Frequently Asked Questions

Cold-formed steel designates the type of building material, or more specifically framing and decking members, created by mechanically forming flat sheets or plates of metal into a finished member, such as an angle, tube, C-channel, U-channel, Z-purlin, composite deck, through-fastened roof panel, etc.  Cold-formed steel involves a wide array of industries and products that can reach up to 1 inch (25 mm) in thickness.

Light-gauge steel is a subset of cold-formed steel involving thinner material, typically of up to 12 Ga. (0.105 in., 2.7 mm) in thickness, used primarily in repetitive load-bearing and non-load bearing framing, such as panelized roofs, floors, truss assemblies, and other types of framing in residential and commercial construction.

• Low Capital Cost Equipment – therefore it’s financially easy to get into production
• Only one section profile for each profile width – so only one coil width is required. Even the truss coil width is the same as the 90mm coil width
• Our wall Panel machines are Single Phase, so only a normal clean power supply is required. The truss rollformers are 3-phase.
• The rollformer is easily transportable, extrude on site if required
• Single operator, no IT skills or steel rolling experience required
• ScotSteel design software is powerful and leading edge easy-to-use intuitive software, allowing freedom of design and architectural style is virtually unlimited
• Very few tools required
• No manual measuring, cutting, drilling or lay-out production jigs required
• All elements are extruded according to the design, production mistakes are virtually eliminated
• Low cost semi-skilled production and assembly labour – easy to train
• Very low wastage
• Flexibility – use the unique Scottsdale panel ceiling & roof solution or the Scottsdale trusses, whichever is better suited to the application and environment

With over 50 different advanced roll-forming platforms, Scottsdale offers solutions for the widest array of application in the industry, including:

• Residential single-family steel homes,
• Multi-family developments of up to 8 stories in height,
• Educational facilities including high-school and college buildings,
• Non-load bearing curtainwalls in commercial and residential framing,
• Stud and track supply,
• Fully engineered steel truss packages for roof and floor framing,
• Containerized on-site factories,
• Modular and panelized construction,
• Tiny homes,
• Agricultural facilities,
• Utility sheds,
• Factories, and much more.

Some of the common applications can be explored in our LGS Compendium.

• Service and plumbing holes are automatically pre-punched
• No “nail pops” in plasterboard cladding
• Steel framing is precise and square making insertion of Door and Windows frames easier. Door & window frames will not distort, eliminating jamming
• Packing of battens to obtain a flat ceiling is not required (using our unique panel ceiling and roof solution)

Typically, a 3-man team can erect all the frames, including wall, ceiling and roof panels in approximately 3 days.

• Compressor – typically a 15 CFM single phase compressor is sufficient
• Rivet gun/s
• Manual tin snips or electric/pneumatic nibblers
• Lip flattener (supplied)
• Erecting frames is easy, only a cordless screw gun/drill is required – frames are screwed together using self drilling Tek screws

• Unlike many systems, the Scottsdale system is not a “produce for stock” system. As the elements come out of the rollformer they are immediately assembled and riveted together.
• Our rollformers can produce elements faster than most fabrication teams can assemble them.
• In terms of raw line speed the panelised machines can run at 1000m plus per hour. Normal production speed is between 200-600 m per hour depending on what elements are being produced. However, the machine can run faster than a team of three to four men can assemble the frames

• Steel has the highest strength to weight ratio
• 100% Termite, rodent, borer and dry-rot proof
• No Splitting
• No Warping
• No Cracking
• No Rotting
• Dimensionally stable
• Stronger connection – no nails
• Straighter Walls, squarer cornersLighter than timber frames, less load on foundations and concrete slab
• No calls backs
• Steel is the most recycled material in the world
• Lower transport costs due to lightweight frames
• No lifting equipment required to erect ceiling and roof panels
• Completed panels are substantially lighter than timber, 1 man can easily carry a 3m x 2.4m high wall panel

• Steel frames will not bur
• Lightning will not affect a steel framed house more than a timber one, as steel creates a positive earth. Lightning energy is conducted straight to the ground
• No chemical treatments as is the case with timber frames
• Each structure is a fully engineered

Scottsdale is dedicated to providing the highest level of support to our customers. We provide comprehensive training & support and backup from initial production setup.  Our global internet-based Request For Service (RFS) platform allows customers to log both machine and software support enquiries 24 hours a day. We aim to turn around responses within 24 hours to ensure that assistance is available whenever needed and your production never halts.