Bridging the Geographical Gap

How Shade Systems Brought Structural Canopy Rolling In-House with the Davi MCP

Davi, bridging the gap between businesses located worlds apart

Story overview

Shade Systems NZ Ltd, a renowned maker of protective structures in New Zealand, has a rich history spanning over 150 years. Originally crafting tents and outdoor products for the war effort, Shade Systems has evolved into a family business known for its commitment to creating healthy spaces and improving well-being for Schools and Sports Spaces.

Location

New Zealand

Industry

Architectural Works

Eliminating Subcontracting Risks and Managing Complex Tensile Canopy Geometries

To manufacture large-scale, highly customized tensile structures, Shade Systems must bend heavy-walled steel pipes and structural steel profiles into sweeping, structurally sound curves. Originally, the company outsourced this critical rolling process to local subcontractors. However, this model created significant operational strain:

Supply Chain Vulnerability: Relying on third-party roll forming services exposed Shade Systems to external lead-time delays, directly impacting assembly schedules on-site.
Escalating Transport and Processing Costs: Shipping large, heavy structural steel profiles back and forth to external vendors added substantial overhead.
Design Constraints: Subcontracting limited the design team's flexibility. Developing unique, non-standard structural arches was slow, expensive, and difficult to coordinate through an intermediary.

Given their location in Oceania, Shade Systems recognized that bringing this technology in-house was the only way to safeguard their supply chain. However, they needed an industrial-grade section bender that was robust, intuitive for their operators, and—critically—supported by reliable, nearby service to eliminate any risk of extended machine downtime.

The Solution

The MCP 32 Section Bending Machine with Local Engineering Support

After evaluating the global market, Shade Systems selected the Davi MCP 32 angle rolling machine. This robust 3-roll, double-pinch section bender was configured specifically to handle the heavy pipes and structural steel sections required for architectural canopy frameworks.

Key technical elements of the Davi MCP solution include:

Three Independent Motorized Rolls: Unlike conventional angle rolls that drive only one or two rolls, the Davi MCP features three independent hydraulic motors. This all-rolls-drive configuration maximizes torque transmission directly to the steel profiles, eliminating the risk of material slippage during tight-radius bending.
Planetary Guides Technology: The side rolls travel along curved planetary trajectories, delivering high bending force closer to the central fixed roll. This geometry minimizes straight end-sections on the profiles, significantly reducing material waste.
Localized Technical Service Ecosystem: To mitigate the geographical distance between Italy and New Zealand, Davi partnered with its trusted regional representative, Ottotech Services. This collaboration ensured that Shade Systems received local, expert installation, operator training, and immediate, on-the-spot technical support.

The Results

Complete Cost and Quality Control

Bringing the bending process entirely in-house eliminated subcontractor markups and heavy logistics expenses, significantly boosting project profitability.

Streamlined Project Lead Times

Production schedules are now fully controlled internally. Arches and canopy components are rolled on-demand, matching the exact pace of the welding and fabrication teams.

Enhanced Creative Versatility

With the user-friendly manual and automated controls of the MCP, the design team can freely experiment with unique, sweeping canopy geometries, expanding their architectural product offering.

For specialized architectural fabricators, relying on external subcontractors for structural profile bending is a constant bottleneck. Outsourcing not only introduces high transport costs but also exposes projects to supply chain disruptions, extended lead times, and a lack of direct control over dimensional accuracy.

This was the exact operational challenge faced by Shade Systems NZ Ltd. Based in New Zealand, this historic family-owned manufacturer has a rich legacy of crafting protective outdoor structures. Today, the company specializes in designing and manufacturing large-scale, high-durability tensile membrane canopies for schools and community sports spaces. To achieve their complex, modern architectural designs, Shade Systems required advanced, high-precision pipe and angle bending capabilities.

Seamless Support Across 18,000 Kilometers
Operating thousands of miles away from European manufacturing hubs, Shade Systems secured absolute operational continuity through Davi’s global service network. Supported locally by certified engineers from Ottotech Services, the Davi MCP 32 has become the backbone of Shade Systems' production line, demonstrating that Davi's commitment to immediate support easily bridges the gap between businesses located on opposite sides of the globe.