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As specialists in metal fabrication, FEM Ltd knows a thing or two about the process behind creating bespoke steel beams. And to give you an idea of the expertise that goes into steel beam fabrication, our team has put together this guide on the process. We hope it gives you a better understanding as to […]

As UK-based specialists in bespoke steel fabrication, the FEM team answers in this blog the most frequently asked questions about how important precision is in the manufacturing industry (especially steel fabrication), and what precision steel fabrication involves. What is steel fabrication?  A simple definition of steel fabrication is the use of different processes – including […]

As a bespoke fabrication company based in Sheffield, FEM delivers quality metal fabrication products not just to companies in the northern Midlands, but across England, the whole of the UK, internationally, and even offshore. What makes us a trusted fabrication company is our assurance and delivery of quality. So in this blog, we explore what […]

Sheet metal fabrication is a fast-growing, innovative industry, and in this blog, we’ll look at what it is, current processes and industry outlook, and what the future holds for sheet metal fabrication companies like FEM… What is sheet metal fabrication?  To define sheet metal fabrication, it is a process that uses cutting, punching, folding and […]

Spot welding is often considered to be a fairly simple process for welding sheet metal. However, if you aren’t familiar with the technique and are quite new to it, there are a number of things that can go wrong. That’s where we come in. This article will help you get to grips with spot welding, […]

Where would the world be without structural steel? It is one of the most popular construction materials for big building projects in the world. However, that isn’t the only industry you will find this metal. It’s flexibility in the types of steel you can get, and the wide range of beneficial properties lend well to […]

Energy efficiency is an essential consideration for all construction projects, now more than ever with the effort to reduce climate change and carbon footprint. When it comes to buildings whether they are residential or commercial, doors, windows, and frameworks are key contributors to heat loss and high energy costs, so choosing the right material is […]

FEM are proud to announce we’ve sponsored our local football team Kiverton miners FC U12’. We are keen to support local kids’ clubs with sporting activities at their centre. This newly created team are in their first season and are already top of the league and aiming for promotion! The passion of the coaching staff […]

Hemming is a sheet metal fabrication process in which the edges are folded over each other. The aim of it is to give the edges more strength, improve the visual aesthetic, join different parts together, and cover any rough edges or burrs/defects. In this article, we’ll be exploring everything you need to know about sheet […]

When it comes to factors like versatility and cost-effectiveness, not many metals can offer as good a performance as mild steel. As the world’s most common type of steel, it has broad applications and is relied upon in daily life, thanks to its ability to be cut exactly to size and modified to suit where […]

With the harsh cold of winter starting to fully kick in, you will probably start feeling the effects in your home and workplace. These effects can be significantly improved by using high quality aluminium fabrication for your doors and windows. Aluminium is an extremely popular choice for doors and windows and given the impressive benefits […]

Stock material and custom metal work come in a wide variety of cross-sections, many of which will have been created using the process of metal extrusion. The importance of metal extrusion can’t be understated as products that are made this way can be found in a range of industries such as construction, manufacturing, retail, information […]

Steel is a metal that is heavily used across the engineering landscape. There are a number of different alloys that can be produced for multiple applications across industries. The automotive industry is one example of a landscape that has many uses for steel alloys, like mild steel in various components within vehicles. In this guide, […]

Efficient transport is essential for our modern way of life and steel plays a key role in providing strong, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Steel facilitates the transport of goods and our mobility, whether it’s by bicycles, cars, buses, trains, etc or in the networks that support them, steel is crucial to every mode of […]

If you need to carry out a job that involves lifting or moving big, heavy objects or fragile loads, investing in a load spreader beam or a lifting beam can make difference to the efficiency and safety of the operation. Both types of beams share the same goal of distributing the weight of the load […]

Using steel is various projects has a lot of benefits. As well as being a key aesthetic elements in modern architecture and design, and its strength and versatility in the construction industry, working with steel has environmental advantages too. Easily sustainable and recyclable, steel is an important element of the cyclic economy that humanity needs […]

Aluminium and the aerospace industry have a close relationship that goes way back. From engines to propellers, fuselage frames to fuel tanks, where there’s aviation you will find aluminium fabrication. The industry benefits greatly from the many advantages the metal provides to ensure aircrafts, helicopters, and spacecrafts can all operate safely and efficiently.   It has […]

Metal finishing is the last, but very important step in the metal fabrication process, preparing the products to be used. On their own, a lot of metals can’t perform long term the way we would want them to. This is where finishes come in.   The process allows new properties to be added to the metals, […]

Cutting is one of the most basic and widely used processes in the metal fabrication industry. Over time as technology has advanced, laser cutting has become the go-to technology to carry out cutting tasks because it has a number of advantages over other methods. However, it does have a few disadvantages too. In this article, […]

The construction industry has significantly evolved over the years, and with it, several new and improved methods that make the industry safer and more efficient, one of which is steel fabrication. If you consider different types of large buildings like skyscrapers, warehouses, and shopping centres for instance, almost all elements of their construction involve structural […]

Sheet metal is metal that is manufactured into thin, flat pieces of various thicknesses. It is often used in sheet metal fabrication processes to create products for a number of different sectors. Sheet metal can be made from several metals and metal alloys, which we will be exploring in this article as well as how […]

Manufacturing and fabrication are industrial terms relating to the process of production or construction. People often compare manufacturing vs fabrication like they need to choose between them, but in a lot of cases they work together. In this guide we’ll be looking at the meaning of both manufacturing and fabrication within industrial processes.  What is […]

The overall term steel covers a wide variety of different metals, two of the main examples being mild steel and stainless steel. Even though both stainless and mild steel include a whole sub-group of different metals, there are a few important characteristics that differentiate the two.  What is mild steel?  Mild steel is a type […]

Metal fabrication has a long history dating all the way back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Sheet metal fabrication, however, didn’t come into play until much later. In this article, we’ll be exploring the history of metal fabrication and how it eventually formed into the methods of sheet metal fabrication UK we recognise today. […]

Apprenticeships provide an exciting and beneficial opportunity both for employers and employees. In industries and roles like steel fabrication, that are very hands on, an apprenticeship is an ideal way for those starting out to gain the key knowledge, skills, and training that will stay with them throughout the rest of their working life. What […]

If you need metal work for your business, whether it’s a new staircase, platform, safety guards, or mezzanine floors, you might be thinking about using a bespoke fabrication service. To help you make this decision, we’ve put together some of the most important and convincing reasons why custom metal fabrication services will be beneficial to […]

Galvanising is a process that is commonly used in the metal fabrication industry. This is mostly because it allows fabricators to properly protect their steel using an efficient and effective process. There are many reasons why galvanisation is used over other protective coating methods. Below is just a few of the benefits for galvanising in […]

CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) punching is a manufacturing process commonly used for sheet metal fabrication. A CNC sheet metal punch is designed to stamp clear and specific shapes into pieces of metal and sheet metal parts.  CNC punch presses are electromechanical devices that use inputs from computer programming to move tools and create patterns from […]

Yes, you can weld stainless steel. Stainless steel is well known for its resistance to corrosion and use in cases where hygiene is particularly important. Despite its tendency to distort easily when heated, its lower thermal conductivity means the heat energy is not dispersed from the welding zone as quickly, which is helpful during the […]

Stainless steel is constructed with built-in corrosion resistance but in certain conditions it can and will rust, although it won’t be as fast or severe as standard steels. Stainless steels will typically corrode when they are exposed to harmful chemicals, saline, moisture, grease, or heat for extended periods of time.  The level of protection stainless […]

TIG welding (Tungsten inert gas welding) is a sub-type of gas metal arc welding (GMAW). It is a process that uses electricity to both melt and join pieces of metal. This welding method was first invented in the 1940s to tackle the difficulty of welding magnesium and aluminium within the Californian aerospace industry.  Since then, […]

During any construction project, it is important to feel confident that you are making the right decisions. Especially when it comes to the building material that will be used to create the foundation of the work. So, we have decided to compare two increasingly popular methods of construction, steel frames and timber frames. This will […]

What Is Stainless Steel? Stainless steel is an alloy of several different types of metal that, when combined, are more resistant to corrosion than any of the metals used individually. This makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, from cladding to commercial kitchens. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron with […]

MIG Welding is a process that is an effective alternative compared to MMA. This guide explores everything that you need to know about the process, including the key benefits.   MIG welding or Metal Inert Gas Welding refers to an arc welding process. It uses a solid continuous wire electrode which is heated and fed directly […]

Our steel ladders are meticulously fabricated to provide safe access to services inside and outside your building. Safety is key here, which is why ladders, staircases and platforms are subject to so many industry-specific regulations, and why you should always use a professional steel fabricator to undertake the work. Structural steel ladders – an introduction […]

Stainless Steel letter fabrication is a very popular fabrication service. Many business will use fabricated letters when opening a business to create a high quality, professional high end look. They also may be used for residential properties for house numbers. Stainless Steel Letters can be flat cut or built up depending on the desired look […]

In the fabrication industry there is a wide range of different types of fabrication. Cutting, folding, casting, forging, machining, shearing, punching, stamping, and welding are the most common types of fabrication that are performed during the manufacturing process. Types of Fabrication Processes Cutting Cutting involves splitting or cutting the metal material down into smaller sections. […]