Metal forming: our solid expertise
For your French or international industry, metal forming is an essential step in the production of your metal parts. Ensuring the success of this high-stakes mission is the commitment made by the Hexalean Group, which specializes in this field of expertise.
We draw on our proven expertise in various cold forming techniques to work the metal (deforming flat products or sheet metal) and give it the required 3D shape. All this while guaranteeing a high level of precision, the robustness of the parts and sub-assemblies produced, and their compliance with identified constraints (materials, deadlines, etc.).
But our commitment is not limited to technical execution. We also provide tailor-made support and comprehensive management of your project to cover every link in your value chain.
Achieve your industrial ambitions by relying on a trusted partner with a 360° offering!
Our extensive expertise in various metal forming techniques
To meet your forming challenges, our French industrial group has made strategic investments to equip itself with a range of machines that are up to the task. Press brakes (hydraulic or electric CNC presses), roll formers, panel benders, etc.
We are able to implement the main metal forming processes that we have mastered in-house:
Folding
The process of bending sheet metal to give it a specific shape with one or more angles without removing any material.
Bending of tubes and flat profiles
Process performed on flat profiles or tubular parts (aluminum or other tubes) to create an elbow.
Rolling
A process that involves gradually bending a sheet of metal to obtain a cylindrical or conical shape. A rolling machine (with 3 or 4 rollers) is used for this purpose.
- Principle
The sheet metal is clamped between the rollers. The upper roller (or lower roller, depending on the machine) imposes a bend. The sheet metal passes through the machine several times, with gradual tightening until the desired diameter is achieved. - What rolling allows
Cylinders of all diameters.
Regular truncated cones.
High repeatability and surface quality.
Precise work on steel, stainless steel, aluminum, with variable thicknesses.
- Principle
Croquage (or faceted folding)
A process that involves creating a conical shape by making a series of small folds using a press brake. This creates a curve using a series of very fine facets.
- Principle
- The angle and number of folds required are defined.
- A series of small folds are made on the press brake.
- The closely spaced facets visually reconstruct a cone.
- What croquage allows
- Large cones when they cannot be rolled.
- Open cones or complex shapes.
- Great flexibility for small series or prototypes.
- Very useful when the rolling machine is not suitable (thickness, width, geometry).
- Principle
Signage
Automated sheet metal bending operation performed on a panel bender. A panel bender is a machine that forms bends by applying pressure and counter-pressure with blades, without moving the sheet metal, unlike a press brake.
Our expert response tailored to your specific forming needs
With our human expertise and diversified production resources, we offer you a tailor-made solution that is perfectly aligned with your technical forming requirements:
- Manufacture of custom parts: small or large dimensions, with complex or basic shapes, multiple diameters, lengths, or thicknesses (thin to very thick parts), etc.
- With a wide range of materials, namely the main ferrous and non-ferrous metals: stainless steel, aluminum, and all types of steel parts.
- In small, medium, and large series, in batches…
Our one-stop-shop offering: a strategic advantage for all industries
To secure your industrial parts production, you can count on the synergy of the Hexalean Group’s 9 specialized companies.
We put our collective strength and complementary expertise at your service to cover your entire value chain or part of it:
Upstream
- Technical support prior to launching production (design or co-design, engineering advice, etc.) provided by our design office.
In production
- Production of cut parts: cutting, stamping, punching, cold forming, flat laser cutting, water jet or plasma cutting, etc.
- Industrial sheet metal work and mechanical welding: laser welding, robotic welding, TIG, MIG or spot welding, bonding, crimping, etc.
- Operations carried out to machine your parts (precision machining): milling, turning, tapping, etc.
- Surface treatment: preparation, protection, coating application, polishing, galvanization finishing, etc.
Until the final services
- Assembly of your mechanical parts
- Option to store your production
- Packaging and wrapping adaptable to each set of specifications (including packaging labels)
- On-site delivery (to your premises or construction site): on-time delivery, just-in-time (JIT), regular deliveries, etc.
Choose a single expert partner in metal transformation and a comprehensive solution to minimize the risks of subcontracting and significantly improve your performance.
Hire Hexalean Group, specialists in metal forming, to benefit from:
Our expertise in metal transformation, proven over nearly 10 years
The mobilization of a committed partner in a long-term, close relationship with high value-added support: advice from our technical experts, end-to-end monitoring, etc.
Our certifications:
- ISO 9001, certifying the implementation of a quality management system to guarantee the reliability of your technical parts. You can be sure that they meet your specifications and the requirements (high precision, tight tolerances, high mechanical strength, etc.) of many demanding sectors such as yours.
- ISO 14001 (PPC), guaranteeing the application of an environmental management system. We are committed to continuously improving our manufacturing practices in order to support your (and our) desire to reduce the environmental impact of your production.
Our multi-site configuration contributes to our adaptability. It is a key lever for responding quickly to your needs and strengthening the agility that is essential to the development of your business.
Production supported by cutting-edge technologies. Our strategy consists of combining solid human skills with Industry 4.0: numerically controlled machine tools, connected sensors, 3D CAD, etc. Our goal is to offer you operational excellence and optimize the economic competitiveness of your industrial company.
Our CSR approach supports the decarbonization of the industrial sector, with practices that are more respectful of our employees and the environment.