When you’re facing a challenge in your company that requires custom metal fabrication, where should you start? After all, the fabrication solution you’re seeking will often significantly impact your operations and company growth.
For that reason, many organizations will choose to outsource their fabrication needs to experienced professionals. Yet all fabrication projects, as well as custom metal fabricators, aren’t the same. The last thing you want is to hire a fabricator who doesn’t get the job done right, leaving you with wasted expense and lots of regret. So how can you choose the right custom metal fabrication partner for your specific project? Let’s find out.
What is Custom Metal Fabrication?
To begin, let’s define custom metal fabrication as you consider the problem you’re facing. Unlike other processes, such as traditional stock or mass fabrication, custom metal fabrication allows your business to have flexibility in achieving a solution specific to your needs. Fabricators will bend, shape, cut, and weld unfinished metal (typically sheet metal or structural metal) into entirely unique, different forms. These raw metal materials are often made of steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, and the type used will vary depending on your project.
Do you need custom metal fabrication? Or will an off-the-shelf solution (also known as stock manufacturing) do the job? Generally speaking, custom fabrication is valuable in cases requiring high component capability,
Researching your project before coming to a custom shop can save you the time you could use to finish your job. Regardless of your knowledge of custom metal fabrication, Mathews Mechanical can help answer your questions and ensure your project is taken care of.
Consider These Four Factors When Choosing a Custom Metal Fabrication Partner
Now that you’ve determined you need custom metal fabrication and begun to think about your options, consider these vital factors so you can make the best choice for your organization.
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Experience
It’s vital you partner with a custom metal fabrication company with extensive experience. You obviously want to pay attention to how many years the company has offered metal fabrication services, but it’s even more important to consider the fabricator’s experience working in your industry or niche. Ask for referrals from some of the fabricator’s prior customers, and review the company’s portfolio projects to discover if there’s industry alignment.
When you work with a fabricator experienced in your industry, you not only increase your chances of success with your end product. You also increase your peace of mind. During the planning process, you want to be able to have confidence in your fabricator’s opinion and expertise, especially when you’re unsure exactly what you need.
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Capability
As mentioned earlier, not all custom metal fabrication providers are the same, so typically you want fabricators that can offer a well-rounded team of certified engineers, welders, and technicians for your project. As custom metal fabrication requires welding, for example, companies that provide TIG (GTAW), MIG (GMAW), Flux Core (FCAW), and Stick (SMAW) welding will give your project more options and flexibility during the fabrication process.
In addition to qualifications, you want to consider the fabricator’s ability to support your project’s size and level of service. Does the fabricator have the necessary equipment and facilities available to handle your project’s scope? This is especially important if your project has specific time constraints and deadlines.
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Quality Standards
If you want your product to be made with the utmost quality and craftsmanship, you’ll want to consider your potential custom metal fabricator’s standards before making a decision. Does this fabricator offer quality control checks as a part of their process? If so, how do they resolve any issues or faults that may arise?
Don’t be afraid to ask about past projects. And if your fabricator is local, an easy way to understand their quality standards is to tour the facility. You’ll see firsthand the value they place on quality by their operations, cleanliness, and equipment.
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Customer Service
How you and your business is treated by a fabrication partner can make or break your experience. You want to partner with a company who respects you, answers your questions, and follows through on what they promise. You also want a fabrication partner who provides service flexibility and communicates well throughout the process.
So how can you get an inside look at the customer service experience your potential fabricator will provide? Find their company values and see if they align with yours. Do some Google research and see what their customer reviews say about working with them. You can even ask the fabricator to provide a list of client references to interview.
Partner with a Custom Metal Fabricator You Can Trust
If you’re looking for the best fabrication experience, capabilities, quality standards, and customer service, consider partnering with Mathews Mechanical. With more than 30 years of top-notch craftsmanship and customer satisfaction across a variety of industries, we’re your trusted source for all your custom metal fabrication needs. You can have peace of mind knowing you’ve made the right choice when you partner with us. Contact us today to get started.
