Abstract: A cut-off (10) for severing an elongate hollow form member comprises a die (11) having a pair of spaced blades (22), the hollow form member being supported on the upper surface of the die (11), the upper surface of each blade (22) being shaped so that they are contiguous with the lower surface of the hollow form member, a punch (12) having a pointed substantially triangular shaped blade (28), punch (12) above the die (11), controlling the punch (12) such that it moves towards the die (11), and controlling the descent of the punch (12) such that the punch (12) impacts the upper surface of the hollow form member with sufficient force to pierce and cut the upper surface of the hollow form member. A cap fitting apparatus is provided for fitting end caps to each end of the severed hollow form member.

Abstract: This invention relates to an end cap for use with a hollow sheet metal louvre wherein the end cap 10 comprises an end wall 12, a shaft 16 on one side of the end wall for pivotal mounting of the end cap 10, upper and lower flanges 13 and 14 that extend along the upper and lower edges of the end wall 12 which in use extend over the upper and lower surfaces of the louvre 11, and resilient deformable gripping member 20 mounted between the upper and lower flanges 13 and 14 which in use allows the end cap 10 to be pushed onto the louvre 11 where the gripping member, which is located within the hollow louvre, bears against the sheet metal so as to hold the louvre 11 between the gripping member 20 and each upper and lower flange 13 and 14. In addition, the invention provides novel means for side by side stacking of assembled louvres, and a novel means is provided which allows the shaft 16 to engage a bracket 17 while at the same time preventing disengagement of the shaft in the normal operating position.