Metal Fabrication

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Metal Fabrication Specialists

Universal Fabrications is a preferred supplier for metal-based fabrications and has been for decades. As a trade supplier to OEMs and principal contractors, our customers choose us based on our engineering expertise, versatile capabilities and track record for delivering prototype to production solutions. 

To guarantee success, we ensure each and every project is resourced with suitably qualified people who have the experience and empowerment to make it happen. Our project teams are formed by Engineering Project Managers who are experienced in managing high value and time critical projects.

For over 45 years, Universal has been continually investing in the latest machines, tooling, and methods, enabling them to be best in class when it comes to sheet metal fabrications. From custom metal enclosures to a specialist vehicle chassis with machined parts we have it covered.  

 

sheet metal fabrication bending machine
diagram of metal fabrication armoured vehicle parts

Prototyping Design

Skilled designers take our customers’ technical drawings and 3D models to create manufacturing drawings. These fully detail the necessary material specifications, dimensions, bend angles, hardware requirements, and any other manufacturing instructions required for the project.

close up of CNC punching press machine with metal plate at sheet metal fabrication company

Sheet Metal Cutting & Punching 

Our flagship Amada CNC Fibre Lasers have the power and accuracy to cut parts from sheet metal up to a sheet size of 4m x 2m and a material thickness of 25mm. Through our Laser / Punch combination machine, we are able to cut and punch formed holes on a single machine which reduces our customers’ cost per unit. The same machine can also tap holes which further compounds this benefit. 

hands shown operating a bending machine at sheet metal fabrication company

Bending and Forming 

Our fleet of 5 CNC brake presses precisely bends parts to a wide range of angles. We utilise a range of radius dies and stamps to create custom flanges, lips, panels, and enclosure shapes.  Through the maintaining of tight tolerances, our parts are made to drawing ensuring assemblies consistently fit together seamlessly.

CNC robotic mig welding of half inch steel parts

Welding 

Utilising 13 welding bays and robotic cells, our metal welding expertise spans MIG, TIG, Laser, Spot and Projection techniques delivering flawless welds.  Having an extensive welding capability supports customers in achieving their design and project objectives. Whether it’s prototyping, small batch runs or large complex fabrications with machined elements, we have it covered.

man working in a factory finishing using the technique of electrostatic powder coating with a spray gun

Finishing & Coating

For the welded parts, we have a dedicated fettling area where we are able to prepare the parts and assemblies for surface coating. If our customers do not have in house finishing, we are able to clean, paint, powder coat, galvanize, electroplate, anodize, metal coat and passivate to meet the finished part requirements.

machined part showing detailed machining by sheet metal fabrication company

Machining

Through a number of machining operations, we are able to complete the full fabrication requirement. This includes milling, turning, drilling, inserting and grinding. These operations create holes and features for hardware attachment points, rapid installation, airflow, cabling access or fixturing positions. This delivers customer parts ready for integration and end use.

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Fabricated Parts & Assemblies

FAQs about our Metal Fabrication Services

Universal is able to weld parts and fabricate assemblies up to an overall size of 10m x 6m x 4m with a weight of up to 10 Tonnes. We have extension experience fabricating vehicle chassis for the military and specialist vehicle manufacturers and providers. 

Our lead Project Engineers are Metal Manufacturing Experts with decades of experience overcoming heat distortion challenges. For each welding project a Welding Jigs & Fixtures specialist designs and manufacturers welding fixtures to hold parts to the correct dimensions post welding. Additionally, as Universal is able to carry out Laser Welding, MIG & TIG Welding and Robotic Welding we are fully able to select the most appropriate welding process and weld types for the requirement. This covers such considerations as the material type, its thickness, weld penetration, aesthetics alongside adherence to the critical dimensional requirements. 

Yes. Universal Fabrications has a Precision Engineering team with 3, 4 and 5 axis CNC Milling Machines to machine the part or assembly, post fabrication. Having Precision Machining, Fabrication and Assembly capability enables us to be best placed to manufacture the complete product requirement. 

Large complex fabrications typically require a volume of bent parts to be welded together. Whether you are robot welding, MIG/TIG welding, or even laser welding, it is important that the subcomponent parts are dimensionally correct, as the fabrication depends on the sum of the tolerances being within the overall specification. Through Universal Fabrications’ consistently accurate cutting and bending, we are able to be a leading subcontracted provider of metal-based parts, components, and welded fabrications. 

Our welding team are coded to BS EN ISO 15613, BS EN ISO 9606-1, BS EN 9606-2, AWS D17.1m (Class B), BS EN287-1 standards and we operate to BS EN ISO 3834-2. In addition to this, we offer adherence to customer specific coded welding requirements whereby we certify the welder and the process being undertaken. We do this certification through Zurich Testing Laboratories. 

electric vehicle chassis made by sheet metal fabrication company coventry UK

Prototyped Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Chassis

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Our Machinery

Amada Punch Laser Machine for punching and cutting metal

PUNCH LASER CUTTING

Amada EML punch/laser combination with tower loader.

  • 3050mm x 1525mm max worksheet size
  • 4kw laser cutting, forming, punching and tapping
  • Accurate to +/- 0.07mm
  • 9 tonne automated material processing
  • Mild steel, stainless, aluminium, brass and copper
Amada ENSIS Fibre Laser cutting machine for cutting metal

LASER CUTTING

Amada ENSIS Fibre Laser 4000 x 2000 laser with tower loader.

  • 4070mm x 2050mm max worksheet size
  • 3kw laser cutting
  • Accurate to +/- 0.01mm
  • 9 tonne automated material processing
  • Mild steel, stainless, aluminium, brass copper and titanium
bending and forming machine for metal fabrication

BENDING / FORMING

  • Amada HFP 220 Tonne Brake Press 4m
  • Amada HFP 100 Tonne Brake Press 3m
  • Amada HFP 50 Tonne Brake Press 1m
  • Amada HD-AT Hybrid 3m Brake Press with automatic tool change
Manual Mig/Tig welding equipment in a sheet metal fabrication company

MANUAL MIG/TIG WELDING

Fronius CMT Welding Equipment

  • Cold metal transfer: the cold weather process for premium quality
  • A higher deposition rate, better gap-bridging ability and high stability
  • Extremely low heat input and an exceptionally stable arc set CMT apart from conventional mig/mag welding
ABB Robotic welding cell and Fanuc robotic welding cell for metal

ROBOTIC WELDING

ABB robotic welding cells x3 and Fanuc robotics welding cells x6

  • IRC 5 control with manipulators
  • 2500mm x 1500mm x 1500mm reach
  • Fronius CMT welding equipment
  • Mild steel, stainless and aluminium
laser welding machine MA1-65 used in metal fabrication company

LASER WELDING

Max Photonics MA1-65 Laser Welder

  • Laser Welding seam capacity up to 6.5mm on steel & stainless steel, 5.5mm on aluminium, 4.5mm on brass and 3.0 mm on copper
  • Minimal heat affected zone and material distortion.
  • 4 times faster than TIG Welding.
  • High precision welding seams.
  • Welds diverse and dissimilar materials.
DiscMaster 4TD 1500mm Deburring and Edge Rounding machine for laser cut and punched metal parts

DEBURRING

DiscMaster 4TD 1500mm Deburring/Edge Rounding

  • Two deburring discs and two edge rounding discs
  • For deburring/edge rounding laser-cut and 3D punched parts
  • Processing of small parts from 20mm x 20mm
  • Processing of steel, stainless steel and aluminium
prosaw Behringer automatic saw at metal fabrication company

SAWING

Prosaw and Behringer Automatic Saws

  • 430mm x 430mm cutting capacity
  • Ball screw for precise material positioning
  • Fully automatic, fast, efficient and precise execution of series cuts
  • Ball screw for precise material positioning
Meritus spot welding machine

SPOT WELDING

Meritus Spot Welder:

  • Mild steel, stainless and aluminium
Pemserter 2000 with Auto loader Inserting machine for sheet metal

INSERTING

Pemserter 2000 with Auto Loader:

  • Autoloader for fast and efficient inserting
3 meter powered roll metal fabrication machine

ROLLING

3m Powered Rolls

Get in touch to discuss your metal fabrication project.