Structural fabrication is the bending, cutting, and assembling of steel to form new products. This process aims to make different structures out of the several pieces of steel intended for assembly into buildings, machines, tools, and other crucial objects that nearly all industries need.
It is important to note that not all metals that can be strengthened and cut can be used for structural steel fabrication. Steel fabrication involves a very specific process that requires transforming raw materials into structures that meet all industry standards and codes.
Keep reading this article to learn about how companies fabricate steel in three stages and the many applications for structural steel fabrication.
The Stages of Structural Steel Fabrication
Structural steel fabrication involves these three basic steps:
1. Cutting Structural Steel
Cutting steel is the first step in steel fabrication, and it is often done in large manufacturing facilities. Only highly trained and experienced workers can perform this step since these operations can be incredibly dangerous. Many safety precautions are imposed and followed in the manufacturing facilities where fabricators do the cutting.
An expert steel service center in Nashville, TN, cuts steel through sawing, chiseling, or sharing, which requires various tools, including water jets, laser cutters, and plasma torches.
2. Bending Structural Steel
Next to cutting structural steel is bending. Fabricators do this by either hammering the steel manually or using machines—the process largely depends on what the project requires, particularly on the repetitiveness of the bending that is needed. If the project needs more repetitive bending, the fabricator needs to rely on machinery to maximize efficiency.
3. Assembling Structural Steel
The last step in creating a structure is assembling the structural steel, or in simplest terms, it involves combining the various parts and putting it all together. This step usually includes welding, which is the application of heat to the steel parts.
In particular, this application slowly joins the steel parts together with high levels of heat, usually converted from electricity to thermal energy.
Applications for Structural Steel Fabrication
Structural steel fabrication has always been essential for any industry you may think of. Below are a few of them that benefit from the flexibility offered by structural steel fabrication.
- Construction. Architects, contractors, and engineers in the construction industry use structural steel and steel beams and other forms of structural steel in large fabricated sections of what they build.
- Energy. The energy industries rely on fabricated structural steel in forming transmission towers, pipelines, oil, and gas platforms.
- Manufacturing. The manufacturing industry uses fabricated structural steel in producing platforms, industrial stairs, steel handrails, and the like. Specialized machines are necessary for just about every arm of manufacturing, including clothing, food, automobile, etc.
Final Thoughts
The fabrication of steel structures is a complicated process, and it requires a lot of knowledge and experience in steel cutting, bending, and welding. The fabrication of these metals includes a strict set of guidelines and standards to follow so the final product will turn out suitable for the assembly of buildings, structures, and objects that can last for decades.
Are you looking for companies that offer the best structural steel in Nashville, TN? With KGS Steel Nashville, you can partner with a company with almost 40 years of experience as a full-line structural steel and carbon steel service center. Message us today for a free quote.
