Benefits of Hiring a Steel Fabrication Company
18 February 2021
Structural steel is such a widely-used material across the construction industry, and it’s clear to see why. With such excellent physical properties - not least its strength, reliability and load-bearing capacity - structural steel beams, bars, columns and channels are not so frequently used without good reason.
Structural steel is the first choice among engineers, contractors, designers, and architects due to its versatility. With the help of steel fabricators, raw materials can be transformed into bespoke structures and products, with unique shapes and dimensions.
We’ve created this short guide to provide insight into the processes and benefits of hiring a structural steel fabricator.
What is Steel Fabrication?
Structural steel fabrication involves turning raw steel materials into unique shapes. The process is quite complex; it requires highly-trained welders and specialists conducting a series of intricate tasks. The majority of these tasks require special machinery and welding equipment to carry out.
We’ve outlined the steps involved in a steel structure fabrication project below.
Steel Fabrication Process
- Cutting
- Punching
- Drilling
- Fitting and reaming
- Straightening
- Bending
- Finishing
- Rolling
- Welding
- Shot blasting
- Surface treatment and cleaning
- Transporting
Trusted, reliable steel fabrication specialists should only handle the processes listed above. These highly-trained and accredited people have gone through extensive training to weld and fabricate steel.
Depending on which type of structural steel product you require, the above processes will be carried out to varying degrees. Whether you are after a bespoke, mild steel frame building or a stainless steel staircase, your fabrication company will carry out the relevant processes. Some may take longer than others.
Steel fabrication projects don’t tend to take very long. For steel frame structures, the process doesn’t usually take longer than three weeks, but this can vary. Larger projects may require products to be supplied in phases, due to the limited space on the factory floor.
Some steel fabrication companies may offer on-site services to make things easier, so it is worth checking with your local company directly if you are concerned about timescales.
Advantages of Steel Fabrication
Structural steel fabricators offer a tremendous range of benefits to customers in the construction industry. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider steel fabrication:
- Highly-durable materials
Steel is an incredibly resilient material. It’s comparatively lighter than concrete and wood while being resistant to corrosion and sustainable. Well-designed steel frame buildings have a very long lifespan in general, and that’s due mainly to the intricacies of fabrication work.
- Cost-effectiveness
Structural steel costs are of significantly better value than other metals, where steel framing is typically preferred over reinforced concrete. Once fabricated, the structural steel components are more straightforward to install (compared to other materials). The extra effort during installation saves considerable time and money in the long run.
- Flexibility
Steel is renowned for its malleability, with its properties enabling it to be easily fabricated into unique, diverse shapes, sizes and positions. For example, steel beams can be welded or bolted together. This is one of the many reasons why engineers like structural steel frame buildings because last-minute alterations are easy to request and put in place.
- Recyclability
Everyone is rightfully concerned about their impact on the environment, and many companies are making strides in reducing their carbon footprint. Structural steel is an easily recyclable material, ergo, an environmentally-friendly option for fabrication companies.
- Safety
Steel can withstand the harshest weather conditions, from strong winds and storms to extremely high temperatures. If appropriately built, steel frame buildings are some of the safest structures around. Most of these steel structures are built off-site, reducing the risk of on-site accidents during construction.
Find Local Structural Steel Fabricators
It’s clear to see the benefits of using fabricated steel, but you may be wondering how you go about choosing the right steel fabricator.
What if we told you that there was an easy, stress-free way to buy steel online from local steel suppliers in your area?
With Buy A Beam, you can browse a vast range of fabricated steel products, from universal beams to steel box section, tube and pipe. You can do this via our online shop.
Your first option would be to enter your postcode area and select from a list of local steel fabricators who can process your orders. You’ll be provided with instant prices as you select the products you need, and you’ll also have the option to request customised products from your local supplier.
The brains behind Buy A Beam actually have considerable experience running a steel fabrication factory. We know all there is to know about fabricating steel properly and have built up a consolidated network of similar-minded, flexible and CE-approved suppliers.