Things To Look for in Stainless Steel Fabricators

As the maker of a building or product, you're going to need a whole team of experts to not only learn your design blueprints but also to create everything to your needs.

Everything from measurements to the small designs and metal choices, the fabricators you trust need to have specialized experience with stainless steel. Among other things, here's what else to look for as you prepare the design layout and comprise your project and building teams.

Quality

Quality is the essence of every project. No matter the product or building, a fabrication company obtains the needed quality for a project rather than focusing on the quantity of a product. The quality matters most because at the end of the day, you need materials that last, and without proper inspections and processes, stainless steel corrodes and breaks down.

While saving money is essential, cutting corners is not a smart move. A company that cuts too much won't have a lot of quality anymore. It's essential to ask companies what their processes look like when they create stainless steel. And above all else, they should hold certifications showing they have the proper training for making stainless steel.

Cost

You're not likely to choose a manufacturer immediately because you want to know how competitive each company is. Generally, you can tell how competitive the market is by the product cost. A good thing to think about is the overall quality of service.

If a metal fabricator offers higher prices but poor quality, it's good to stick to other options—the same goes for cheaper services and subpar quality. Keep your options open when needing to deal with a stainless steel fabrication supplier.

Here are things to look for during the search for a metal production company:

• How much experience they have
• How much training is done
• If there's good communication, you found your manufacturer
  
  

Customer Service

How well does the company treat its clients, but most importantly, how do they respond to reviews on Google, Yelp, or social media? If they name-call, talk poorly about their competitors, or don't show any compassion for their work and looking to improve their work crew, you shouldn't bother.

A good company knows they have competition, so there's never a need to bad-mouth others. And a good company treats its customers well and looks for ways to improve the quality of its services. If they receive a negative review, they should be quick to respond positively and seek out improvement strategies.

Materials

When looking over the service pages, you may notice that metal manufacturing companies list different grades of stainless steel. The grade level describes the different versions of stainless steel, and it lets you know that a stainless steel manufacturer has experience using that material.

For what it's worth, a company listing out materials they have experience using helps narrow down the best company to choose. In the process, you might discover another metal or material that could work for something else the next time you need a project done.

For example, instead of using stainless steel, you may find that using tempered sheets of glass or copper works better on your building's interior. As for products, you may want wrought iron for decorative purposes.

Technology

What sort of technology does the metal fabrication shop use? Are they up to par with regulations, such as ADA and OSHA? If so, you can look more into requesting a quote for your project. Otherwise, you should reach out and learn more about the company's technology.

While lucrative and compelling, every part of the process requires strenuous attention to detail and precautions. The technology behind stainless steel manufacturing consists of machines that bend, extend, and test metal sheets before moving on to polishing and other production phases.

Team Size

The team size might be another reason to think carefully about which company to pick. Whether it's one person or a team of 10 or more individuals, it's a huge variable that affects your project deadline. If you're on a tight one, it's a good idea not to go with one singular worker, as a team can get more done.

Also, how big of a workspace does the company have, and do they need to move production to third-party companies to meet deadlines? These things can also affect how quickly a project gets done and its overall quality. If the company doesn't have a big enough floor to work on, that could delay your timeline.

Sizing in staff and workspace is essential, so inquire with potential manufacturers about team size and how big of a workspace they have to work.

Industry Experience

Industry experience is paramount to selecting a stainless steel manufacturing company. Above all else, a company's knowledge and expertise help strengthen the path to a successful project.

Look and do your research before hiring anyone—go and look at customer testimonials, reviews, and the company's portfolio. This is the time to really get to know the businesses before hiring. The background of a company and the reviews and referrals that follow show how much experience a company has.

Financing

Financing is one of the other greater things to look for in stainless steel fabricators. The first significant thing you'll discuss is your budget. If you're not open to any additional services, let the company know. A metal fabrication company sends a quote for your service; from there, you get to decide whether to move forward or make modifications if necessary.

When thinking about financing, one thing to consider is their work environment. Consider this: is the company organized and filled with workers with a ton of experience and constantly training apprentices, or is it filled with inexperienced workers? These things can set you and your project back by many months if you don’t look at the size and expertise of every worker in the business.

As you come to decide on your following big proposal, take the time to get to know Custom Manufacturing and Polishing, Inc's manufacturing process. We're known for collaborating with clients to create the best version of their dream products and buildings. Send us a message to get to know us better—we can’t wait to meet you!