Steel Fabrication Contractors

Steel fabrication is the process of taking raw materials and then shaping them into the desired form. It starts with melting the raw materials and then mixing them into steel before it is constructed into any shape as a finished product. Steel fabrication is a process that requires the skills of an experienced technician who can easily work with raw components and transform them into marketable products. It is a job that leaves very little room for error. Industrial facilities create various products from vehicular parts to household appliances and more with the use of stainless steel fabrication.

First, the fabricator will gauge the original shape or the starting forms of the raw materials, including a flat plate, reshaped channels, pipe and other forms. The steel is then processed. The fabricator will then determine the shape of the resulting product – this step depends on two factors. The first factor is the software package, and the second factor is the equipment available in the machine shop. To make this step easier, most metal fabrication companies will use cutting-edge technology to keep track of their operations and to both maintain and improve the proficiency of their custom steel fabrication process.

The following are the five different types of fabrication:

• Cutting - This is one of the most commonly used fabrication processes in the market. Here, sheets of metal are split into halves, thirds or even smaller sections. Many types of machinery can perform cutes, from lasers to plasma torches and other more high-tech machinery.
• Folding - Folding is where a metal surface is manipulated into shape at specified angles. It is a more complicated process that may only be performed in facilities that are equipped with high-tech and specific equipment. Although, more often than not, when a fold is needed, joining two metal panels at certain angles is actually a more practical alternative.
• Welding - This is another popular metal fabrication process that involves the joining of separate metal parts. This application will need any parts that are made of metal, including sheets, panels, bars, shapes etc. Many tools can be used for welding. Most of the time, it is done through the application of heat on the points where the two pieces are joined together.
• Machining - It’s a process that uses a machine to remove portions from a piece of metal. Usually, the process is done on a lathe, which rotates the metal against tools that trim corners and edges to cut the metal down to the desired size or shape.
• Punching - This process places metals under a dye and submits it to a punch-through by a drill, thus the name punching. Punching has two subcategories, (1) by punching holes into a panel of metal to fasten brackets or foreign parts, and (2) by blanking where the whole area is explicitly separated from the bigger panel to shape a smaller bit component.
• Shearing - This is the process used when sheets of metal require long cuts. Some applications feed the sheet through a metal-cutting machine horizontally, while others are applied vertically against the whole length of a flat metal sheet.
• Stamping - This process is used to form specific shapes, images or letters within a metal sheet or a panel. It’s similar to relief carving in wood or marble. Examples of stamping are coins where currency amounts, words or faces of presidents are stamped on each surface.
• Casting - An old type of metal fabrication where molten metal is poured into a mould and then left to solidify in a specific form. It is a flexible method of fabrication that is ideal for a variety of complex shape-making.

Generally, steel fabrication projects will require around three weeks. But there are two factors to consider when trying to determine how long your stainless steel fabrication will take. These are (1) the fabricator’s efficiency and (2) the complexity of the process.

In Australia, the steel fabrication cost is around $4,850 +GST per tonne for mild steel that is supplied, fabricated and installed with a coat of primer (including crane costs if required).

iSeekplant has a nationwide network of quality steel fabrication suppliers operating in all Australian capital cities from Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne to Darwin, Perth and Adelaide. We also offer steel fabrication in all major towns and cities from Cairns down to Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Geelong.

Search for steel fabricators on iSeekplant today to find your nearest suppliers! We are Australia’s largest online construction hire marketplace, so you can find everything you need for your project in one place. Use our Get a Quote tool today and tell us what you need, and we’ll share your request with your nearest suppliers and get them to send you quotes directly. Talk to us today by calling 1300 691 912 or emailing projects@iseekplant.com.au.