--- title: What Is Metal Fabrication? description: This article looks at explaining what is metal fabrication and what design and production steps are taken to work your steel fabrication projects. image: https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/What%20is%20Metal%20Fabrication.jpg --- Call us: 01945 464 637 [![GLW Engineering & Construction Ltd](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/GLW%20Engineering%20Dec2016/Image/glw-logo21-300x80.png)](http://www.glwengineering.co.uk/) # The GLW Engineering Blog [Structural Steel Fabrication](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/topic/structural-steel-fabrication), [Metal Fabrication in Norwich](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/topic/metal-fabrication-in-norwich), [Plasma Cutting](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/topic/plasma-cutting) ## [What Is Metal Fabrication?](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/what-is-metal-fabrication) ![What is Metal Fabrication](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/What%20is%20Metal%20Fabrication.jpg?width=600&name=What%20is%20Metal%20Fabrication.jpg) Metal fabrication is an umbrella term used to describe the creation of a component, part or structure, out of metal. [Metal fabrication](https://www.glwengineering.co.uk/about-us/) typically involves manipulating raw materials, in the form of sheet metal, metal billets, bars or rods, through one or more processes – including, but by no means limited to, cutting, bending and assembly – to create a finished product. **[![Click HERE To Request A Free Quote](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2730834/c55ad615-a14e-4146-a3f3-eb0657c71f57.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2730834/c55ad615-a14e-4146-a3f3-eb0657c71f57)** Let’s take a look at each of the main processes: ## Cutting Cutting is the process by which unwanted material is stripped from a metal workpiece, or the workpiece is divided into two or more smaller sections. [Cutting](https://www.glwengineering.co.uk/plasma-cutting/) may be the only process required to create a finished product or the first of several processes. Traditional metal cutting, which employs industrial saws, such as band or cold saws – depending on the type of cutting required – with hardened blades, produces a straight-line cut. Alternatively, depending on the thickness of the metal and the intricacy of the finished shape, cutting may be performed manually or mechanically, with hand or power shears. Shears are akin to scissors, insofar as they consist of two blades, one fixed and the other moving, but are typically larger. [More sophisticated cutting](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/advantages-of-plasma-cutting) methods include die cutting, such as rotary or flatbed cutting, which use a die – that is, a hollow or solid metal form – to cut or stamp out shapes from metal. Plasma cutting, another alternative method, uses a jet of ionised gas at extremely high temperature to make precision cuts in hard metals. ## Bending Bending is the process by which a metal component is shaped – often into a ‘U’ or ‘V’ shape – by applying external force, manually or mechanically. In its simplest form, bending may be achieved by using a vice or a forming dolly, which supports the metal workpiece, and a hammer. However, thicker, less malleable workpieces may require a brake tool to achieve clean, precise bends. Like cutting, [bending may be a single process](https://www.glwengineering.co.uk/fabrication-2/) or may be used in combination to create a finished metal product. ## Assembly Industry-standard processes for assembling metal components include a range of welding options, all of which employ a combination of heat and pressure to melt two pieces together at their point of contact and thereby create larger, more complex parts. Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, for example, uses a continuous, consumable, solid wire electrode, which is fed through a welding gun, along with a shielding gas, such as argon or helium, which protects the weld from contamination. An electric arc, which forms between the electrode and the metal workpieces, melts the workpieces and fuses them together. Filler rods are melted by the arc into the molten weld pool in the joint between the components, [to join the parts together. ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/cad-software-for-metal-fabrication) ## Find Out More Metal fabrication includes a huge variety of processes and has applications ranging from everyday hardware, such as nuts, bolts and screws, through architectural and structural metalwork, to heavy industrial machinery. To find out more about the processes we use, or to discuss a project, please [give us a call today](https://www.glwengineering.co.uk/contact/).   [![Click HERE To Request A Free Quote](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2730834/c55ad615-a14e-4146-a3f3-eb0657c71f57.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2730834/c55ad615-a14e-4146-a3f3-eb0657c71f57)   Image source: [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/industry-metal-fire-radio-73833/) July 02, 2020 / by [Geoffrey White](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/author/geoffrey-white) ##### Share this entry - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2730834/fdece9bc-51e5-43b3-8faa-397370d93e3c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2730834/fdece9bc-51e5-43b3-8faa-397370d93e3c) ### Subscribe to Email Updates [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2730834/a5d320f6-811f-48df-ae6c-a627a63dea3d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2730834/a5d320f6-811f-48df-ae6c-a627a63dea3d) ### Latest Posts - [![How To Protect Metal Railings From Corrosion](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/metal-railing.jpg "How To Protect Metal Railings From Corrosion") **How To Protect Metal Railings From CorrosionApril 01, 2021 - 04:50 PM** ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/how-to-protect-metal-railings-from-corrosion) Rust can not only affect the appearance of [metal railings](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/the-guide-to-railings-handrails), but also their structural integrity, posing a potential safety hazard to users. It isn’t just visible corrosion you need to watch out for. If appropriate preventive steps are not taken, rusting may even occur from the inside, seriously compromising the strength of the railings and causing[...] - [![How To Avoid Rust On Your Steel Balustrades](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/rusty-railing.jpg "How To Avoid Rust On Your Steel Balustrades") **How To Avoid Rust On Your Steel BalustradesMarch 25, 2021 - 04:29 PM** ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/how-to-avoid-rust-on-your-steel-balustrades) [Steel is an excellent choice of metal for balustrades](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/suitable-type-of-metal-for-outdoor-railings-and-handrails), as it offers decent resistance to rust and tarnishing as well as an eye-catching appearance that is both sleek and contemporary. 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The force required to propel the particles is achieved using a centrifuge or wheel, spun at high[...] - [![Paint Vs Powder Coating For Steel Fabrications](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/paint-cans.jpg "Paint Vs Powder Coating For Steel Fabrications") **Paint Vs Powder Coating For Steel FabricationsMarch 04, 2021 - 03:14 PM** ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/paint-vs-powder-coating-for-steel-fabrications) Surface finishing is vital for coating reactive metals such as steel. Without a suitable finish, oxidation can cause rust to form, which is not only unsightly but also threatens to weaken the structure, hastening its premature failure. Surface coatings are, therefore, more than just a way to improve the aesthetics of a [steel fabricated ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/steel-staircase-fabrication-guide)object, as[...] - [![The Latest Trends In Laser Welding And How It Can Save You Money](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/hubfs/filipa-saldanha-TtOdr8tYtUU-unsplash.jpg "The Latest Trends In Laser Welding And How It Can Save You Money") **The Latest Trends In Laser Welding And How It Can Save You MoneyNovember 13, 2020 - 11:00 AM** ](https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/the-latest-trends-in-laser-welding-and-how-it-can-save-you-money) With the rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years, many aspects of manufacture and fabrication will likely be revolutionised in the not-too-distant future. The fully automated laser welding machine, for example, could be on the horizon sooner than you think: able to decide for itself where and how to weld, to identify[...] - [![Manufacturing Or Fabrication? 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