How to Find the Right Custom Design and Fabrication Team

What is Custom Design and Fabrication?

Custom design and fabrication is a manufacturing process that uses industrial equipment and tools to shape metal by cutting it, bending it, and joining pieces together. Generally, this process is done on stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized and galvannealed steel, and copper depending on the use. This process allows the customer to create fully customizable metal works for specific purposes, producing a product that is as efficient and effective as possible.

With competitive price and timely delivery, ACE sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Custom Metal Fabrication Techniques

There are many techniques that manufacturers use to get the clients desired results. From cutting to welding, there are many different skills metal fabricators need to have.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is the process of cutting metal using a high-powered laser. This laser is guided by a computer and creates a cut edge on many different types of metal, such as aluminum, hot- and cold-rolled steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and galvannealed steel.

Forming

Forming is a way to force metal into different shapes. The metal is shaped by a plastic mold being forcefully punched into the metal, resulting in different sizes and shapes to form.

Turret Punching

Turret punching uses a punch to create a hole in metal. Forceful machinery rapidly punctures the metal, creating the hole. Metal punching creates an imprint on the metal by using pressure and a punch tool.

Welding

Simply put, welding is the process of joining two metals or two metal pieces together through melting. Traditional and robotic welding are now options, each having its own advantages. In traditional, or hand, welding a professional welder is manually joining metals. Robotic welding is a little different because the robot, or machine, is responsible for the physical joining of metals with a professional welder in control of the machine and monitoring the process.

The Finishing Touches

Metal Finishing 

Metal finishing is the process of applying a protective outer coating to the metal, giving it a clean look.

Assembly

Clients asking for their products to be assembled is common. Making sure the product is fully put together before being shipped to the customer is crucial, especially for highly complex or technical works.

Hardware Insertion

In order to fasten some metal pieces together, welding alone doesn’t work. Using the holes that were punched or cut into the metal, hardware is inserted and tightened to fasten the metal and ensure security.

Powder Coating

Another type of metal finish, powder coating is a smooth outer finish applied to the metal. This is accomplished by spraying dry powder onto the surface of the metal and then fusing the powder to the surface using an electric charge.

Silkscreen

Silkscreening is one of the last steps of metal fabrication. Using heat-cured paint, colorful designs are added to the surface of the metal.

What to Consider When Deciding Which Custom Design and Fabrication Team is Right for You

What Metal is Used?

When looking for a fabricator, you need to make sure that they are comfortable and experienced in whatever kind of metal you are using. Whether it is stainless steel or copper, the right metal is critical to your design and product functionality. Try to opt for a company that has experience with the kind of metal you are using.

What Processes Are the Company Using?

The capabilities and techniques needed for custom metal design and fabrication vary from project to project. You don’t want to have to hire multiple metal fabrication companies just to get one project finished, it is expensive and time-consuming. Having a fabricator that can meet all of your needs, including finishing and assembly is key to saving money.

Is the Company Experienced and Do They Serve Your Industry?

Experience matters when it comes to the creation of your product. Finding a team with experience in your specific industry, and even with your specific type of product, gives you peace of mind that they are the best choice to accomplish the job.

Is the Company Helpful and Informative?

When sourcing out your design and fabrication, a clear line of communication needs to be open at all times to make sure you and your manufacturer are on the same page about the design and production of your product. Having helpful and attentive customer service representatives at the manufacturer you are working with will save time and money in the long run.

Want to See if C.R. Metal Products Meets Your Needs?

For more than 75 years, C.R. Metal Products has served numerous industries with their custom design and fabrication needs. As an ISO-certified metal fabrication company, our extensive capabilities, from laser cutting to silkscreening, are guaranteed to be high-quality.

Selecting a custom sheet metal fabricator is a complex task that requires extensive research and tenacity. After all, this company will manufacture some of your most critical components. Thus, hiring someone that will not only assist you but also be a collaborative partner who will aid you in achieving your goal is crucial.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit sheet metal manufacturing.

If you need help determining where to begin, this article will discuss the factors to consider when selecting a partner fabrication company.

Key Considerations When Selecting a Sheet Metal Fabricator

The first step in assessing if a company is a suitable fit for your needs is to research the following factors:

Experience

The objective of inquiring about a company’s experience is to verify that it can demonstrate competence in the projects you require. Don’t just ask how long they have been in business; inquire about the products they create and the industries they serve. While working with a company that has been in business for decades can be convincing, even someone with 50 years of experience may be inefficient if they have never worked on a project like yours.

Here are some supplementary questions to ask regarding their experience:

• Do they have prior experience working on a project similar to yours?
• What employees or specialists are they employing in your industry?
• Are they capable of powder coating and finishing your products?

Availability

Ask about the company’s scheduling and workforce availability. For instance, if you come across a supplier with all of your required qualifications but cannot meet deadlines, consider looking into other companies or putting the work on hold.

Equipment

Equipment is critical when it comes to metal fabrication. Therefore, you must be as detailed as possible about your specifications and schedule when inquiring to confirm whether the company can provide them.

Ask questions such as the following:

• Do they have the necessary tools and materials for your type of job?
• Can they handle the required metal type, grade, and gauge?
• What kind of supply chains do they work with?
• How much of your work can they do in-house?
• Can their facilities complete the job on time?

Capabilities

Professional custom sheet metal fabrication companies frequently offer additional services in addition to design and manufacturing. Depending on what they offer, you may save money and time by not having to work with multiple manufacturers on a single project. You can accomplish this by checking whether they offer services like precision machining, mechanical assembly, powder coating, inventory management, and CAD solutions.

Past Work

Take considerable time researching a company’s previous work to understand its capabilities. You can do this by performing the following methods:

Browsing Website Reviews

Check out their website for sheet metal fabrication services and a gallery of finished products. If the performance and quality are consistent, and you see similar products to the one you require, it is a good sign that they can handle the work. You can also get more information from their website, which includes case studies and client testimonials.

Checking References

One of the best ways to learn more about a fabricator is to speak with people who have worked directly with them. Therefore, feel free to ask a sheet metal fabricator for client references.

You can ask the following questions:

• What was the quality of the work?
• How quickly was the job completed?
• Was the team communicative and professional?
• Did you run into any issues while working with them? If so, how did the team solve them?

Searching for Online Reviews

Checking their reviews on websites like Google Business and Yelp is another way to assess the quality of their services. Finding consistent and positive feedback from others over time is a good indicator that you are working with experts.

Conducting Company Visits

Visiting the company in person is the best way to assess professionalism, quality, and overall team capability. Though traveling to a fabricator’s facilities can be costly, seeing their process firsthand is a worthy investment for the quality of your finished product.

Pricing

Choose a company that offers a competitive price without compromising quality. It also helps to get quotes from multiple suppliers before comparing and ensuring that you will get the best value for your money.

Ask more than the final cost when requesting for a quote. A professional custom sheet metal fabrication company should provide a quote that breaks down expenses such as tooling fees, design costs, and shipping. Furthermore, ensure that there are no additional expenses that are not initially disclosed.

Make the Right Decision for Your Project With CLS Fabrication

Are you looking for an experienced sheet metal fabricator and people you can rely on? CLS Fabrication has you covered! We provide a variety of sheet metal and structural fabrication services to businesses and individuals all over North America. We also have diverse capabilities, cutting-edge methods, and high-quality machines and tools that enable us to provide end-to-end solutions to our customers.