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Metal fabrication is the backbone of many industries due to its ability to create products with precision. This can either be done through bespoke fabrication or on a large scale. Regardless, skilled workers and cutting-edge automation ensures that work is completed to a high level of precision. Quality can be furthered with finishing processes and […]

Metal fabrication is a big part of our society and everyday life, which means there needs to be standards in place. To ensure the safety of any metal fabrication projects being produced. This is especially the case for structural steel fabricated products which are deemed as “safety critical”. In this guide, we’ll be looking at […]

Metal fabrication is one of the premier manufacturing processes used in sectors all over the world. Companies can use various types of metal fabrication to produce vital parts and components. Due to these widespread applications, the industry has the potential to significantly influence the environmental impact of a range of manufacturing.  In this blog, we’ll […]

Steel beams are an essential part of the construction industry, providing the required support for a structure to be built. However, there isn’t simply one type of beam that is universally used for all types of projects. There are several different types of steel beams in a range of shapes and sizes with each one […]

Structural steel fabrication refers to the steps involved to turn simple steel materials into reliable and resilient structural products. There are several important and complex parts of the structural steel fabrication process. That ensure the final products are created to the highest possible standard. In this article we will be looking at the process in […]

Steel is among the most abundant metals on earth, even though it’s not naturally occurring. There are thousands of steel grades and types, each with their own properties and subsequent uses. However, most everyday people will probably only know about stainless steel as it’s used in commercial settings.  Mild steel is less well known as […]

Metal fabrication is everywhere in our modern society, whether you realise it or not. From an idea that began thousands of years ago with shaping mined copper into crude tools, fabrication has shaped and impacted a wide range of industries with the impressive products it has created. In this blog we’ll be exploring some of […]

Metal fabrication is highly sought after by many businesses to create structures and components with important roles. As such, choosing the right company to help you complete the fabrication work is crucial in ensuring the functionality of these products. But how do you separate the good from the bad?  In this blog, we’ll help you […]

The automotive industry is one that makes great use of fabrication engineering in many processes. Of all the metals involved, aluminium is amongst the most used due to its beneficial properties.  Find out how aluminium fabrication works, its uses in the automotive industry, and how it can be applied in a range of manufacturing projects.  […]

Structural and architectural steel fabrication sound exactly the same and there’s no denying that they are similar. However, there are a few key differences worth noting that we’re going to cover in this guide. Before we get into that though, we need to explain what both of these fabrications are…   What is structural steel […]

It might not seem like it, but steel staircases are an extremely important feature of many building projects. This is because it often needs to combine aesthetics, function, and most importantly safety depending on the specific requirements….

FEM is proud to be based in Sheffield, which is still known to this day as the ‘steel city’. Looking back, it appears as though the city and its people were always destined to herald innovations in metalwork and fabrication. Sheffield was uniquely positioned to focus on this industry for several reasons though. Lets take […]

Everywhere you look in fabrication you’ll probably see ‘sheet metal this’ and ‘sheet metal that’. Why? What makes sheet metal so well suited for an industrial process like fabrication? Where other materials will be best for producing more niche products, sheet metal is a great all-rounder. This makes it a solid choice for any business […]

Duct fabrication for commercial and residential properties follows the same broad process. Most duct systems use sheet metal and as a result, require sheet metal fabrication processes. However, differences may arise when it comes to the scope of the metal fabrication.  Review regulations  Before any manufacturing processes begin, it’s necessary to review building regulation law […]

Stainless steel is an increasingly popular material for a wide range of uses including air ducts. This is due to its versatility and other useful properties it has for that environment. In this guide, we’ll be looking at the benefits of stainless steel fabrication in air ducts. As well as their importance in specific applications […]

The rail industry has a lot of specific parts that perform certain functions and roles in order for the process has a whole to run smoothly. This means specially fabricated metal is needed to meet the precise requirements of the industry and to help workers complete their jobs effectively. Steel is often the metal of […]

The nuclear is highly specialised and involves complicated processes that demand specifically designed power plants, equipment, and materials in order to complete them safely and effectively. Conditions in nuclear power plants are very dangerous and hostile, so not just any metal can be used. That’s where stainless steel comes in as it has several properties […]

The oil and gas sector is highly dependent on fabrication for its operations. Fabricated steel is often the material of choice to create the necessary equipment and structures to explore, extract, and refine the resources. Read on to learn the key benefits of fabrication in this industry as well as some specific examples of applications […]

A jib crane is a device designed mainly for use in production operations as it features an arm/boom that extends out and away from the body (known as the mast or pillar) of the crane to lift heavy loads to heights that are unmanageable for workers. It is ideal for factories, warehouses, or other facilities […]

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. […]