Our economy relies heavily on metal fabrication and has been a practice that has gone on for many centuries. Many have thought one of the earliest examples of metal fabrication comes from the Ancient Egyptians in 4000 BC, where they learned to bend and shape gold to fashion into jewellery. Since then, metal fabrication was used to forge weapons, armour, and security features or decorative features on castles and manor houses. 

Today, there are still companies that specialise in metal fabrication and can provide many services fit for homes and businesses alike. In this blog, we explore the many services on offer along with what metal fabrication is and the process involved.

Essentially, metal fabrication is the creation of structures and products through cutting, bending and moulding metal. The process uses raw or semi-finished materials to create an end product, usually machines, components and structural or decorative products - i.e. this is a value-added process. There are also many different manufacturing processes depending on the desired end product, and the products created are endless. So, if you want something created for your home or business, how exactly does the metal fabrication process work and what services can you expect from a metal fabrication company?

Whether you’re an individual looking for new gates for your home or a business thinking about staircase railings, many metal fabrication companies offer a design service. When visiting a metal fabricator, everything is discussed to ensure your finished product is exactly what you’re after whilst sticking to your requirements, aesthetic and budget. This service is an essential one to fab shops to set them up for the next stages of the fabrication process.

Once you’re happy with the design, the next service a metal fabrication company will carry out for you is the actual physical process of crafting the products within their forge. It may sound a little medieval, but metal forges still exist today, although it is much evolved from the practices of older times.

The physical practices involved in fabrication include cutting, casting, drawing, stamping, welding, folding, shearing and many more. These practices will turn raw metals into pre-made shapes for assembly use and then taking these pre-made shapes and turning them into a high-quality end product. A project, whether going to a factory or independent craft company will normally start with expanded metal, sectional metal, flat metal and welded wire, all to suit various applications.

These metal fabricated products will then be passed on to different commercial industries such as manufacturing, construction, hardware, farming and many more.

Mentioned above, there are many different industries that require metal fabrication and many applications including:

● Vehicles - the skeleton, chassis and engine of a vehicle is mostly fabricated metal and without it, a vehicle would not even be able to move, handle any roads or carry heavy cargo.

● Tools and hardware - many tools and hardware equipment used to construct things in commercial or domestic DIY projects are comprised of fabricated metal including hammers, drill bits, saws, nails, bolts and much more.

● Technology and electronics - all of the computers, phones, video game consoles, televisions and much more are made from the result of metal fabrication. These parts can be made extremely small too and are down to sophisticated fabrication.

● Kitchen cookware - practically everything you use to cook with is made from metal fabrication, from cutlery to pots and pans. Fridges and freezers components are also fabricated from metal as well as kitchen cabinet handles and hinges.

● Aerospace - although metal fabrication for these industries must be highly exact and meet regulations to ensure health and safety and to withstand extreme temperatures and chemical exposures, metal fabrication is used within the aerospace industry.

● Medical - from hospital beds to surgical tools, metal fabrication has helped to develop and improve the medical industry and is used mainly due to the fact it’s an easily sterilised material. 

If you’re someone who is looking for something more decorative and architectural within a home or business, many metal fabricator companies can personally design and bring your project to life. Here are some examples of what a standard metal fabricator company can do in terms of specific domestic and commercial projects:

● Metal railings for staircases - wherever they are placed, it’s important that staircases are safe and secure, providing support when needed to reduce the risk of an accident. A metal fabrication company can design beautiful, bespoke railing for all manner of staircases today.

● Juliet balcony panels and railings - many dream of one day owning a Juliet balcony within their home, but panels and railings must be installed to ensure maximum safety and that no-one falls. Metal fabrication companies can craft these components for the purposes of a Juliet balcony.

● Wrought iron metal gates - for maximum security and aesthetic wrought iron gates are a popular choice for many businesses and homeowners. In different styles from modern and streamlined to antique and traditional, wrought metal gates can be created and sold to customers.

● Fire escapes - a necessity for all commercial buildings and workplaces, fire escapes and fire staircases are usually made of metal. Picture the intricate, gridded metal surfaces on these escapes and, believe it or not, a metal fabricator can create this and the whole structure. 

If you need more inspiration on what a metal fabricator can do for you, visit our gallery here.

When it comes to choosing a metal fabrication company, you need to opt for one that will best fulfil your project’s needs, along with meeting a budget and being cost-effective, yet still good quality and producing a durable product. You’ll need to consider how experienced a metal fabrication company is and whether they can produce custom fabrications to suit your requirements. As well as this, you’ll need to ensure that they are reputable and can work with or form the specific metal material for your projects, such as steel, aluminium or iron.

With this in mind, consider using Underwoods Steel Ltd. today. Starting with the initial design process, we use innovative CAD software to ensure we create the exact product you want before starting. 

From wrought iron gates and practical railings to beautiful balconies and safety-conscious fire escapes, we can provide durable, reliable and professional metal fabrication services today. To find out more about our forge and fabrication processes and what products we can design and manufacturer today, visit our website or browse our gallery. Although we have bases in Worcester and Hereford, we can expand our services further afield - contact us for more information today.