While some metal fabrication projects are designed to be cheap and cheerful, others require a more premium construction standard. Whether you're creating something highly specialised and intricate like a medical device or you're looking to boost your brand with parts made to a higher quality, here are three fabrication company services that can help you create a more superior, valuable end product.

1. A custom design service

Choosing a metal fabrication company that offers design services is one of the best ways to get your project off to a high-quality start. While there's nothing inherently wrong with using an in-house designer at your company or contracting the services of a CAD expert, there are additional benefits to using a designer from your fabrication company. 

Notably, the biggest advantage is a fabrication company's designer knows the ins and outs of everything on offer there. If you use an external designer, you may find yourself having to repeatedly modify your project to fit your metal manufacturer's scope, which can drastically weaken the quality of the final design. Having your project designed with the company's capabilities in mind ensures an outcome that makes the best use of all the features available to you, resulting in a design that's high-quality from the beginning. 

Plus, when you're working with a company designer who specialises only in metal, you can be sure they have all the industry-specific knowledge you need to create a part or product that meets regulations and functions safely and efficiently.

2. Various assembly options

If you're working on a sheet metal project that's more complex than one single flat part, assembly will be very important to the finished product. Many sheet metal fabrication companies offer one or two methods of assembly, but if you can, it's best to find a plant with a wide range of options available. 

The reason you need more assembly options available to you when creating a premium product is that different assembly types have different benefits and ideal applications. While you may be able to get away with welding everything together, this won't create the more durable and efficient final part or product. 

Brazing and soldering, for example, is one of the best ways to increase strength when dealing with small parts (such as in the case of electronics or jewellery), while traditional welding is best for connecting larger pieces of metal together. Some assembly methods prevent water leakage, others increase durability, and some are necessary for a certain aesthetic. As such, a company that can use a combination of techniques like welding, soldering, riveting and mechanic assembly is the best way to ensure an all-round premium end product.

3. Expert finishing processes

If you really want to take your sheet metal project to a premium level, finishing is a must. Not only will it make your metal product look better, it can also make it stronger and longer-lasting. That's why it's important to look for a fabrication plant with finishing expertise. 

Look out for companies that offer a wide variety of finishing options and can apply different finishes to different parts of your product or part. Buff polishing, for example, is the best way to create a smooth and lustrous surface, while metal plating is the ideal method for increasing durability and resistance to weathering. Powder coating, meanwhile, adds glossiness and rust-resistance, while sand blasting creates the perfect matte surface. Each finishing technique has its own applications, so when used in combination, they create a final product that excels in every way.

Contact a local metal fabrication service to find out if they offer these services.