Steel Structure Fabrication: Advantages, Processes & Applications

Steel has a wide variety of appliances and has long been one of the most popular materials. Steel components are employed in almost everything, from transportation equipment to structures or entire buildings, due to their amazing durability and other properties.

Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements, and the number of materials that can be added to the alloy results in a vast range of steel kinds, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. As a result, steel fabrication is a transformational process that involves shaping said steel into a particular shape.

In this blog, you will get to know everything about structural steel fabrication!

Advantages of Steel Structure Fabrication

Steel is tensile, corrosion-resistant, and very strong. Steel is a fantastic building material because its strength is greater than its density.
Usually, structural steel is delivered during the pre-fabrication stage and is constructed on-site. Prefabrications expedite projects by minimizing the amount of work that must be done on-site.
When compared to other metals like copper, silver, gold, aluminium, and magnesium, structural steel is less expensive.
There are significant money and time savings from improving installation efficiency because structural steel’s components are simple to install after fabrication.
Steel may easily be fabricated into any shape and dimension because of its metallurgical qualities. Steel structures are created by joining them using bolts or welding.
Structure steel has a fire-resistant coating that significantly increases its fire resistance. It can withstand water. If constructed appropriately, it can endure earthquakes and hurricanes.
The off-site construction of structural steel components decreases the chance of accidents occurring on-site. It is a wise choice because it is resistant to termites and mould.
Metal fabricators choose structural steel because it is easily recyclable and has low environmental impact.
Structural steel is a viable solution for different designs, from simple to complex.
Due to its strength and reliability, structural steel provides a high return on investment (ROI).

Various Parts of Steel Fabrication

Three main parts are involved in steel fabrication: melting raw materials, combining melted materials with steel, and shaping the steel into the desired shape. The entire process is quite difficult; there is minimal room for error, and it requires a professional to be carried out effectively. Steel fabricators often use the method to create a range of steel parts and features, including Bar joists, Ladders, Grating, Skids, Universal beams, Pipe racks, Platforms, Universal columns, Industrial equipment, and more

Steel Fabrication Process

Process	Description	Tools/Methods Used
Cutting	Cutting steel involves many techniques depending on the application.	Shearing: The process of cutting a piece of material into smaller pieces using a die and punch. Band saws: These tools can be used to cut complete steel pieces. Uses disks or bands that are abrasive. Cutter Torches: They use high temperatures (heat-affected zones) to cut huge cross-sectioned steel parts. Precision-controlled by computers (CNC). Laser Cutting: Use highly-focused laser and often powered by natural gas. Water Jet Cutting: Uses high-pressure water to precisely cut a variety of materials while preventing overheating problems.
Bending	A steel part can be bent by applying pressure to change its shape. Hammers or press machines are commonly used for this.	Press brakes: They help steel parts to achieve the required angle. Tube benders: These tools are used for shaping tubes and other objects. Careful consideration is important to avoid using too much force that can distort the material and require remedial action.
Welding	Steel or other materials are fused during welding by heating and connecting them while hot, then letting them cool.	Energy Sources: Gas flames, electric arcs, and lasers are often utilized as heat sources.
Machining	Machines are used in machining to remove metal components and create precise shapes.	Tools: This technique makes use of drills, lathes, mills, and other machinery.

Application of Structural Steel Fabrication

Structural steel is high-quality, and many applications are used mainly in construction. Its areas of application include;

High-rise buildings
Industrial Buildings
Residential Buildings
Parking Garages
Bridges

Steel Fabrication Engineering & Design

Every steel fabrication company employs the fabrication design throughout the entire process; thus, it is essential for the success of the whole thing to have a basic understanding of the design in the first place. The drawing itself, with all of the size marks added to it, must be clear and complete.

The engineering component which includes both the actual design of the item and the numerous production features, whether their mechanical properties or anything else, directly influences the quality of the product in question.

Conclusion

In many industries, especially those related to construction and engineering, structural steel fabrication is a crucial procedure that plays an important role. Steel is a preferred choice for a variety of applications due to its exceptional qualities, including its tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and adaptability.

Leo Keong, a leading Steel Structure Fabrication company, provides a wide range of steel fabrication services and has the ability to customize any steel piece’s specifications to suit the needs of the customer. The chance of a mistake occurring is minimized by the strict quality control procedures used throughout the whole fabrication process.

We pride ourselves in establishing and maintaining excellent customer-supplier relationship, also continually taking the challenges of technological innovation and oﬀering the best services to our customers.