The Challenge: Outsourced Design
Many fabricators, especially smaller operations, don’t employ dedicated designers or engineers. Instead, they:
- Work only from drawings you provide, even if those drawings aren’t optimised for fabrication
- Outsource design work to third-party consultants, adding cost and delay
- Identify fabrication problems only after quoting, requiring design rework
- Have limited visibility into whether a design is actually manufacturable within budget
The result is a fragmented process where no one party has full responsibility. Your drawings land on a fabricator’s desk with little context. The fabricator manufactures to drawing but doesn’t help improve the design. If something doesn’t work, you’re the one caught in the middle trying to coordinate a fix.
Months of frustration and hundreds of pounds in unnecessary costs can result from this disjointed approach.
What In-House Design & Engineering Includes
A true in-house design team covers the full spectrum of what’s needed to take your idea and turn it into manufactured reality:
3D Modelling — We create digital models of your component or assembly. This isn’t just for visualisation; 3D models drive CNC programming and help us identify clashes, interferences, and assembly issues before anything is cut.
Fabrication Drawings — We produce detailed, dimensioned drawings that guide fabricators. Unlike conceptual architectural drawings, fabrication drawings include every measurement, tolerance, edge condition, finish requirement, and assembly sequence.
Structural Calculations — For any load-bearing work, we perform structural analysis. We size members correctly, calculate joint capacities, and ensure the design will safely do its job for decades to come.
Detailing — This is where design becomes manufacturing intelligence. We detail every weld, every bolt hole, every edge treatment. We think about how the component will be cut, how it will be held during fabrication, how it will be finished, and how it will be assembled.
BIM Integration — We can work within BIM (Building Information Modelling) environments, ensuring our fabricated components integrate seamlessly with architectural and structural models.
The Benefits of In-House Design
When design and fabrication are under one roof, magic happens:
Faster Turnaround — We don’t wait for external consultants or go back and forth with emails. If your project needs a design change, our engineers and fabricators make the decision and move forward the same day.
Fewer Errors — Our engineers design for manufacture, not just for aesthetics or theory. We know which tolerances are achievable, which joints work best with our equipment, and which details will cause problems on site. This knowledge is baked into the design from the start.
Easier Design Changes — During the fabrication process, if you want to adjust dimensions, colours, finishes, or assembly methods, we can usually accommodate changes quickly. Our design team is here, not somewhere across the country dealing with other clients.
Single Point of Contact — You don’t chase emails between architect, engineer, and fabricator. You speak to us. We coordinate internally and come back to you with solutions.
Value Engineering — Because our engineers understand both design intent and fabrication constraints, we can suggest smarter ways to achieve the same result at lower cost. “Have you considered a different joint detail here? It’ll save you £500 and be stronger.”
Design Integrates Seamlessly with Production
The true power of in-house design emerges in the workshop. Here’s how it works:
Our design team doesn’t hand off drawings to fabricators in a separate department. They work hand-in-hand with the fabrication team. A detail that looks good on a CAD model might present challenges on the shop floor — our engineers catch these early and refine. A fabricator might see an opportunity to improve a joint during the trial assembly — the design team is there to evaluate and modify.
CAD-to-CNC: Our 3D models feed directly into our CNC programming. No re-drawing, no data loss, no misinterpretation. The model drives the machine.
This integration delivers components that fit perfectly, assemble without fuss, and require minimal adjustment on site.
Cost Savings from Getting It Right First Time
Here’s the commercial reality: rework is expensive. Having to re-cut a component because a dimension was wrong. Redesigning a joint after assembly reveals a problem. Stripping and repainting because the finish wasn’t specified clearly. These problems can double or triple the cost of a component.
In-house design eliminates most rework because:
- Designs are validated before fabrication starts
- Manufacturing constraints are considered upfront
- Tolerances and finishes are clearly specified
- Assembly sequences are thought through
We’ve seen projects where thoughtful in-house design saved 20-30% against a poorly detailed design that required rework. That’s not just nice — it’s transformative for project budgets.
MorFabrication’s Approach
Our team in Washington includes experienced structural engineers, CAD designers, and fabrication specialists. We don’t design in isolation; our design team works daily with our fabricators, our coating team, and our assembly crew. This creates a culture where manufacturing intelligence informs every design decision.
Whether you arrive with a rough sketch, a set of architectural drawings, or a complete engineering specification, our team can:
- Review and refine your design for fabrication
- Perform structural and mechanical analysis
- Produce detailed shop drawings
- Manage the entire project from design approval through delivery
- Provide technical support during installation
The Right Partner for Your Project
Choosing a fabricator is about more than price. It’s about choosing a partner who’ll make your project better. In-house design and engineering isn’t a luxury — it’s insurance against delays, cost overruns, and quality issues.
The North East has a proud heritage of engineering and fabrication. We’re committed to that tradition, combining modern design tools, skilled engineers, and experienced fabricators to deliver projects that work.
Ready to Design & Fabricate?
If you’re planning a steel fabrication project — structural work, bespoke metalwork, or anything in between — let’s talk about how in-house design and engineering can save you time and money.
Get in touch with our team in Washington. Call 0191 8162718 or email info@morfabrication.com. We’re ready to discuss your project and show you the difference a true manufacturing partner makes.
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