Sheet metal fabrication is a huge and essential industry that creates parts from sheet metal for a huge range of different applications. The methods involved in sheet metal fabrication have evolved over time to reflect the far greater demand for this industry. If you think of any advances in transportation, computing and technology over the last few decades, they have all undoubtedly only been possible thanks to sheet metal fabrication.
There are different methods for fabricating metal and these include rolling, bending, welding, engineering, galvanising, coating, punching and many, many more. For more details on Bending Machines, visit a site like www.cotswold-machinery-sales.co.uk/euromac/horizontal-bending-machines/
The method chosen will depend on the requirements for the finished product and the intended application. The materials used in metal fabrication can also vary widely but will be selected for qualities such as corrosion resistance, hardness, flexibility, strength and conductivity.
What industries rely on sheet metal fabrication?
Anything to do with transportation, namely the rail networks, aerospace and automobile. Other industries include farming and pharmaceuticals. Sheet metal fabrication is required in the oil and gas industries, construction, storage, military, plumbing, telecomms, computing and electronics. Whether services or goods, all of these industries are reliant on the fabrication of sheet metal.
What products are a result of sheet metal fabrication?
This could be a very long list as there are literally hundreds of thousands of products that started life with sheet metal that needed to be fabricated. To name just a few, they include:
- Kitchenware
- Drainage equipment
- Ventilation systems
- Car bodies
- Doors
- Mailboxes
- Boats
- Pipes
- Cabinets
- Electronics
As you can see, we would be short of many essential things if there were no methods of sheet metal fabrication available! These methods enable us to have mass produced goods from the cutlery that we use everyday to the guttering on our roofing. Other industries that rely heavily on sheet metal working is the HVAC and lighting industry, whether for commercial or domestic purposes.
A bigger aspect of sheet metal fabrication is that which is intended for structural use. As part of building processes, sheet metal is used in the construction of sidings, skyscrapers, roofing, load bearing and shop fitting.
Materials commonly used in the fabrication process include iron, aluminium, steel, carbon steel, brass, copper, stainless steel, bronze and magnesium. All of these metals have the required qualities that lend themselves to various applications through the fabrication process.
There are different fabrication methods that lend themselves to different applications. For example:
Industrial fabrication – This is used to produce tools such as saws, hydraulics and drill presses.
Structural fabrication – These are used in large projects for buildings such as shops and multi-storey constructions.
Commercial fabrication – This applies to industries such as those who manufacture light fixtures, electronics and different appliances, for example.
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