Insights · Reference
Three rectangular HVAC auto duct production lines, one decision. This reference compares the Taokron SBAL-V, SBAL-III and SBAL-II on integration, line speed, drive power, material gauge and weight — with figures taken verbatim from the Taokron Product Catalog 2026 — so you can match the line to your output and budget.
An auto duct line takes a steel coil in at one end and delivers finished, closure-ready rectangular duct at the other. What separates the three Taokron lines is how much of that process happens inline in a single pass — which drives the line's power, weight and finished output. Here they are side by side.
| Specification | SBAL-V | SBAL-III | SBAL-II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forming approach | U-shape, fully automatic | Hydraulic notch + shear | Entry-level rectangular |
| Inline operations | Uncoil → bead → notch → shear → fold → TDF → Pittsburgh | Notch + shear inline; separate TDF station | Core rectangular forming |
| Material gauge | 0.5–1.5 mm | 0.5–2.0 mm | 0.5–2.0 mm |
| Max duct width | up to 1550 mm | up to 1550 mm | up to 1550 mm |
| Line speed | 18 m/min | 18 m/min | 18 m/min |
| Drive power | 40 kW | 10.7 kW | 9.2 kW |
| Machine weight | ~16 tonnes | 3,250–4,000 kg | 3,000–3,500 kg |
| Operating voltage | 380 V · 50 Hz · 3-phase (60 Hz on request) | ||
| Closure produced | TDF + Pittsburgh inline | TDF + Pittsburgh | TDF + Pittsburgh |
| Best fit | High-volume single-pass production | Mid-volume, staged TDF | Lowest-capital entry line |
Source: Taokron Product Catalog 2026, manufacturer nameplate specifications. Duct conforms to SMACNA / AS NZS 4254 rectangular-duct construction. Width models are available in 1250 mm and 1550 mm variants (SBAL-V-1250U/1550U, SBAL-III-1250/1550).
The most common mistake buyers make reading these numbers is treating line speed as output. All three SBAL lines run the same 18 m/min raw line speed — which is exactly why line speed tells you nothing about output. What differs is integration: on the SBAL-V the duct comes off the line already notched, sheared, TDF-flanged and Pittsburgh-locked in a single continuous pass, so it is ready to install. On the lighter SBAL-III and SBAL-II, those operations happen at separate stations with extra handling between them, so finished-duct throughput is lower even at the same line speed. Compare finished-duct throughput and operator count per square metre, not the headline m/min.
Output target first. For a workshop targeting roughly 1,500–2,500 m² of finished rectangular duct per day with a small crew, the SBAL-V's single-pass integration pays for its higher capital and 40 kW supply. For mid-volume shops or those that already own a TDF machine, the SBAL-III delivers most of the automation at a fraction of the power and weight. For a shop adding its first automated line on a tight budget, the SBAL-II is the lowest-capital entry into coil-fed rectangular duct.
Then power and floor. The jump from the SBAL-II (9.2 kW, ~3.5 t) to the SBAL-V (40 kW, ~16 t) is large — confirm the electrical supply and floor loading early, because retrofitting a 3-phase feeder or reinforcing a slab after the machine arrives is expensive. Taokron supplies a 2D workshop layout drawing with every quotation so the line, uncoiler and run-out table are sized to the available floor before you commit.
Then closure. All three lines produce TDF and Pittsburgh-lock duct, so the connection method is not the deciding factor here — the deciding factor is how much of the work you want done inline versus at separate stations. For the trade-offs between TDF and bolted angle flange, see the TDF vs angle flange reference.
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Integration. The SBAL-V runs uncoiling, beading, notching, shearing, TDF flanging and Pittsburgh locking in one continuous pass. The SBAL-III uses hydraulic notching and shearing with a separate TDF station. The SBAL-II is the entry-level line for straightforward rectangular duct. More integration means more finished duct per pass.
The SBAL-V — even though all three lines share the same 18 m/min line speed — because it produces finished, closure-ready duct in a single pass. Taokron rates the SBAL-V for up to about 2,500 m² of finished duct per day.
The SBAL-V draws 40 kW at ~16 tonnes; the SBAL-III 10.7 kW at 3.25–4 tonnes; the SBAL-II 9.2 kW at 3–3.5 tonnes. All run 380 V, 50 Hz, 3-phase (60 Hz on request).
The SBAL-V handles 0.5–1.5 mm; the SBAL-III and SBAL-II handle 0.5–2.0 mm. All three form rectangular duct up to 1550 mm wide.
All three (SBAL-V/III/II) make rectangular duct up to 1550 mm wide; they differ in gauge and integration, not width or speed.
The integrated SBAL-V runs single-operator; the lighter SBAL-III and II need an extra hand for material handling between stations.
Tell us your daily duct target and an Taokron mechanical engineer will recommend the right line — with a layout sketch and budget — within 12 hours.
Ask an engineerThe duct fabrication workflows above run on standard Taokron equipment: spiral tubeformers for round duct, auto duct production lines for rectangular duct, and TDF flange and lockformer machines for closure — or browse the full machine catalog.
