The important questions to ask before choosing a sheet metal fabrication company

There are plenty of sheet metal fabrication companies out there, all vying for your business.

It’s easy enough to search online and find a few promising-looking results, but to find the right one for your project, you may have to delve a little deeper as only a handful might meet your expectations.

If you don’t want to take a chance, here are a few questions to ask a potential sheet metal fabricator to assess whether your work is in the right hands.

Firstly – are you experienced?

It takes a great deal of experience and know-how to get any manufacturing job done properly and professionally.

But in specialised industries such as sheet metal fabrication, the number of years a firm has  been in operation doesn’t always tell you everything.

What’s often more crucial to explore is the number of recent projects comparable to yours that they’ve worked on, to give you a better-informed picture of how their years of experience relates to your work.

For example, if your project is for the food manufacturing industry, then you shouldn’t select a fabricator unfamiliar with the precise requirements of that sector. 

Contact the firm directly and ask them what other projects they’ve worked on to gauge their suitability and level of experience. 

Remember – you’ll probably need to pay the right sheet metal fabricator more than those with less experience in the right areas, but it will be worth the extra expenditure in the long term. 

You shouldn’t let price be the overriding factor when choosing a fabrication company because in the vast majority of cases, you get what you pay for.

What equipment do you use?

A sheet metal fabricator is only as good as the equipment it uses, and the staff who operate it. 

If it’s feasible, practical and legal, when choosing a fabricator you should ask to view their workshop, in order to see what equipment they’re currently using.

Keep in mind that the best firms will have all their own equipment in-house, rather than outsourcing work elsewhere.

A sheet metal fabrication company that boasts modern, state-of-the-art equipment is more likely to meet your needs. As a rule the newer the machinery, the better quality and price the fabricator should be able to give you. 

Look out for new lasers, punch presses and press brakes, to name a few.

How good is their reputation?

When searching for the right sheet metal fabrication company, it’s important to find one with a stellar reputation.

Previous clients’ independent testimonials are also a good indicator of quality. You’ll easily be able to find reviews on the internet, of course, but you could also ask your industry contacts to discover other organisations’ experiences when dealing with that particular firm.

Most sheet metal fabrication companies should also be able to provide you with a portfolio. If the firm you’re talking to doesn’t have one, then that should be a red flag.

Essentially, if you check on their past record and whether they have the right equipment to do the job, you are well on your way to choosing the right fabricator for you.

Partnering with the best sheet metal fabricator is critical to the success of your project. Yorkshire Laser and Fabrication prides itself on providing exceptional quality, exceptional service and exceptional value and offers customers the accessibility and innovation of a private company with the expertise and resources of a national corporation.

Give us a call on 01924 220236, email info@yorkshirelaser.co.uk or click here to get in touch.