The recent worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted numerous businesses and consumers in many ways, one of which is confusion regarding which businesses are deemed “essential” and will remain open while others either shutter temporarily or suspend certain services. The metal fabrication world has been impacted as well, but recent developments at the federal government level have brought some clarity here.

At Cypress Metals, we’re proud to provide a variety of custom metal design and metal fabrication services of everything from chimney covers and chimney caps to cupolas, range hoods and many other materials. Recently, the US Department of Homeland Security deemed “metal manufacturing” part of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce – let’s go over what this means for the industry, plus a couple areas of metal fabrication that have become even more important during this outbreak.

“Essential” Definition and Metal Fabrication

Under the guidelines linked above, metal manufacturing is essential within several “critical” manufacturing operations. These operations include:

• The manufacturing of metals like steel and aluminum, plus materials and products need for supply chains associated with food, agriculture and related fields.
• Manufacturing and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure needed for mining production and various distribution networks.
• Workers required to maintain continuity of the above manufacturing functions and all related supply chains.

Now, it’s important to note that the document in question is intended to provide guidance to state and local jurisdictions. That said, due to the vital role these areas play in important pandemic response areas like food supplies and others, they are generally being followed around the country.

Feed and Grain Storage

Feed and grain storage are hugely important areas within agriculture, with contamination prevention serving as a particularly vital need. A single poor weld or rust spot on fabricated metals could compromise a full silo of feed and grain due to moisture or other contaminant exposure, risking entire harvests being lost – but quality metal fabricators create products that prevent these risks entirely.

Through techniques like hot-dip galvanizing (for corrosion resistance), various welding formats and several fabrication detail/ling methods, a fabricator will eliminate any potential for structural issues in agricultural settings. Fabricators are happy to play this important role in maintaining safe storage and transportation of food, water and feed.

Infrastructure Areas

In addition, metal fabricators provide materials for other important infrastructure areas, such as HVAC and pollution control that are even more vital during a disease outbreak. They help manufacture products and materials for medical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and various medical supply chains. In addition, they manufacture numerous pieces of equipment that directly support other essential services, plus increases in remote workforce materials like computing and communication devices.

For more on why metal fabricators have been deemed essential during the COVID-19 outbreak, or to learn about any of our metal fabrication or laser cutting services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the vital safety precautions that must be taken by metal fabricators on a daily basis. Precision metal cutting, shearing and other related services can carry risks if they are not performed using proper safety precautions, which must be understood and put into practice by all employees in a given fabrication facility.

At Cypress Metals, we’re proud to observe stringent safety requirements for all our metal fabrication processes, from chimney caps and chimney covers to pots, cupolas, range hoods and numerous other products. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few additional themes and areas our metal fabrication professionals are constantly adhering to when it comes to safety during metal fabrication.

General Cleanliness and Related Methods

Just like many other industrial facilities or production areas, one potential safety risk is clutter and mess on the floor or other major areas of the facility. You’d be surprised just how much even a few out-of-place items might lead to hazards based on proximity to machinery and other unseen risks. Even a single small mistake in general housekeeping could lead to a major accident with such high-powered equipment nearby.

For this reason, we practice several areas of decluttering and general organization. These include:

• Using industry quality control standards, regularly organizing and decluttering the facility.
• Removing piles of scrap metal or any other items that have begun to pile up on the floor or other common work spaces.
• Making sure all tools are properly stored and marked.
• Stacking all boxes or other items clear of walkways, emergency exits or common employee routes.
• Storing heavy or potentially dangerous equipment in safe areas, including those where employees do not have to stoop or strain to pick them up.

Covering OSHA Requirements

The OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a US government agency that regulates metal fabrication and numerous other industrial areas. It has a variety of standards that must be met in such facilities, many of which relate to items like ladders, stairs, platforms and a variety of equipment pieces that might be present in the facility.

Creating a Reputation

Through many of the methods we’ve outlined in this series, the best metal fabricators – including ours – build up a reputation for safety and effective processes. This, in turn, leads to limited employee turnover and more attention from the top workers in the field, who always want to work for reliable companies that treat employee safety as a top priority. Areas that help improve safety reputation include posting diagrams and charts, providing detailed employee training, and consistently reinforcing safety and training methods to existing employees.

For more on vital safety procedures taken by top metal fabricators, or to learn about any of our metal fabrication or other services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.

As with any industry where heavy items and potentially hazardous machinery are used on a regular basis, safety is a vital concern for those in the metal fabrication world. Precision metal cutting, shearing and various fabrication services carry risks if they are not performed correctly and with proper safety precautions taken.

At Cypress Metals, we take great pride in the safety measures taken throughout our facilities and services, from fabricated chimney covers and caps to our laser cutting areas, sheet metal fabrication and many others. In fact, many top clients in the fabrication realm will even investigate a given manufacturer’s safety practices, which are often an indicator of overall quality. With this in mind, our two-part blog series beginning today will dig into some of the vital safety precautions that must be taken by any metal fabricator, from materials and equipment to training and other important themes.

Equipment and Guards

First and foremost, it’s essential for any metal fabricator to have the proper safety equipment and guards present in their facility at all times. This begins with the presence of important features like safety guards, emergency shutoff switches and protective equipment for all employees (plus extras on hand).

In addition, at Cypress Metals, we place significant weight on organization and a general culture of safety. Employees are trained to always keep tools or pieces of equipment in their proper location, plus to ensure no scrap metal or other materials build up in the wrong places. We always stack boxes or store heavy equipment out of walkways, plus in areas that are safe for employee access.

Workforce Education and Training

We mentioned training a moment ago, and it’s another vital piece of this puzzle. All the best safety equipment in the world will only do so much if the individuals using it are not trained on how to properly do so.

This involves specific training on all equipment or tools through licensed trainers. Not only should employees be trained on the proper usage of a given piece of equipment, but also its safety hazards and all precautions to take while the item is in use. Employees should also be trained on basic facility practices in terms of storage, posture and other simple areas.

Employee Satisfaction

Another area you may not necessarily connect to employee safety, but one that has several direct links, is employee satisfaction. We’re referring here not only to a positive, friendly work environment, but also to areas like good health coverage, positive relationships between managers and staffers, and other related themes. Employees who feel safe and cared for will be more consistent in their work across the board, from production levels to safety practices.

For more on how quality metal fabricators like ours at Cypress Metal maintain safety at all times, or to learn about any of our metal fab services, speak to our staff today.

For those in any industrial field, the last couple years have provided some stress points when it comes to metals like steel and aluminum. While steel costs have stabilized a bit in 2019, large tariffs on imported steel and aluminum in 2017 and 2018 meant that manufacturers had to take more care to improve their return on investment when dealing with these metals, steel in particular.

At Cypress Metals, our sheet metal fabrication and other custom metal design services will help you assess every detail of the process and bring back a strong ROI for all steel-related projects. Let’s go over a few ROI-related areas many manufacturers are focused on, plus how our processes help streamline things for you in these areas.

Descaling Issues

In areas where you have to store steel for long periods of time, one of the issues that sometimes comes up is the formation of oxide scale on steel surfaces, sometimes minor but occasionally significant levels as well. These oxides can damage the qualities of steel, opening it up to risks of corrosion or weakness that manufacturers can’t afford.

Luckily, full-service metal fabricators are qualified to assist with this sort of thing. This is done in a process called descaling, which involves pickling applications and heat combined, then scrubbing that helps remove the sludge areas. Finally, descaling involves rinsing and finishing the steel in nitric-hydrofluoric acid.

Galvanization

In many situations, we’ll even help you ward off these oxidization issues before they ever form in the first place. This is through one of a few processes, the most common of which is hot-dip galvanization – a process that creates a zinc layer around the entire steel surface, making it resistant to corrosion at every point, even edges and crevices.

Hot-dip galvanization is often a huge benefit in terms of steel-related ROI. It can increase steel value in several ways:

• Allowing for outdoor construction due to resistance to corrosion or weather.
• Preparing for utility uses like electrical transmission towers or similar areas.
• Protecting stairs, ladders and other industrial areas from wear and damage over time.
• Preventing embrittlement due to age, including the kind that can crack steel over a long enough period of exposure.
• Limiting damage due to friction on various working components.

Welding Measures

In addition to dealing with oxidization, welding is a vital part of steel ROI. The right welding techniques must be applied before hot-dip galvanization to avoid cracking of the zinc or other negative reactions if this process isn’t don in the right order. Welding QC areas that will help add ROI to your steel include:

• Ensuring matching thickness for the zinc coating from hot-dip galvanization, so long as the welding is done before the galvanizing process.
• Post-galvanization techniques that will remove zing from welds and weld zones while protecting the surface area from corrosion.
• “Push” welding techniques are preferred over “pull” techniques, allowing for a flatter bead and better penetration qualities.

For more on how metal fabrication services will help raise your steel project ROI, or to learn about any of our metal fab or laser cutting services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.

Modern technology continues to benefit several major industries in significant ways, and the metal fabrication world is no exception. Recent advances like 3D printing, laser tube technology and various automation tools are changing the way fabrication processes are carried out in many areas, improving efficiency in several.

At Cypress Metals, we’re here to remind you that behind all the high-level tech that goes into sheet metal fabrication and other metal fabrication methods is a high degree of human expertise. No matter what level of technology becomes infused into our industry, you need experienced quality fabricators who understand the fundamentals and how to apply the technology in proper ways. In today’s blog, we’ll look at several of the vital steps our full-service metal fabrication professionals help you complete properly, plus the problems our services help prevent before they ever crop up.

Vital Steps to Metal Fabrication

To be sure your design concepts and visions for the project translate into the proper components without any issue, a process for metal fabrication must be followed. Even a small mistake in one area here can lead to a failed inspection or a need to restart the entire project, and those with expertise in the industry are trained on how to spot the signs of these issues.

Here’s a broad look at the steps included in a custom metal fabrication project:

• Original concept design
• Specific fabrication design
• Product design
• Engineering and prototyping
• Fabrication

Issues Prevented by Full-Service Fabrication

Now, the steps we just laid out above are very general. Each of those areas includes several additional steps, and a metal fabrication project will involve areas like forming, cutting, assembling, finishing and installing the finished work. During these various parts of the process, a number of logistical issues may pop up – here’s how a full-service team that works together for your project helps avoid several of them:

• Pollution: Ensuring projects are completed in green, efficient ways requires pros who know the right materials, finishing requirements and welding standards. Without this, your project may not meet code during inspections.
• OSHA concerns: The OSHA is an incredibly strict regulatory body, one that can ding you for issues as small as ladders, safety cages, rails or landings. Every single metal component must be fabricated properly.
• Bulk storage: Custom-fabricated metal accessories are vital for the bulk storage industry.
• Cost-efficiency: Maybe the top single benefit of hiring an experienced, full-service metal fabrication company is the ability to streamline your material handling. We’ll oversee each individual measurement required for your project, plus help move specialized materials through the process without any damage or waste that might show up in other less organized arrangements.

For more on the issues a full-service metal fabrication team can hep prevent, or to learn about any of our metal roofs or fabrication services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.

At Cypress Metals, we’re extremely proud of our high-quality metal roofing materials. Produced using only experienced fabrication experts and welders, we can create custom metal roofing options that fit your every need, including several important processes you may require before installation.

Why should you be considering a metal roof for your home or business? There are actually several reasons, and each of them at least touches on one overarching theme: Financial benefits. That’s right, not only can a metal roof provide the absolute best protection and efficiency for your structure, it can save you money in the process. Here are some reasons why this is the case.

Energy Efficiency

This is an area we’ve detailed before in this space, so we won’t go too far into the weeds, but the basics are these: Metal roofs have an enormous impact on energy savings due to their light weight, durability, reflection capabilities and their recyclability. With more and more states passing laws regarding energy-efficient roofing materials, and these guidelines around the country getting stricter every year, these benefits are huge.

They also impact your wallet in a big way. A metal roof can often lower your heating and electric costs by up to 20 percent compared to other roofing materials, a massive savings in many cases. These roofs are easy to vent and insulate as needed, including installation over previously insulated attics.

Durability and Maintenance

Another big way metal roofs save you money? Through their extremely limited maintenance or repair needs. You won’t find a more durable roofing product than our fabricated metal, and this means that instead of more common roofing damage and resulting repairs, you’ll get a roof that stands the test of time and holds up to the elements throughout the year.

Not only does this save you money you might have spent in the past, it can go a long way toward increasing home value if you ever choose to sell. One big factor in home sales is “curb appeal,” which refers to the visual first impressions a buyer gets when they come for a tour – a pristine metal roof with zero imperfections gives off a much better look than another material that’s missing shingles or is otherwise damaged.

Style, Color and Home Value

Down similar lines, modern metal roofing materials have the versatility to match any style. They can be made to mimic other materials like tile or shingles, and can now be made in virtually any color scheme you desire. If keeping your home looking great so the curb appeal stays high is a priority for you, metal roofing offers all the options you need.

For more on how metal roofs impact you positively from a financial perspective, or to learn about any of our metal fabrication services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.

As your top source for metal fabrication, laser cutting and other custom sheet metal design services, we at Cypress Metals proudly invite prospective customers to compare us to our competition. Any good manufacturer or other business manager will properly research all their options before hiring a metal fabricator, and we want you to get the best services possible – services we’re confident our professional staff and long track record of happy customers will showcase as you perform this research.

If you’ve never gone about this process before, you may be unsure of which qualities to prioritize in your metal fabricator. Let’s go over some of the prominent features we think are most important within this world, plus why they matter and what you should ask about them as you look around for the best choice.

Specific Experience

It’s important to note that specific experience producing a given part or project isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can often be a major assist. There’s a shorter learning curve, and the job will often have several easy templates that will be simpler for your fabricator to look through.

In the end, this area tends to come down to the details. The wrong material recommendation could torpedo an otherwise optimal project, or the wrong choice of stress tolerance could do the same even if every other detail is aligned perfectly. This is why it’s important to hire a staff with highly experienced engineers who can catch these details well before they become an issue.

Versatility in Skills and Tools

At Cypress Metals, we have everything you need for custom metal fabrication under one roof. Not only do we have a large and robust workspace and all the proper tools, we only hire staff who are well-trained and knowledgeable in each of these areas.

This isn’t just a convenience area – it’s a cost area, as well. Incomplete metal fabrication warehouses might require other companies to outsource parts of their work, which not only takes longer to get your job done but often costs more as well. And on top of that, there’s never a guarantee as to the quality control of this third-party source. By hiring professionals like ours, though, you get this entire process done in one step, with in-house quality inspection that holds all projects to our high standards and nothing less.

Communication Considerations

Finally, you need a metal fabricator that emphasizes communication. Too many failed fabrication projects become that way due to a poor relationship between the manufacturer and the vendor, one where each side considers the other responsible for the relationship but not vice versa. Instead, we invest in every job we do, taking the time to learn about your business and your target demographics so when we complete your job, we prioritize the same things you do. In essence, hiring our pros will really just bring you an extended arm of your own organization – just with the additional skills you need for metal fabrication.

To learn more about any of our metal fab or laser cutting services, speak to the pros at Cypress Metals today.

In part one of this two-part blog, we went over some of the primary myths out there related to custom metal fabrication. This is a complex and detailed field, and unfortunately a few such misconceptions have come up over time based on a lack of knowledge from some parties.

At Cypress Metals, we’re here to help with all your fabrication needs, from sheet metal fabrication services to metal siding and roofing, range hoods and much more. Today, we’ll go over some of the most common myths related to contractors, costs and third-party inspections for these kinds of fabrication services.

Myth #4: The Lowest Cost Means the Best Deal

Like many other industrial processes, the world of metal fabrication involves various bids from different contractors, which are given after they’re provided with basic details about the work required. We absolutely recommend that you shop around for multiple bids – we know our services and pricing will stack up excellently against the competition.

When engaging in this process, it’s very important to note that you’re not simply looking for the lowest price and saying yes immediately. Not all fabrication contractors are of the same quality, or even offer the same services – some have many hidden costs involved in their processes, including poor quality control, limited communication or issues with hiring subcontractors. You’re looking for full-service companies that are transparent about their offerings and interested in learning more about your business.

Myth #5: Product Inspections Aren’t a Big Deal

Another major area you should be prioritizing in your search for a fabrication contractor is quality control and inspections. These experts are part of any good fabrication staff, and can work with third-party inspectors to make sure all products meet code and are completely safe. This includes welding protocols and standards in both the US and Canada (they differ between the two countries).

In addition, there should be documentation presented for everything in this realm. Photographs and/or paperwork can be sent to you for approval before shipping of any products.

Myth #6: There’s No Third-Party Verification

Down similar lines, a common misconception in this world is that fabrication is the Wild West – companies police themselves and have no legitimate oversight. Simply put, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Rather, there are numerous government regulations and safety reports required, including OSHA regulations and other compliance requests. How your fabrication professionals manage and handle these various requirements goes a long way toward the eventual success of your project. Choose professionals who understand how to navigate all the details here, including knowledge on important industry standards and comfort with third-party inspectors.

For more on dispelling the myths surrounding metal fabrication, or to learn about any of our laser cutting or other services, speak to the pros at Cypress Metals today.