Steel fabrication is an important business in a growing country like the United States. Various infrastructures require steel-based materials to be built, and that’s why it’s so crucial to the economy. The industry is worth over $36 billion, with much more room to grow. It’s an attractive starting business if you’re experienced in handling steel.
Steel fabrication creates steel structures by cutting, bending, and assembling raw materials. It’s a challenging industry, but one that has many rewards.
If you’re thinking about starting a steel fabrication business, here are five ways to help you get started on the right foot:
Choose The Right Fabrication Service
Choosing the right fabrication service is essential if you want to start a steel fabrication business. The three primary services are structural steel fabrication, architectural steel fabrication, and miscellaneous steel fabrication. Each service has its own set of specialties and challenges.
Structural Steel Fabrication
Structural steel is used to construct bridges, buildings, and other large-scale structures. Structural fabricators work with heavy-gauge sheet metal to create these structures. Then, they use a variety of metalworking machines to cut, bend, and weld the metal into shape.
Architectural Steel Fabrication
Architectural fabricators work with lighter-gauge sheet metal to create smaller items such as door frames, handrails, and elevator shafts. Much like structural steel fabrication, this sector still uses metalworking machines, but to a lesser degree since your products are much smaller.
Miscellaneous Steel Fabrication
Miscellaneous steel fabricators create a wide range of items such as gates, fences, storage tanks, and pressure vessels. Unlike the other industries mentioned above, miscellaneous steel fabrication doesn’t require metalworking machines. Instead, it requires good welding skills. The products you make are much smaller but are more delicate. This means that you’ll need to pay more attention to detail.
Each industry offers different advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, each has different capital requirements. You must choose the right industry for your budget.
Get Accredited
There are a few different accreditations for steel fabrication and manufacturing. The most common is the ISO 9001 certification, which is a standard that sets out the quality management requirements for organizations.
Other accreditations include the American Welding Society (AWS) certification and the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) certification. These accreditations ensure that steel fabricators and manufacturers meet specific quality standards, and they can help distinguish between qualified and unqualified providers.
Having the proper accreditation when starting your steel fabrication business is essential. These accreditations will give you an edge over your competition and help you win more clients.
Get The Right Tools and Equipment
As a steel fabrication company, you’ll need the right tools and equipment to get the job done. This includes lathes, milling machines, welding machines, and plasma cutters. Among these pieces of equipment, you’ll need to put an extra emphasis on welding machines. Welding is one of the essential processes in steel fabrication, and you’ll need a high-quality welding machine if you want to produce quality products.
There are many different types of welding machines on the market, so it’s essential to research and choose the one that best suits your needs. In addition to machines, you’ll also need other tools such as cleaning brushes for welders. These brushes help remove debris and slag from the weld area, which helps create a stronger bond between the metals. Unfortunately, most companies tend to miss out on this to ensure that you have it in your company.
Invest in B2B Marketing
Marketing is essential for any business but vital for steel fabrication businesses. The reason is that there’s a lot of competition in this industry, and you need to ensure that potential clients know who you are and what you can offer.
There are many different marketing channels that you can use to reach your target market. However, one of the most effective is B2B marketing. This type of marketing is designed specifically for businesses, and it helps you reach other companies that may need your products or services.
The most common B2-B marketing strategies include lead generation and email marketing. Using these strategies, you can reach a wider audience and win more clients for your steel fabrication business.
Lead generation is one of the most effective B2-B marketing strategies. It involves generating interest in your products or services from other businesses. You can do this in various ways, such as through online ads, LinkedIn, or trade shows.
Once you’ve generated leads, you must follow up with them and convert them into clients. One of the most effective ways to do this is through email marketing. It involves sending targeted emails to potential clients highlighting the benefits of using your products or services. It’s a cost-effective way to reach a broad audience and can help you win more clients for your steel fabrication business.
Starting a steel fabrication business can be challenging for anyone who hasn’t started a business before. However, by applying the tips above, you can give your business the best chance for success. It’ll also ensure that you don’t waste your capital on unnecessary investments down the line.