When going into any partnership, it’s essential that you find the right partner.
Someone you can trust and work with on both short- and long-term projects, who communicates well with you and in a way that works for both parties.
Most importantly, you want structural steel fabricators who can provide you with high-quality results.
We get it.
It’s not just about finding a team that claims they do steel structure fabrication; you have to have confidence that they can deliver, that you can work with them, and that they can create your final product with precision and skill.
In this post, we look at some of the key factors you should look for when choosing the right steel fabricator for your next project.
Structural steel fabrication
Fabricating steel structures involves taking raw materials and transforming them into impressive results to support various applications and industries.
These fabrication processes include bending, CNC profiling, shaping, forming, welding, drilling, and assembling.
It is the role of the metal fabricator to carry out these processes with skill and precision, providing you with a high-quality outcome.
Structural steel contractors
When choosing your perfect structural steel partner, look for:
Experience
Do they have a good and solid track record of providing high-quality structural steel fabrication projects?
Have they worked on the same or similar types of projects that you can see and evaluate?
How long have they been operating?
Capabilities
Can they meet the job requirements? Do they have the design capabilities, production setup to carry out the correct fabrication processes, and the facility to manage the process in its entirety?
Different fabrication companies often have different specialties; what are theirs?
Can they handle your requirements? How do you know?
Quality
Is the quality of their past projects consistent?
Can you check and evaluate their past projects and products to ensure high quality?
Quality in structural steel fabrication is vital, so it’s important to understand how this is checked and vetted at each stage of fabrication, i.e., how do they conduct quality inspections?
Credentials
Is the fabrication team CPR-compliant and meeting all quality and safety standards?
What certifications and insurances do they hold?
This is important in providing you with peace of mind and reassurance that they are working to a high-quality standard and that if something does go wrong, everything is covered.
Do they outsource?
It is not a critical element, but it is always worth knowing who is working on your project and where your product is at each stage. This means understanding if any aspects of the project are outsourced and, if so, knowing how this will be managed and who is responsible and accountable for quality assurance.
Make sure to check out our post on “Common obstacles during the structural steel fabrication process.”
Customer Service/Communication
How do they communicate with you?
Are they abrupt? Do they keep you informed every step of the way?
Communication in any project is vital; you’re essentially putting your trust in your chosen structural steel fabricators to produce a quality final project. It is your time and investment that this can affect so understanding how they communicate and how they work with clients is a significant factor when choosing the right supplier.
Competitive prices
Due to the investment in fabrication, obtaining a minimum of three quotes is important to ensure you receive the most competitive prices.
However, cheaper does not always mean the highest quality, and it’s important to understand the other factors we’ve mentioned above and weigh up the pros and cons of each fabricator.
We also understand that you have a budget to work toward, and this should be communicated with your steel structure fabricator to ensure that they can provide you with an accurate breakdown of costs.
What are their delivery/lead times?
Delivery times can be a significant factor when choosing a fabrication partner, and it’s essential that if something seems too good to be true, you question it further and compare this to others.
Check if they can meet your expectations. Have they let customers down in the past? Are they local – does it matter?
Things to consider
Before jumping straight into a new fabrication partnership, consider:
- Is this team going to be the best fit for your project?
- Have you checked customer reviews/testimonials?
- Can they provide you with examples of their work?
- Do they have a landline/factory you can visit or contact them on?
- Do they have the right tools and equipment to complete the job?
- Do they have the production capacity?
- Are staff skilled and trained to help you choose the best and most appropriate materials and processes for your project?
- Can they complete the project within budget? On time?
Structural steel contractors
At Morfab, we work hard to understand the exact requirements of all our clients. We outline project plans and stages and communicate with our customers throughout so you have confidence and reassurance relating to timescales and deliverables.
Our case studies are a testament to some of our high-quality work, which we’re not only proud of but our clients are also happy with the final outcome.
Why not speak to a member of our team today about your next construction project and see how we can help you?
Call 0191 816 2718 or email info@morfabrication.com to find out more.