machine you shortlist, and ask what adding a diameter later costs.
Which machine handles the heaviest stainless?
Published ceilings: Spiro 2020 1.3 mm, Taokron SBTF-2020 1.2 mm, Spiro 1602 heavy-gauge build 1.0 mm, Taokron SBTF-1602 and Tormec Tube-Former 0.8 mm, Spiro 1602 standard 0.6 mm. Lockformer states 28–22 ga stainless on the 1.2E and 28–20 ga on the 2.0.
Will spiral duct from different brands fit together?
Yes. The spiral lock seam and the diameter series are industry standards; match diameter, gauge and seam type and the duct couples as before. Test-fit a sample.
