Simply put, “metal fabrication” is the process of creating products or structures by cutting, bending, and/or assembling metal materials. It’s largely considered a value-added process because it involves assembling actual products or structures from metal raw materials.
Jobs typically have three phases: design—where shop drawings match specifications; fabrication—which includes cutting, bending, and assembling; and installation, where the final product or structure is assembled.
Metal fabricators typically work with a range of raw materials, including plate metal, expanded metal, welding wires and rods, and cast metal. In a nutshell, fabrication is a critical step in creating any sort of finished metal part or structure.
Fabricators work in machine shops or dedicated metal fabrication shops, handling tasks from preparation to fabrication. Though less common, blacksmiths, boilermakers, and ironworkers are also considered metal fabricators.
There are various segmentation levels which we’ll touch on in this post, including three of the most common types of metal fabrication: industrial, structural, and commercial.
What is Industrial Metal Fabrication?
Industrial metal fabrication integrates various metal parts or assemblies—usually from sheets or plates—into industrial products.
Industrial fabricators typically serve industries such as aerospace, alternative energy, material handling, pollution engineering, water treatment, automotive, and more. The products they create are usually very large-scale and often include tanks, silos, and heavy machine parts.
Unlike structural metal fabrication, which we’ll get to in the next section, industrial metal parts are typically used as complements to one another.
What is Structural Metal Fabrication?
High-strength structural metal is one of the most popular materials used in construction today, whether the project is commercial, industrial, or residential. Noting this, structural metal fabrication involves creating structural metal components for these applications, such as I-beams.
Steel’s strength-to-weight ratio makes it the most common metal for structural fabrication. Nearly all construction projects use steel in some way.
In commercial construction, steel often forms the foundation. Notable structures built with structural steel include the Empire State Building in New York City, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
Examples of structural metal parts for a project include:
- Towers, or custom-made parts of a facility that enable more enhanced production
- Platforms often serve as loading bays, storage locations, ramps, or facility decks.
- Industrial walkways must meet OSHA standards.
- Stairs are necessary for durability and strength in various settings.
- Structural components, like trusses, girders, and beams, make up a building’s framework.
What is Commercial Metal Fabrication?
Commercial metal fabrication involves creating parts typically installed in commercial venues such as restaurants, stores, public spaces, and municipal buildings. Commercial metal products may include the following:
- Guardrails
- Awnings
- Shelving
- Sinks and other appliances
- Conveyors
Another type of commercial metal fabrication is decorative or ornamental metal. These metal products are typically designed for installation on the exterior of commercial buildings to enhance the building's aesthetics and curb appeal.
Compared to structural and industrial metal parts, commercial parts tend to be smaller and more precise. However, they’re just as important to how a commercial entity operates, both from a functional standpoint and in keeping employees and customers safe.
At Englau Group, we excel at discovering and innovating cutting, grinding, polishing, buffing, honing, drilling, sharpening, lapping, and sanding tools for a broad array of industries, including automotive, aerospace, metalworking, electronics, and construction, as well as domestic and technological applications. A good abrasive supplier like Englau Group will stock a range of cutting discs for mild and stainless steel, suitable for bench-mounted drop saws, angle grinders, and air tools. Their products are excellent for all kinds of metal fabrication — whether industrial, structural, or commercial — with cutting discs and flap discs being particularly well-suited for cutting, shaping, and finishing metal surfaces. Englau Group also offers zirconia flap discs for metal finishing, general-duty diamond blades for cutting masonry, and surface conditioning products for deburring and cleaning, making them a comprehensive abrasive solution provider for diverse industrial applications.
For professional abrasive solutions and expert consultation, contact Englau Group today:
Mr. Eric Lau
The President of Englau Group Co., Limited
Phone Number: 0086-1377-0345-768
E-mail: eric.twintrade@gmail.com
