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Forming Technical Bulletins

The following Forming Technical Bulletins offer detailed information and recommendations on the use of BlueScope Steel products. A summary of the contents of each Forming Technical Bulletin (FTB) is included for your reference.

Also available are General Technical Bulletins, Corrosion Technical Bulletins and Sustainability Technical Bulletins.

Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 1 - Lubrication of Steel Sheet and Strip for Forming (398 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • The need for lubricants
  • Surface Characteristics
  • Lubrication modes
  • Lubricant functions
  • Lubricant considerations
  • Types of lubricants
  • Comparison of lubricants
  • Lubrication Modes


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 2 - Shearing and Slitting Steel Sheet and Strip (385 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Shearing and slitting processes
  • Straight Blade Shearing
  • Rotary Shearing
  • Shear Lines
  • Slitting
  • Slit-shearing


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 3 - Punching and Piercing Steel Sheet and Strip (392 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Punching and piercing operations
  • Mechanism of punching
  • Punch and die clearances
  • Tool wear
  • Tool size
  • WStripping
  • Shearing force
  • Power requirements
  • Tool construction
  • Lubrication
  • COLORBOND® steel products
  • Electrical Steels
  • Fine blanking

Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 4 - Bending Steel Sheet and Strip Products (558 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Bending operations
  • Folding
  • Press-brake forming
  • Press bending
  • Bending methods
  • Die design
  • Precautions
  • Material characteristics and allowances
  • Bending organic finished material
  • Automated bending systems


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 5 - Roll Forming Steel Strip (564 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • The roll-forming process
  • Equipment
  • Roll design
  • Roll-former design versus product design
  • Roll-forming high strength steel strip


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 6 - Lock Seaming Steel Sheet and Strip (229 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Lock-seam types
  • Pittsburgh lock-seam
  • Machines
  • Double seam
  • Button punch snap lock seam
  • Manufacture of ductwork
  • Machine settings
  • General
  • Forming problems
  • Strip product for lock-seaming


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 7 - Press Forming Steel Sheet and Strip (389 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Press-forming - the process
  • Presses
  • Dies
  • Die design
  • Press loads
  • Blanks
  • Press operation
  • Lubrication
  • Press Performance
  • Correction of problems during pressing


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 8 - Spinning and Flowturning Steel Sheet and Strip (383 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Spinning and flow turning process
  • Spinning and flow turning techniques
  • Flow turning
  • Forming variables
  • Selection of product for spinning
  • Advantages of spinning and flow turning
  • Expansion joints


Download Forming Technical Bulleting FTB 9 - Tank Fabrication (225 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Sealing of water tanks
  • Tank installation
  • Tank lids
  • Painting of exterior tanks walls
  • Accessories
  • Important points