The Means of Production: 7 Uses for Industrial Fabrication

Metal fabrication is one of the most diverse manufacturing crafts. It’s widely used in any industry that requires hard tools or equipment. That’s a lot of industries to consider.  Wondering how they’re all connected by fabrication? Keep reading to see some of the vast practical applications of industrial fabrication.

What is Industrial Fabrication?

Industrial metal fabrication is the process of using raw metal materials to build equipment, tools, or machinery. The process requires various approaches to handling these tough, raw materials.

For instance, blacksmiths practice one form of metal fabrication. Boilermakers, pipefitters, welders, and gunsmiths also practice forms of metal fabrication.

The actual process of fabrication largely involves cutting the metal, bending or rolling it, and fusing it together.

Here are some of the industries and ways that businesses use industrial fabrication services every day.

1. Automotive

Transportation depends on robust metal materials that can withstand wear. The most common use for metal fabrication in the automotive industry is car repair. Car manufacturers also use metal fabrication in the initial process of assembly.

Auto repair is more widely practiced by local metallurgy smiths and commercial manufacturers. Repair shops typically work with steel, brass, copper, and aluminum. They create sheet metal components with metal presses that weigh up to 600 tons.

2. Public Transportation

Public Transportation and aerospace are industries with heavy-duty metal fabrication.

Trams in urban areas and trains need metal fabrication for their railways. These industries also need fabrication for rail cars, wayside ladders, and railway gates.

Manufacturers use many automated building methods for this industry. Robotic welding is one automated method. It handles heavy objects and increases welding accuracy.

These robotic machines are built to handle the speed of mass production. Because of this, they make the manufacturing process more efficient and reliable.

3. Aerospace

The aerospace industry often uses titanium and carbon steel for more robust products. The other conventional metals such as aluminum and copper are also used as needed. All of these metals are used to assemble aircraft wings, brakes, and landing gear.

4. Construction – Industrial Fabrication

Structural steel is essential to the construction industry. Large, commercial spaces need this steel to safely support their structures with beams.

These include H-beams, T beams, and I beams. All of these are load-bearing beams that must be fabricated with a special density to hold weight.

5. Appliances

Stainless steel appliances have practical and aesthetic benefits. They’re sleek functionality often makes them a distinct choice over other material appliances.

Fridges and freezers especially benefit from the cold-conducive steel they’re composed of. This craftsmanship requires metal fabrication.

6. Medical and Pharmaceutical

The medical and pharmaceutical industry uses metal fabrication for critical operating equipment. Machines such as MRIs need metal to create magnetic resonance. Ultrasound equipment similarly needs strong metallic materials for diagnostic imaging.

7. Energy

One of the most reliable sources of renewable energy comes wind turbines. These are massive structures built with metal fabrication. Other energy sources such as oil and gas require metal pipelines to transport materials.

Using Industrial Fabrication in Your Business

These seven industries are just a few examples of what industrial fabrication does. There is so much more that it’s capable of and so many other industries that need it.

Are you wondering if you can use it in your business? Contact us today to see what kind of fabrication services we can offer.