What do steel fabricators do?
Steel fabricators are the metalworking professionals who transform raw steel shapes into custom-made structures and components. Their job involves a variety of tasks, including:
- Cutting: Using specialized equipment like plasma cutters, oxy fuel torches, or saws, they precisely cut steel sections according to engineering plans.
- Drilling: They create precise holes in steel components using drilling machines.
- Bending: Steel fabricators bend steel sections to achieve the desired shapes using bending brakes or press brakes.
- Welding: This is a crucial skill, as they join steel pieces together using various welding techniques like arc welding or MIG welding.
- Assembling: Fabricators thoroughly put together the individual steel components to form the final structure, ensuring proper fit and alignment.
- Quality Control: Throughout the process, they conduct inspections to ensure the fabricated steel meets the required specifications and adheres to safety standards.
In essence, steel fabricators act as partners, collaborating with engineers and clients to bring design concepts to life. Their expertise is vital in various industries such as construction, mining, manufacturing, and energy.
What are the benefits of structural steel?
The reason why structural steel is among the top materials used within the manufacturing as well as construction industry is because they offer a lot of benefits, even long-lasting ones too, such as:
Eco-friendly, sustainable and durable
The world we are living now is moving towards the goal of protecting nature for future generations using clean and sustainable products, materials, etc and steel is categorized within the list. As part of the solution to a cleaner environment, structural steel is not only eco-friendly but also sustainable and durable too!
Firstly, steel is recyclable and it also has a low carbon effect which helps in greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to this feature, steel is considered a very “green” material as businesses can recycle and reuse steel over and over again, noting the fact that steel loses none of its strength or other physical properties even after repeated recycling. This has helped big time in reducing a large amount of industrial waste discharged into the environment!
Secondly, steel is very durable since it has the ability to withstand the wear and tear of weather conditions, even the fiercest storms. In fact, steel doesn’t catch fire so you won’t have to fret about any flames incidents. The material is so strong and durable that it can help resist various types of accidents that could possibly damage other materials.
Cost Savings
Inflation can cause fluctuation in price volatility, resulting in a rise in bids and everything related to the construction will cost higher than they were before. Choosing structural steel for your next project will help reduce its overall cost and enhance its value. By using steel, you can save up a lot on the budget as steel prices have remained stable and affordable for big and small businesses thanks to 4 principal factors: its price, shipping costs, durability and future construction development.
Structural steel is normally priced by weight and as of November 2022, steel prices in general continue to move lower with hot-rolled steel reaching roughly $626/ton and cold-rolled steel at around $879/ton. In addition, structural steel is relatively lightweight compared to other types of framing, which helps big time in reducing the shipping cost. Not only that, structural steel also has great durability as it is regarded as one of the toughest and most durable building materials out there.
The value of steel does not only show in the present but also in the future if and when a project will be modified or expanded. Then, steel framing systems can be reconfigured and expanded into new shapes since they are highly adaptable.
Time-saving
With pre-fabricated structural steel, the construction process will proceed faster since the process of cutting, welding, and fastening is no longer required on-site. Resulting in a reduced timeline and also in hours of labor significantly. Once the construction’s frame and envelope are completed rapidly, skilled trades can focus on completing the rest of the work quicker. The faster the construction is built, the quicker businesses can start generating revenues and contributing to the economy.
Safe
Surprisingly, steel doesn’t catch fire, ignite nor spread flames. In addition, when used in construction and building, stainless steel fabricated parts are resistant to pests such as termites. In some cases, it can be resistant to rust and corrosion when properly coated. Thus, steel can also be cleaned easily is mold resisted. Thanks to this feature, you can easily spot stainless steel fabrication projects in the medical and food service industries.
Is metal fabrication different from steel milling?
Yes, metal fabrication and steel milling are different processes within the metalworking industry, although they can sometimes be interconnected. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Metal Fabrication
- Process: Focuses on shaping and assembling pre-existing metal shapes (often produced through steel milling) into various end products.
- Materials: Works with a wider range of metals besides steel, including aluminum, copper, brass, etc.
- Techniques: Employs various techniques like cutting, bending, welding, drilling, and assembling to modify and join metal pieces.
- Examples: Fabricated products include building frames, pipes, railings, machinery components, etc.
Steel Milling
- Process: Primarily deals with the shaping and transformation of raw steel into various usable forms.
- Materials: Focuses specifically on steel, processing it from its raw form (iron ore) or semi-finished products (like slabs or blooms).
- Techniques: Utilizes large-scale machinery like rolling mills, forging presses, and extruders to shape and refine steel.
- Examples: Steel milling produces various products like sheets, plates, bars, beams, and angles.
What are some steel structure fabrication methods?
Bolted Steel Connections
This method utilizes high-strength bolts to fasten steel components together. It offers advantages like easy assembly and disassembly, which can be helpful for temporary structures or those requiring future modifications.
Welded Steel Connections
Welding is a widely used method that creates permanent and very strong joints between steel pieces. It offers high strength and load-bearing capacity for permanent structures.
Riveted Steel Connections
While less common today, riveting was a traditional method using rivets to join steel elements.
Cast Steel Connections
Cast steel connections are a method for joining steel members using pre-fabricated cast steel components.
Prefabricated Steel Structures
Prefabricated steel structures are a method where the elements of a structure are manufactured off-site in a controlled workshop environment and then assembled on-site at the final location.
Additional Fabrication Methods
- Mechanically Decked Floor Systems: This involves using profiled steel sheets with shear connectors to create a composite floor deck that combines the strength of steel with the fire resistance of concrete.
- Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Framing: This method utilizes lightweight, pre-formed steel sections for walls, roofs, and non-load-bearing structures. It offers advantages like ease of installation and cost-effectiveness for specific applications.
- Steel Truss Fabrication: Trusses are triangular structures used for roofs and bridges. Fabrication involves cutting, shaping, and connecting steel members to create the desired truss configuration.
- Pipe Fabrication: This is the process of shaping and joining steel pipes for various applications, including pipelines, pressure vessels, and handrails.
Choosing the Right Method
The selection of the most suitable steel structure fabrication method depends on several factors, including:
- Project requirements: Factors like load-bearing capacity, desired permanence, and future modification needs influence the choice.
- Material properties: The type and thickness of steel used can impact the feasibility of certain methods.
- Cost considerations: Different methods vary in cost of materials, labor, and equipment.
- Design complexity: Simple structures may utilize bolts, while complex designs might require welding.
Steel fabrication companies often have expertise in multiple methods, allowing them to select the most appropriate approach for each project.
What are the Main steps of the structural steel fabrication process?
1. Design and Material Acquisition
Project Planning: Engineers develop detailed plans and specifications for the structure, including the size, shape, and quantity of steel components needed.
Material Procurement: Based on the design, the steel fabrication company acquires the necessary steel plates, beams, angles, channels, and other shapes in the required dimensions and grades.
2. Steel Cutting and Drilling
Computerized Cutting: Modern fabrication shops utilize computer-controlled machinery like plasma cutters, lasers, or saws to precisely cut steel components according to the design specifications.
Drilling and Punching: Holes are drilled or punched into the steel components for future connections using bolts, rivets, or welding.
3. Shaping and Bending (if required)
Bending: Depending on the design, specific steel sections may require bending to achieve the desired shapes. This can be done using hydraulic presses, rolling mills, or other specialized equipment.
4. Assembly and Welding
Positioning and Tack Welding: Steel components are positioned and temporarily tack welded together to ensure proper alignment and fit.
Final Welding: Certified welders use various welding techniques (e.g., arc welding, MIG welding) to create strong and permanent joints between the steel elements.
5. Quality Control and Inspection
Rigorous Inspections: Throughout the fabrication process, the steel components undergo thorough inspections to ensure they meet dimensional tolerances, welding quality standards, and any other relevant specifications. This may involve visual inspection, dimensional checks, and non-destructive testing methods.
6. Surface Treatment and Painting (optional)
Sandblasting or Shot Blasting: In some cases, the steel components may be sandblasted or shot blasted to remove surface impurities and prepare the surface for painting.
Painting or Coating: To protect the steel from corrosion and ensure aesthetics, a coat of paint or other protective coating may be applied.
7. Delivery and On-Site Assembly
Packaging and Labeling: The finished steel components are carefully labeled, packaged, and loaded for transportation to the construction site.
On-Site Construction: Steel erectors use cranes and other equipment to lift and assemble the prefabricated steel components according to the design plans.
Is sheet metal fabrication expensive?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a precise answer for this question. This is because the cost of the sheet metal fabrication process involved a lot of stages combined. Each stage will have varied prices depending on the demand of the clients / customers and the difficulty of the project.
To break it down, sheet metal fabrication costs can be deciphered by factors such as:
Installation Pricing
This pricing often includes expenses such as: Getting the required licenses or permits for installation, Buying safety gear for installation, Hiring skilled professionals and Transportation fabricated parts to the installation site.
Raw material costs
In order to make sheet metal fabrication, you’ll first need the raw material. The choices vary from aluminum, brass, copper, steel, tin to nickel and titanium. Each material will have a different price tag and depending on their thickness that material cost and labor cost will also be affected. Another thing to keep in mind is that the costs for raw material can also change due to circumstances like inflation, transportation and supply chain too.
Cost for customized work
For sophisticated and customized projects, sometimes either manual or mechanical labor is required. In some cases, both are required. More often, customized sheet metal required very highly-skilled fabricators and could also include certified welders, professional assembly technicians, etc. in order to craft the work with high attention to details. For an even more precise product and a faster outcome, CAD/CAM software can also be used in the fabrication process and will need experts to use specialized tooling and equipment.
Cost of machining
The sheet metal fabrication process can include a lot of steps to produce the end product. The steps can be coating, cutting, welding, bending, etc. Each step will require a specific machinery and equipment to do the work. The fewer the cuts, welds and bends needed for your project, the lesser the expenses.
Design complexity
As the name has suggested, the easier material your material is made, the lesser the expense. On the other hand, if your project has a complex design, it will take more steps and time working to create the end product, resulting in a higher price.
Final delivery cost
All in all, sheet metal fabrication can start from a basic of $300 up to $4000; depending on the client’s requirements and all of the factors listed above.
What are the key standards a steel fabrication provider should meet?
Steel fabrication providers should meet a variety of standards to ensure the quality, safety, and compliance of their work. Here are some key ones:
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems: Demonstrating a commitment to consistent quality in all aspects of their fabrication processes.
- ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Health Safety and Environment Management Systems: Prioritizing a safe and sustainable work environment for both employees and the surrounding area.
- AWS certified welders and welding inspectors: Ensuring welds meet the highest industry standards for structural integrity and safety.
- BS EN 1090-1 and 1090-2 for CE Marking: Guaranteeing compliance with European safety regulations for steel structures.
- CSA W47.1 Canada Standard Association certification: Meeting the stringent requirements for steel fabrication projects in Canada.
- AISC American Institute of Steel Construction: Upholding the standards set by a leading North American steel construction association.
- ASME- American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Complying with ASME boiler and pressure vessel codes for pressure-containing equipment.
- API- American Petroleum Institute: Adhering to API standards for steel fabrication in the oil and gas industry.
- AWWA- American Water Work Association: Meeting the specific requirements for steel structures used in water treatment and distribution systems.\
- ACRS- Australia Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural steels: Ensuring compliance with Australian standards for reinforcing and structural steels.
- SSPC- Steel Structure Protective Coatings: Demonstrating expertise in applying protective coatings that extend the lifespan of steel structures.
- NACE International-National Association of Corrosion Engineers: Leveraging NACE standards to prevent corrosion and ensure the durability of steel structures.
At VIVABLAST, we proudly hold the industry’s most coveted quality certifications, including: ISO 9001:2015, AS (Australian Standards), JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) and other certifications in Europe, America…
And also have capabilities in:
- ASME Section I
- ASME Section VIII, div1
- ASME Section VIII, div2
All scopes are executed in compliance with international standards (latest ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001) and the client’s specifications.
Where can I get quality metal fabrication service?
Back in 2017, Vietnam made it to the top 20 world’s largest steel-producing countries when it produced around 17.91M tons of steel and ever since, the metal economy in Vietnam has witnessed exceptional growth to reach the 13 position in 2021.
Hence, Vietnam is considered an excellent location for any foreign business to invest in. For projects of various sizes, from small to big, metal fabrication service is indeed very essential and one of the top brands that provide quality metal fabrication service in Vietnam is VIVABLAST.
With 30 years of operating and still counting, VIVABLAST provides professional integrated solutions and specialty services tailored for steel fabrication and installation in projects, construction and infrastructure. What makes VIVABLAST stand out is thanks to great organizational capabilities as well as reasonable financial capabilities to undertake industrial projects with a large team of highly trained steel fabricators, rich in operational experience both locally and internationally. VIVABLAST is positioned to provide the highest level of quality workmanship through the dedication and skill of in-house fabricators. Moreover, our fabrication facility utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to handle every aspect of steel fabrication.
Our facilities include:
- Steel Beam Assembler
- Overhead Cranes 10 tons, 5 tons, and 1.5 tons capacity
- 300 tons Hydraulic Press
- 3 Hydraulic Punch and Shearing Machinery
- Radial Arm Drilling
- Bandsaw – cold saw
- Cutting – cropping
- Pipe and Section steel Rolling
- Oxy Cutting Equipment
- Arc, Mig, and Innershield Welding
- Process Steel cleats and fittings including plasma cutting and laser cutting
In order to provide excellent steel fabrication solutions for our clients, VIVABLAST has been enhancing the fabrication capability in both facility and experience. We are now capable of offering a full scope of steel fabrication at our workshop and mechanical solutions of re-installation and finishing at the clients’ site.
In addition, we are well-versed in fabricating equipment, notably Gas Exhaust System and Non-pressure parts, with the support of our fabrication partners.
Over time, VIVABLAST has succeeded as a reliable subcontractor for many International & Domestic companies by delivering our professional services to such prestigious companies as PIRIOU, JGCS, Technip, KNOC, Metacor, PTSC groups, Vietsovpetro, etc. with great passion.
By choosing VIVABLAST, your business will gain a lot of benefits. Firstly, we have a group of skilled fabricators that can create high-quality crafts. Secondly, we can provide the best consultation for your projects and constructions thanks to our experience gained throughout many years working in the industry. Thirdly, we have all the resources needed to make things work, be it the technology, facilities or manpower. Last but not least, cost-saving.
Who are the top steel manufacturers / fabricators in Vietnam?
According to the World Steel Association, in the period of 2017-2018, Vietnam was one of the fastest figures when it comes to metal production with the output increased by nearly 40%; peak reached a record high of 14.1M tons of metal produced in the country. Since then, the metal industry has been on a great track and many big names within the nation appeared.
- The top 10 largest metal manufacturing companies in Vietnam of 2024 include:
- Hoa Phat Group
- Formosa Ha Tinh
- VAS Group
- Hoa Sen Group
- Ton Dong A Corporation
- Nam Kim Group
- Southern Steel Sheet Co., Ltd
- TVP Steel Joint Stock Company
- SMC Trading Investment Joint Stock Company
- Tay Nam Steel
Source: https://mrssteel.com.vn/blogs/steel-blog/top-10-largest-steel-mills-in-vietnam-2024
While the top 10 largest steel manufacturing companies in Vietnam for 2024, focus on large-scale steel production, VIVABLAST Vung Tau Workshop plays a distinct role in the Vietnamese steel industry. VIVABLAST’s workshop specializes in steel fabrication, catering to projects requiring customized steel structures. Our expertise ensures the creation of high-quality, functional steel components that meet specific project needs.
For more information please visit our VIVABLAST’s fabrication solutions.
