Successful business owners are constantly thinking about ways to reduce costs and maximize their earnings. When it comes to manufacturing, cost reduction is especially important as additional expenses can add up quickly.
However, there are a few important ways you can reduce your metal fabrication costs.
Reducing Metal Fabrication Costs
To help you increase profits, cut costs, and improve the bottom line, here are 5 tips you can use on your next metal fabrication project:
Seek Expert Advice
As we’ve mentioned before, don’t be afraid to talk to your metal fabricator about your design. At Naimor Inc., we are more than happy to help explore the various techniques that can help you build a quality product while also improving bottom-line operational costs.
Our engineers have most likely worked on similar projects and, therefore have ideas for improved manufacturability, material recommendations, design modifications, etc. By leveraging the expertise of your metal fabricator, you can simplify the part, reduce costs, and produce a better-quality product.
Choose the Appropriate Material
Material choice is one of the main factors that impact the cost of a part. Some materials are more expensive as a raw material than others, while others are more difficult to fabricate.
Look for a metal fabricator that buys mill-direct, so they can negotiate material costs on your behalf. Their relationship and experience with these mills allow you to directly benefit from their lower bulk pricing. If they buy mill-direct, this also means they have the means to buy, ship, store, and process the material.
Whenever possible, design for and use standard sheet sizes and gauges. Standard sheet sizes are typically lower priced than special lengths. Thicker materials might restrict achievable cuts or bends for your part. For this reason, it’s important to design to a common size, and ask about the current market conditions to see if one grade is cheaper than another.
Simplify Your Design
In general, the more complicated your part is, the more expensive it will be. To cut down on your costs, design for simple angled bends, with an inside radius equal to 1X thickness of the material. Small bends on large, thick parts tend to become inaccurate, so they should be avoided if possible.
Keeping a consistent bend radius will also make parts more cost-effective. For more information check out our blog post on the metal forming process.
Find a Full-Service Fabricator
If you are looking to save money, you want your metal fabrication company to complete as many processes themselves as possible. If your metal fabricator does everything from design to assembly, there is no need for extra expenditure of money and time to outsource these processes further.
Be on the lookout for a company that uses state-of-the-art metal fabrication equipment. While in some cases, metal fabrication using these modern machines may not be cheaper, it can pay off in the long run with products that are completed faster and look better.
Choose a Local Metal Fabrication Shop
Proximity can be a huge cost-saving advantage when partnering with a metal fabrication company. Having a local metal fabricator comes with several perks. The most prominent is the money you will save on shipping. If you don’t have to ship your parts too far or they can be delivered on a dedicated truck, you won’t have to pay as much for the delivery. Additionally, it is easier to coordinate meetings and view operations to make adjustments on the go.
The greatest perk of working with an experienced and dedicated local metal fabricator is the assurance that comes with having a committed and expert partner nearby. When you find the right partner and you are direct with your goals, they can work with you to fulfill your needs in the most efficient way possible.
Naimor, Inc is a full-service metal fabrication company serving the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about our services and contact us today to begin your custom project.
