Questions You Should Ask When Choosing a Steel Fabricator 

The steel fabrication process is critical throughout the construction and manufacturing industry, as much of construction depends on steel materials. Most of our buildings, structures, car parks, skyscrapers, automobiles, roofs, and appliances use steel fabrication for their projects. So as contractors begin a new project, they must secure their materials before beginning. An important part of this is finding quality materials for what they need. 

So how do you find the right steel fabricator? Here are some of the questions you can ask as you choose the right fabricator to work with. 

For steel fabrication in the El Paso area, contact Steel Specialities and learn about how to verify strong and quality steel. 

How Steel Fabrication Shapes Our World  

The process of steel fabrication is one that requires specialized knowledge and techniques to ensure a quality product. The manufacturing process is not very forgiving and does not have a high tolerance for error. It requires meticulous skill and patience to ensure the material will hold up to the biggest challenges. 

The fabrication process involves transforming raw steel into a product used in the construction industry. The steel must be shaped and manipulated for an intended purpose. The metal fabrication process then involves several key aspects:

• Machining: The machining process involves sculpting the metal, where it is bent and manipulated to the desired shape. The tools needed to complete this part of the process include mills, drills, and lathes. 
• Cutting: While the concept of cutting is relatively straightforward, the process is not. The intricacy of cutting involves both high-level skill and complicated machinery. Different kinds of technology such as lasers, waterjets, and power scissors are all used to create exact cuts. 
• Welding: For certain projects, there is a need to put two pieces of steel together and secure those pieces so that they are not only joined but function as one. They often have to resist heavyweight and external conditions, so the right process is necessary to ensure the integrity of the final project. There are different types of weld, each necessary for different types of projects. 

So, How Do You Choose a Quality Metal Fabricator?

It’s not a task for the faint of heart. Not only are there strict regulations when it comes to metal fabrication, it also requires the need for specialized technicians. At the same time, some fabricators may be more apt or experienced in a particular area of building or construction, so knowing their specialty can help a lot. 

Experience

One of the first considerations is to ask how much experience your steel fabricator has under their belt. You can ask the company what kind of experience they have but also what kind of projects they usually work on. You can ask questions about the types of projects they have handled to date that might resemble yours. 

Team and Workforce 

Ask about your metal fabricator’s workforce and team, how they get projects done, turn-around time, and other relevant questions related to how they complete a project. It’s important to verify that the company’s workforce has the specialties that are required for your job. Consider the certifications the team possesses and how that lines up with what is required for your process. 

Equipment, Resources, and Guarantees 

When finding the right fabricator, you want to verify that they are using the most up-to-date equipment and processes to ensure the quality and integrity of the work. Inquire about the types of equipment they use. 

Part of being a reliable metal fabricator is access to resources that are helpful for the manufacturing process, whether that is access to specialized welders, equipment suppliers, and more. All of this comes into play when a project gets going.

At the same time, learn about the company guarantees. Find out how they back up their work and how the company responds to something going wrong. What are their protocols? Their guarantees? 

Customer Service

When working with a metal fabricator, you will need to have plenty of communication back and forth. This means communicating regarding projects, changes in plans, specialized needs, regulations, and more. To help you with efficiency and peace of mind, you need a company that responds clearly, quickly, and efficiently. 

Find the Right Metal Fabricator For Your Project 

Every project requires undivided attention. Every detail matters and you want somebody that is willing to discuss the technical aspects of the project, as well as someone that is reliable, timely, and effective. 

Do you have questions about metal fabrication in the El Paso area? Call Steel Specialties today and learn more.