Here’s how I determine which metal fabricators near me are reliable enough for long-term partnerships.

All metal fabricators near me do the same job. They cut, shape, and align different metal sheets or pipes. However, not all metal fabricators offer the same quality of work. That’s why construction and manufacturing firms are very particular about the metal fabrication companies they partner with. 

If you’re a construction company in need of metal fabrication in the Eastern Suburbs, you want to work with fabricators who are used to building structures. The same applies to manufacturing companies. But aside from project-specific experience, the metal fabricators you partner with must also have certain qualifications and skills. 

Here’s how top construction and manufacturing companies determine which metal fabricators near me are the most reliable – 

Important Qualifications All Metal Fabricators Must Have 

Unlike other professionals, metal fabricators near me can’t “learn on the job.” Yes, on the job training is common in most metal fabrication companies. But, metal fabricators must enter the workforce only after –

• Certifications – 

Make sure that the metal fabricators you work with have completed welding training courses at certified trade schools. These trade schools offer certifications, so customers shouldn’t refrain from asking for these documents during the recruitment process. 

• Project Management – 

The metal fabricators working on your project need to be educated on how to read project blueprints. Bear in mind – construction blueprints and manufacturing blueprints are two very different types of documents. So, companies must make sure that the metal fabricators near me know how to read the documents that will be used in the fabrication project. A clear understanding of WPS documents (Welding Procedure Specification) is also very important. 

• Experience with Stainless-Steel – 

Since stainless steel is a material that most construction and manufacturing firms use, partnering with experts of metal fabrication in Eastern Suburbs who have prior experience welding stainless-steel pipes or sheets is always helpful. 

• Mastery of Welding Techniques – 

Ideally, your providers of metal fabrication in Eastern Suburbs should be masters of all types of metal welding processes. Some key metal welding techniques include – Metal inert gas welding (MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (TIG), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW). Ask the metal fabricators near me which welding techniques they are the most comfortable with. The fabricators must also have access to the right tools to carry out these advanced welding techniques.

Important Skills All Metal Fabricators Must Have 

Welding or blueprint reading are not the only skills that metal fabricators need to use in their jobs. Here are some other important skills your providers of metal fabrication in Eastern Suburbs must offer – 

• Dexterity
• Mechanical skills 
• Fluency in using software tools like Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Enterprise Resource Planning tools (ERP), etc.
• Physical stamina (fabricators have to stay on their feet for long periods)
• Cleanliness, ensuring all industry safety standards are followed in the fabrication processes
• Quality control 

Thankfully, unlike in the past, construction or manufacturing companies can now choose from various providers of metal fabrication in Eastern Suburbs. The more companies they assess, the better their chances of finding reliable fabricators!