The History Of Roll Grooving At RIDGID

Roll grooving is a pipe connection technology in which the pipe is cold-formed, generating a grooved end. One of the most important benefits of roll grooving is the ease of system maintenance expansion, due to removable couplings at every joint. Over the system's service life, the couplings do not require regular maintenance and will not relax to cause other issues.

Due to cold cutting, roll grooving is a safer solution that meets the requirements of most piping specifications, unlike welding and torch cutting, which can compromise the integrity of the internal linings and generate noise and toxic gases.

No matter what roll grooving application you’re faced with, there’s a RIDGID machine ready to successfully get the job done. Today, whether you’re looking for robustness, capacity, portability or versatility, we offer a wide selection of roll grooving equipment, both mechanically and hydraulically operated for applications up to 24”.

Let’s discover the complete family of RIDGID roll grooving equipment.

925 Roll Groover

The history of roll grooving at RIDGID starts in 1978, with the production of Model 925 Roll Groover. Model 925 was a heavy-duty roll groover, designed for 2” – 8" scheduled 40 steel pipe and could be mounted on multiple RIDGID Threading Machines like No. 300, No. 1224 or No. 535. Model 925 was discontinued in 1992.

916 Roll Groover

Model 916 was launched in 1990 and it is, until today, a roll groover you can always count on. Built with a solid, durable cast-iron housing, Model 916 withstands heavy usage, yet is light enough for easy transportation, weighing only 15 kg. It can be used on the RIDGID 300, 300 Compact, 1233 and 535 machines.

918 Roll Groover

Launched in 1991, Model 918 Roll Groover features a powerful 15-ton hydraulic ram in a compact, easy-to-transport unit. With a quick and easy set-up and operation, Model 918 is the ideal groover for one-man job site requirements.

914 / 915 Roll Groover

Model 914 was launched in 1996 and proved to be a success, but in 2001 it was discontinued, upgraded, and replaced with Model 915. With a hand-ratchet operated mechanical roll grooving unit, Model 915 forms standard roll grooves on steel pipe or copper tube. It is ideally suited for on-site repairs and occasional roll grooving applications.

918-I Roll Groover

1996 was a great year for roll grooving, as it is the year when we also launched Model 918-I Roll Groover. It is capable of grooving 1" to 8" schedule 40 and 1" to 12" schedule 10 pipe faster than any roll grooving machine in its class. 918-I also features a custom-designed, two-stage hydraulic pump that minimizes pipe flare, operator fatigue and hydraulic fluid leaks.

960 / 975 Roll Groover

The new millennium brought a new machine in the RIDGID Roll Grooving family, Model 960. It was a portable unit intended for occasional use on the job site and wasn’t recommended for high-volume work or for production work in a pipe fabrication shop. Model 960 was discontinued in 2008 and it was replaced with Model 975.

Model 975 is actually a Combo. Like other RIDGID roll groovers, Model 975 mounts on the RIDGID 300 Power Drive for guaranteed machine-powered roll grooving jobs. It is also designed to manually roll groove in-place pipe. When manually roll grooving, the 975's gear reduction means less hand force required and it is extremely helpful, especially in over-head applications.

920 Roll Groover

Launched in 2002, Model 920 takes roll grooving to the next level. With a capacity range of 2"-24" diameter pipe, the 920 has the largest capacity of any RIDGID roll groover. Model 920 mounts to the RIDGID 300 Power Drive for easy use in the field or shop.

Applications & Testimonials

All RIDGID Roll Grooving Machines are fast, clean, safe and highly reliable. They can be found in very demanding applications like Hoover Dam (USA), Grand Arche de la Defence (France), Alexandria Library (Egypt), Burj Khalifa (UAE) or Taipei Financial Center (Taiwan).

“The 918 Roll Grooving machine powered by the 300 Complete brought us 30-time savings, this is why it has been my first and only option for the 93 km grooving project.” - Mechanical Construction Manager, Riyadh Metro Project, FCC Industrial, KSA

”We use the RIDGID 918 Roll Groover for building the pipelines of the world’s tallest building. It helps us achieve very good performance and time savings. The quality and lifespan of the tool definitely recommend it for the job.” - Senior Mechanical Engineer, INMA UTILITIES CONTRACTING CO The Kingdom Tower Project, Jeddah, KSA

“Model 915 is a good choice when it comes to just a few pipe bites and grooves. 👍😎 It is easier to set up than the bigger models and saves precious time. I use the saved time to relax before a new work week begins. 😀” – Jostein Larsen, Plumber, Norway

You can see Jostein Larsen and Model 915 in action by accessing this link.

Roll Grooving Tips & Tricks

1. To avoid pipe flare or bell-in, ensure the pipe is level with the roll groover when setting up and operating.
2. To improve pipe tracking, make sure the pipe is squarely cut and level relative to the groover.
3. Always measure the groove with a diameter (Pi) tape.
4. Always make your first set-up groove slightly oversize - you can always adjust and groove smaller, but you can't make a groove larger once it is made.
   
   

Did you know?

RIDGID Roll Grooving machines are used in the construction of impressive projects around the world.

• Istanbul New Airport, Turkey
• Hamad Hospital, Qatar
• Expo Dubai 2020
• Greenline Metro Project, Doha, Qatar
• FCC Industrial for Riyadh Metro, KSA
• New Sharma Touristic Village, KSA
• Marine Towers, Dubai