Plate Rolling & Forming
Plate rolling in Liverpool and the North West means one thing: steel that has to be the right curve first time. MSR rolls and forms plate into cylinders, cones, shaft linings and curved architectural sections at our Bootle works, family-run since 1987. Whether it’s a single one-off section or a run of matched curves for a structural package, we roll to the radius you need and weld it ready to fit.
What we deliver
- Flat plate rolled into full cylinders, part-cylinders and shells on our slab rolls, mild steel or stainless
- Cone and taper rolling for reducers, transition pieces and stepped diameter sections
- Shaft and tunnel lining segments rolled to a fixed radius for rail and tunnelling packages
- Curved architectural steel for canopies, balustrades, staircases and building facades
- Rolling to jig, template or CAD drawing, single prototypes through to batch runs
- Longitudinal seams prepped, welded and ground flush ready for painting or galvanising
- Curved sections match-drilled and trial-fitted before delivery, so on-site bolt-up is straightforward
- Plate pre-formed and rolled to suit onward fabrication into vessels, ducting and structural steelwork
How we work
- 01
Drawing and template
Send us the radius, diameter or a sample section and we confirm the rolling method — three-roll pyramid or cone rolling — before anything touches the shop floor.
- 02
Roll and check
Plate is rolled in stages with the curve checked against template or profile gauge at each pass, so the radius holds along the full length, not just at the ends.
- 03
Weld, finish and deliver
Seams are welded and ground flush, edges trimmed square, and sections despatched from Bootle across the UK and Ireland, drilled and trial-fitted where the job calls for it.
MSR works from two factories totalling 22,000 sq ft in Bootle, rolling and forming plate alongside our wider structural steel fabrication. Our rail, tunnelling and marine work with Tier 1 contractors means rolled sections for shaft linings and rail structures are held to the same discipline as everything else that leaves the shop — because getting a curve wrong on that kind of job doesn't just cost money, it shuts a railway.
Where we work
MSR is based in Bootle and rolls plate for fabricators and contractors across Merseyside, into Wirral and out to St Helens, alongside projects throughout the wider UK and Ireland.
FAQ
Common questions.
What's the smallest radius you can roll?
It depends on plate thickness and material — thinner plate curves tighter, heavier plate needs a wider radius to roll cleanly without cracking or flat spots. Send us the section and we'll tell you what's achievable.
Can you roll stainless steel as well as mild steel?
Yes. Both go through the same rolling process, though stainless needs more care on roll pressure and surface protection to avoid marking the finish.
Do you only do one-off sections, or batch runs too?
Both. We roll single prototype pieces for testing and repeat runs of matched sections for structural packages, working from the same template or drawing so every piece comes out the same.
Can rolled sections be drilled and match-fitted before delivery?
Yes. Where a job needs bolt-up on site, we drill and trial-fit curved sections in the shop first, so installation isn't the first time the pieces meet each other.
Tell us what you need fabricated.
Structural, architectural or tunnelling steelwork — send drawings or a rough spec and we’ll come back with a straight answer.