Abstract: Roll-forming machine for forming, from a flat sheet metal strip (5), a hat beam which has a profile that varies along its length. The machine comprises several consecutively arranged forming stations, each of which comprising a first pair of clamping rollers (22a, 22b) for clamping a side flange (3a) of the hat beam and a second pair of clamping rollers (23a, 23b) for clamping a central flange (2) thereof. The clamping rollers of said second pair are individually displaceable in vertical direction and horizontally in the feeding direction of the sheet metal strip. The displacement of the clamping rollers (23a, 23b) of said second pair is controlled by an electronic control device during a forming operation such that a plane that goes through the centre axes (CA3, CA4) of both these clamping rollers is maintained perpendicular to the part of the central flange (2) received in the nip (31) between these clamping rollers.