Structural steel fabrication involves a complex process of turning steel into fabricated products for a construction project or other industrial applications. Structural steel has been a first choice in all types of construction and for quite some time. Even the smallest project incorporates steel because it offers faster construction among many other benefits.

The structural steel fabrication and welding process is demanding and you should only consult experienced fabricators. A less experienced company may not be able to properly perform the tasks at hand which means they could compromise the product viability. Welding and fabricating structural steel requires special expertise that only a few companies share, PRV Engineering is right up there.

The Structural Steel Fabrication Process

Structural steel fabrication is a specialised process that requires expert knowledge, skills and resources. For a successful project from manufacturing structural steel beams and steel balustrades to components and equipment, every good fabricator should follow a specific process. While some companies may change a few things, the process looks something like this:

• 1: Idea creation
• 2: Create the blueprint
• 3: Turn blueprints into final drawings
• 4: Fabricating steel beams and
• 5: Etching
• 6: Assembly
• 7: Custom part fabrication
• 8: Assembly completion
• 9: Prepare for shipping
• 10: Finishing of components
• 11: Transport to site
• 12: Erecting final project

What Does The Fabrication Process Include?

All good fabricators will have special tools like lasers, punches, saws, notches and machines to cut and drill the steel beams according to instructions. The advanced structural steel fabrication equipment can help produce high quality results much faster.

Upon completion of cutting and drilling, each piece is etched with a unique part number and plate location. This results in on-site assembly being faster, easier and more accurate while also eliminating potentially expensive project delays.

Most industrial assemblies require a certain finish to comply with regulations and specific compliance codes. If you requested a specific finish such as paint, powder coating or sandblasting, the fabricator will do this last. At PRV Engineering, we have the ability to produce precise and economical structural steel fabrication whether you need a new building, extension, building support or roofing steelwork.

In addition, our finishing department comprises of a 6 metre shot blast room, various shot blast cabinets, powder coating booth, wet paint spray room and a 2.2 metre cubic high bake oven. We provide a high quality painted finish to very exacting standards to get the job done right the first time.

Benefits Of Structural Steel Fabrication

Many industries rely on steel products and fabrication services for its quality, reliability, flexibility, cost effectiveness and sustainability. Structural steel is ductile which means it can withstand stress for long periods of time and bend without breaking. You can also mould steel into nearly any shape while it also requires little maintenance. It’s reusable and easily recyclable without affecting its properties making it a great eco-friendly option.

Steel structures can be built much faster since the components are fabricated offsite and delivered partly assembled. The buildings can also immediately be used as it does not require setting and curing like concrete. In addition to reduced construction time, there is also more flexibility and control in the build process.

It is also more cost effective as construction time is considerably shorter, almost halved in fact. There is also big savings on waste management as the framework is fabricated to exact specifications. Storage costs are also lower as many components are stored off-site for assembly. Due to the relatively light weight of steel frames, you spend less the foundation.

Where Is Structural Steel Fabrication Used?

Almost every aspect of our lives benefits from some form of fabricated metal. From household appliances to vehicles and parts, our world today would be unrecognisable without carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium. Here are a few of the main areas where structural steel fabrication plays a major role:

• High-rise buildings due to its strength, low weight and speed of construction
• Industrial buildings because of its ability to create large spaces at low cost
• Warehouse buildings due to low cost construction of large spaces
• Residential buildings in a technique called light gauge steel construction
• Temporary Structures as these are quick to set up and remove

Why Choose PRV Engineering For Structural Steel Fabrication?

There are essentially three factors that determine manufacturing success – production cost, quality and speed. While each component is important in their own right, manufacturers must fully commit to all three to achieve success.

PRV Engineering offers a first-class steel framework fabrication and concreting service with a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ approach. In addition to being fully certified (BS EN1090-1:2009 +A1:2011), there are many other benefits when choosing PRV Engineering.

• Don’t have to choose between limited standard sized fabrication templates
• Tailor the design to your exact requirements
• Exercise closer control over project costs and completion deadlines
• You can choose preferred specialist contractors
• Don’t pay lead contractors mark-ups on services that they sub-contract
• Some of our projects include manufacturing and installing high quality products. These include steel balustrades, steel staircases, handrails, steel fire escapes, steel framework
• and balconies among others.

With more than 20 years supplying steel fabrication services to the construction industry, our staff can manage your project from start to finish. Get in touch if you have any questions about PRV Engineering or if you need help with your steel fabrication project. You can also follow our weekly blog posts for more interesting articles on engineering, manufacturing and new technology