Custom metal fabrication is the process of creating metal components that are tailor-made to a customer’s specifications or requirements. This entails choosing the right materials for the use case and precisely sizing and shaping them for the allotted space. That’s very difficult to accomplish when using off-the-shelf parts and products.
Keep reading to discover some more reasons why commercial property owners choose to go with custom metal fabrication vs. using universally-sized parts.
4 Benefits of Custom Metal Fabrication
Custom metal fabrication has many uses. For instance, we often custom-craft ductwork and other metal equipment when building out HVAC systems. In addition, it comes in handy for building out things like railing, equipment racks, ladders, enclosures as well as architectural components on buildings or landscaping.
If you’re wondering if custom metal fabrication is a wise investment for your property, here are the top benefits of outfitting your facility with tailor-made equipment:
1. No Compromises
One of the problems that mechanical contractors run into when relying on ready-made components is not being able to find all the parts they need. They scour local shops and look at online retailers, but to no avail.
This usually means they’re going to have to compromise. Either they’re going to stall the project in order to find the (likely very expensive) parts they need or they’re going to settle on a component that isn’t exactly what they want but does the trick for the time being. Many times, if materials have to be ordered, the parts can be made quicker than waiting for waiting for production and shipping.
Custom metal fabrication means not compromising. What you need is what you’re going to get, and without significant delays.
2. An Exact Fit
Let’s say you have a space that needs cooling, like the Cargill Meat Plant. There are a number of constraints that will make getting a new system of ducts installed quite challenging.
For example, the ductwork and fans need to be set up above an existing boxing area. Not only does your contractor need to customize them to fit the size of your facility, they need a way to elevate the structure so that it doesn’t intrude on the conveyor systems down below.
Using standard equipment and rigging is most likely out of the question. That’s why, in this case, we custom-made an elevated support structure for the new and improved system.
When your space doesn’t allow for standard metal part shapes or sizes, custom sheet metal fabrication is the best way to ensure your new equipment fits the above ceiling space in your building.
3. Top-tier Craftsmanship
There are some really high-quality parts and components you can buy from retailers and manufacturers. But that’s not always the case.
While cheaper equipment might seem like the most cost-effective choice at times, it often comes with a tradeoff of lower quality. This means more upkeep and repairs as well as a shorter lifespan.
When you pay for custom metal fabrication, the upfront ticket price may be higher than it would be to get something off-the-shelf. That said, the quality of what is being fabricated for you is sure to be beyond anything you’d get at the store.
Custom metal fabrication shops like ours ensure that your metal equipment and architecture sheet metal are precisely constructed for your needs. That means fitting the size and shape of the parts to your facility, and choosing materials that give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of durability, efficiency, and longevity.
4. Innovative Solutions
Custom metal fabrication gives your contractor the freedom to think outside of the box. Instead of taking one-size-fits-all parts and trying to make them work with whatever space or existing systems you have, they’re able to custom-fabricate something exactly for your facility.
This also means having the flexibility to use other types of metals, materials, technologies, and methods to get the job done.
When a contractor gets boxed in with parts that can’t be modified or molded to fit a customer’s needs, there are always going to be limitations to what they can achieve for you. Custom metal fabrication allows them to break free from those constraints and to hand-craft solutions that mold to each property and situation.
Would Your Facility Benefit from Custom Metal Fabrication?
Dean E. Norris has an in-house custom metal fabrication shop that crafts all kinds of equipment and architectural sheet metal for facilities. For example:
- Ductwork
- Catwalks
- Platforms
- Kitchen hoods
- Carts
- Gates
- Guard rails
- Fixed ladders
Without this capability, we’d have to make a lot of compromises when equipping buildings with new HVAC systems. Thankfully, we don’t have to. Our team of innovative craftsmen are able to create metal parts for a wide variety of customer needs.
One of the biggest benefits of investing in custom metal fabrication with Dean E. Norris is that we are your full-service partner. From planning and design to non-intrusive installation, we handle it all.
Give us a call at 316-688-1901 or fill out this form to learn more about our custom metal fabrication services.