Selecting the right steel fabricator can be a big challenge especially when it comes to choosing the right material for the job. Before deciding on which steel fabricator is best for you, it is important to first understand the process. With more dynamic construction designs being introduced in the industry, the process of steel fabrication has become even more diverse and specialized.
Steel fabrication involves a lot of technical input and thus is always done by a professional, especially in large projects such as building a bridge or a walkway. This is because there is no room for mistakes and thus the process should be precise and accurate. Steel fabricators take many pieces of metals and bind them together either through smelting or smoldering to create a final product that comes in different shapes and sizes. It also involves cutting, folding/ bending, and assembling steel to make different products.
The process normally occurs in three stages:
- Cutting- this is done by shearing, sawing or chiseling metal with the use of equipment such as laser cutters, plasma torches or water jets.
- Bending- this is done by hammering either manually or by the use of a machine.
- Assembling- this is simply bringing together molded parts to form complete structures through welding. Heat is applied slowly to the fabricated parts which join them together.
After the completion of the above processes, steel fabricators who operate on a larger scale, use a software package to shape steel in to the desired design. A majority of fabricators use cutting-age technology to monitor and maintain the proficiency of the entire fabrication process. To give the end product a smooth edge, laser- cutting devices are used.
Also Read: Aluminium and Glass in construction
The importance of steel fabrication cannot be undermined as it is used in various industries such as motor vehicle and the construction industry. Not only does steel reinforce the strength of buildings and homes, it also increases their durability. However, before selecting a steel fabricator, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1.The purpose
When selecting a steel fabricator, it is essential to understand the purpose of the product you have in mind. Mr. Ashu Sennik from Desbro Engineering Limited, for instance, says for those who are in the food and beverage industry it is advisable to select companies that only specialize in stainless steel.
Desbro Engineering Limited are specialist in stainless steel Vessels and Tanks and because of that, Mr. Sennik says they understand the needs of the food and beverage industry with the handling of food products. “We therefore fabricate only stainless steel Vessels and Tanks to avoid contamination from other metals,” he says.
Different fabricating companies offer different types of fabrications and a client should select that which best fits their needs.
2. Quality
It is important to always seek out quality when selecting a steel fabricator. This is because quality products are durable and reliable. Most clients go for less quality products simply because they are cheaper; however, this might cost them big time. Mr. Ashu Sennik says their products are made of the highest quality grade of stainless steel and they use the latest fabrication methods in producing their Tanks and Vessels.
3. Production Capability
Before seeking out services or products from a steel fabricator, ensure you are aware of the production capability of the company. This is because your product of choice might involve a lot of processes such as welding, cutting, installation and finishing. If a company is not able to provide all the services you need, it is therefore best to find another steel fabricator that will match with your needs.
To be on the safe side, it is best to select a steel fabricator who runs a wide range of services and skills. This includes skills in steel fabrication, steel drafting and detailing, surface treatment, and delivery and installation.
4. Type of material used
It is very essential to know the type of material a steel fabricating company uses and if that material is genuine and of good quality. This is also in regards to size and thickness. Checking the quality of the product will ensure that you get a quality finished product that will not lead you to losses.
5.Experience
While selecting the best steel fabricator, it is important to know how much experience they have. It is also important to know their specialty as well as some of the projects they have done in the past. This is because some steel fabricators specialize in a certain type of building or only work on projects of a certain size. The reputation of the fabrication company is also important and it is possible to judge depending on referrals and testimonials from previous clients.
6. Certified personnel
In addition to selecting a company with experience, it is also equally important to check if the steel fabricating company has certified personnel. Christine Wanja from Mogaya Contractors Limited says engineers working in steel fabricator companies should be well versed as they are the ones who have the knowledge in design and drawing.
“If you miss the first step of failing to get a qualified person, most likely the whole structure will fail,” she says. The lead engineer at Mogaya Contractors, Mr. Stephen Mwita, has more than five years experience in the field and this, Christine says, has made the company excel in its steel fabricated structures.
The company has been involved in steel works ranging from tanks, towers, billboard frames, go-downs, crane buildings as well as multi-level story buildings.
I am also glad to know more about the Steel Fabricator so I read your content which is describes very greatly tell us about the how you chose the right one fabricator. Thanks to sharing and also we know some new about the steel fabrication.
Hello I like your content about the Selecting the right one Steel Fabricators what you need to know. So I read your content which is very good to explain and also informative for us. So thanks for sharing with us
It’s great to learn that you should look for a steel fabricator that has products that are durable and reliable. My brother is wanting to remodel his house and he was wondering how he can choose a steel fabricator to help him add on to his house. I’ll be sure to tell him that he should look for a steel fabricator that has durable and reliable products.
I like how you pointed out that you should make sure the metal fabricator that has similar experiences. My uncle needs to hire a new steel fabrication company to help him build out the mall he’s working on this summer. He should find a company that is knowledgeable and has had success with similar projects.
I agree that it would be good to choose a fabricator that is known for their quality. I feel like that would help you to feel confident that you are making a good investment by hiring them. I’ll make sure to look for a fabricator that is known for high-quality work if I decide to hire one.
I believe that the most important factor to consider when hiring a metal fabrication company is their experience, as stated here. My dad needs to get some shearing and punching work done to finish his construction job, so he asked me to finds him a welder in the area. I will keep in mind the tips you provided so I can narrows down my options and hire the right company for the job.
It makes sense that one should consider the quality materials the shop has to offer because that’s will guarantee you a better job done. My set[father has a construction job that needs to be done by the end of summer, and he is looking or a metal fabrication company that will help him finish the job. I will let him know about this since he will need good metals to finish the gates and structure.
I appreciate that you mentioned that we will need to consider the quality of work that a steel fabricator has before we would hire them. My wife and I have been talking about finding a fabricator to help my brother with his project, and it will be important for us to know that we could find the right one. When we do look for one to refer him to, I will be sure to do lots of research to evaluate the quality of their work.
Thanks for sharing this information with us. It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. Keep posting and keep sharing like this.
Thanks for pointing out that we must choose the material wisely. As you mentioned, it must be of good quality to ensure that it will not lead to losses in the future. I will follow your advice, especially that this will be for the kitchen equipment that we need for our future restaurant which we are still saving up for.
It makes sense to hire a company that will be employing those with certified personnel. What an awesome way to make the customer sure of your capabilities. My cousin might need this tip since she is looking for a steel fabricator.
Steel fabrication is interesting to learn about. I like how you said that the purpose of the product really affects which fabrication company you should use. It makes sense that if you only need stainless steel, you should pick a company who works with that. What other types of steel are there?
With steel, there is a process in order to make the final product. Now as you said here, you have to first cut it, then bend, and finally assemble. I wouldn’t be able to do any of that myself so I would have to see about getting professional help.
I didn’t know that bending was done by hammering manually. My husband is wanting to get some steel fabrication done on a metal railing and needs to find the right company. I’ll have to help him do some research and find the best steel fabrication company in our area.
My uncle is thinking of starting a construction company of his own; if he does, he’ll need to find a great metal fabricating service to work with. I love how you pointed out that he should make sure the metal fabricator he partners with has lots of experience, as they will be able to produce higher quality products. Thanks for the great tips on choosing a fabrication company.
I need to find a steel fabrication company who can help me to bend and assemble very specific and custom pipes that I need in order to fix a large plumbing problem in my house, so I am glad that I found this article. I like that you say when looking for a steel fabrication company you should find out how much previous experience they have with projects similar to yours. This way I can have peace of mind that the company is knowledgeable and has successfully handled projects like mine in the past.
It’s good to know that steel fabrication involves a lot of technical input. It’s probably best to keep any jobs like that to a professional because it’s very fragile. You should also make sure there are no mistakes when building with steel, like you mentioned.
If you are planning to partner your business with a steel supplier then there are a ton of points to consider and it is great that the article brings them up. It is particularly important to pay attention to what the article says about how much the supplier can produce. After all, you will want to make sure that they can meet the steel needs of your company before you partner with them.
Thanks for the advice about finding a steel supplier that has a high quality of work. Finding someone who makes a quality product would mean that they are actually invested in the industry. My husband and I need some residential steel for our home, so we’ll have to check the quality of the supplier’s work first.
I’m glad that you recommend always finding a steel fabricator that provides quality products, so they’re durable and reliable. In order to find one, you’d probably want to research local companies by looking online so you can read reviews. This could help you get feedback from previous clients so you can figure out which company provides the best quality of structural steel or any other products you need to ensure you can use it for your project.
This is really nice, my first time to participate in articles and actually be quoted.
Thank you