A overhead drone shot of SWF Industrial's facility in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania

STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATION GUIDE: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PARTNER

Posted: July 2024

When it comes to structural steel, selecting the right fabricator can make all the difference in ensuring the success and durability of your projects.

At SWF, we pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled quality, backed by decades of expertise and a commitment to excellence. Our structural steel services are tailored to meet the needs of design-build contractors, industrial facilities, and food and beverage processors, delivering the durability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness that your projects demand.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Structural Steel Fabrication Partner

Choosing the right structural fabricator is crucial for the integrity and efficiency of your projects. You need to be sure that they not only have the capabilities and capacity to take on your project, but also the proficiency, certifications, and project management capabilities to deliver on the project and get it done right the first time.

What to Look For:

  • Quality and Expertise: Look for partners with a proven track record of high-quality workmanship and expertise in handling diverse projects.
  • Comprehensive Services: Ensure the fabricator offers a wide range of services to meet your specific needs.
  • Certifications and Compliance: Verify that they hold relevant certifications, indicating their adherence to industry standards.
  • State-of-the-Art Equipment and Facilities: The fabricator should have facilities and advanced equipment to handle projects of varying complexity and size.

Why SWF for Structural Fabrication?

SWF Industrial project managers preparing for a structural steel fabrication project with a hardhat on the table.

Due to the precision, experience, and the high level of attention to detail that is required for a successful structural steel project, it is best to look for a partner who is an AISC-certified fabricator. For the last forty years, SWF’s commitment to safety, quality, and our customers has remained at the center of what we do. By focusing on superior craftsmanship, finish expertise, and turnkey solutions, our work and relationships with our partners stand the test of time.

Behind the dedication to our craft and customers, is the backbone of each project. Our mature project management philosophy allows us to provide worry-free, turnkey fabrication services for our partners.

At SWF, our mature project management and commitment to safety and quality is the foundation of every project. Our attention to detail and experience have made us a trusted structural steel fabrication partner for leading design-build contractors, food and beverage processors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, automation and robotics companies, and wastewater treatment facilities across the United States.

Our expertise in a wide range of finishes ensures that each project not only meets but exceeds industry standards. Whether it’s a carbon steel mill finish or a high-polish RA32 finish in stainless steel, we guarantee precision and quality.

We are committed to building partnerships with quality-conscious customers who value meticulous attention to detail and exceptional craftsmanship. Our dedication to quality, project management, and customer relationships is evident in every project we undertake, from initial design to final installation.

What We Do

SWF specializes in taking on complex structural steel fabrication projects, innovating design and providing Value Engineering as needed to deliver a final product that is not only constructible but also maximizes quality, cost-efficiency, and serves the needs of our partners. When it comes to structural fabrication, our state-of-the-art facilities, expansive capabilities, and decades of expertise allow us to take on large jobs and materials such as stainless steel and aluminum that many other fabricators can’t.

We work with design and build contractors or design-build engineers, food and beverage processors, contractors, industrial and commercial companies, and those in the municipal and transportation spaces–among others–to complete their next project.

Core Services

Mezzanines & Platforms

  • Mezzanines and Platforms: Custom-designed mezzanines and platforms for various applications, ensuring optimal use of space and enhanced functionality.
  • Equipment Platforms: Durable platforms built to support a wide range of equipment, tailored to your specific requirements.
  • Process Platforms: Specialized platforms designed to facilitate industrial processes, ensuring safety and efficiency.
  • Maintenance Platforms: Safe and reliable maintenance platforms that meet stringent industry standards.

Other Specific Structural Fabrications

  • Truss & Structural Supports: Construction and structural fabrication mainstays like roof truss and other supports.
  • Stainless Steel I-Beams: While usually slow to order and receive, SWF can produce stainless steel I-Beams in-house, to order, faster than you can order them from a catalog.
  • Renovations and Expansions: Any structural framing or construction, including additions, renovations, or support structures to an existing facility
  • Safety and OSHA-Compliant Structures: Railings, catwalks, and crossovers designed to maximize safety and compliance with OSHA regulations.
  • Canopies: From solar carports to municipal infrastructure and awnings, all crafted with precision to meet aesthetic and functional requirements.
  • Roof Dunnage: Equipment platforms designed to distribute weight evenly and support air handling units or machinery, ensuring structural integrity.
  • Aesthetic Structural Steel Applications: Custom projects that blend structural integrity, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, showcasing our creativity and technical prowess, such as the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority awnings project.

Certifications and Compliance

SWF holds ISO 9001:2015 and AISC Building Fabricator certification, among many other compliances and training that have contributed to our award-winning safety program. Our dedicated Quality Department with three inspectors has resulted in our high quality and record low rework hours of 0.6% in 2023.

  • ISO 9001:2005 Certified
  • AISC Building Fabricator Certified
  • NAICS# 332312
  • Compliant with ISNET, Avetta, First Verify, and GRMS Standards
  • Mandatory OSHA Construction and Industry Training for all team members
  • Internal safety program: STOPGO, daily safety audits

The Importance of AISC Certification

SWF is proud to hold the AISC (BU) building fabricator certification, a mark of excellence in the structural steel industry. This certification demonstrates our commitment to quality control and assurance, ensuring that every project meets rigorous industry standards. Our certified expertise guarantees that we deliver structures built to last, with a focus on error prevention and continuous improvement.

“AISC certification confirms to owners, the design community, the construction industry, and public officials that certified participants have the personnel, organization, experience, documented procedures, knowledge, equipment, and commitment to quality control and quality assurance” – American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

We adhere strictly to AISC standards, which means our partners can trust that every project we undertake is executed with precision and care. Our certification is not just a badge of honor but a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality.

Capacity and Capabilities

SWF Industrial has the facilities, advanced equipment and technologies, and certified fabricators to take on complex structural fabrication jobs that are compliant with OSHA and other manufacturing and production guidelines for different industries.

Our 90,000-square-foot facility includes two dedicated stainless steel bays. Our expansive fabrication bay is equipped with 20-ton overhead cranes and a 35-foot ceiling, capable of handling up to 40 tons, enabling us to handle oversized projects with efficiency and ease.

Advanced Equipment & Technology

Our facility is equipped with state-of-the-art tools, including the Prodevco PCR42 plasma cutter, which enhances our ability to deliver precise and efficient fabrication. You can read more about this exciting technology  here, in our article about the Prodevco.

Example Projects & Case Studies

Our portfolio showcases our ability to deliver exceptional results across various industries. Check out our Gallery, which includes photos of in-progress and finished work. Below, is a brief summary of some of our most common structural fabrication applications and a list of case studies that showcase our team’s work.

  • Silos and Conveyor Systems: High-capacity silos of over 40 feet long and extensive single-piece construction conveyor systems of 100 feet demonstrate our capability in large-scale industrial projects.
  • Civil Infrastructure: Stainless steel awnings for public transportation facilities, highlighting our expertise in artistic and functional structural steel applications and other infrastructure projects including stairs and railings.
  • Aluminum Projects for the Food and Beverage Industry: Custom aluminum structures, including racking systems, cross-overs, platforms, equipment bases, and building expansions, designed to meet the specific needs of the food and beverage sector, showcasing our versatility and attention to detail.

Case Studies

Partner With SWF Industrial: Let’s Forge The Future

SWF’s dedication to quality, certified expertise, and advanced capabilities make us the ideal choice for structural fabrication. Our commitment to our Three C’s—Character, Commitment, and Creativity—ensures that every project is executed with excellence and integrity.

Contact SWF today to learn how we can bring your structural fabrication projects to life with precision and excellence.