Bespoke steelwork does not always finish at the workshop door. For many industrial projects, fabrication is one part of a wider job that also includes delivery, positioning and assembly at the customer’s site.
That connection between workshop and site matters. A fabrication may be produced accurately, but it must also be practical to handle, transport and assemble in its final location. Thinking about those requirements throughout the work helps support a more controlled installation.
Fabricating for the final location
Industrial sites can present very different working conditions. Existing plant, restricted access, operating areas and the sequence of other work may all affect how fabricated steelwork reaches its final position.
The fabrication and assembly approach therefore needs to reflect the particular job. Depending on the design and site requirements, steelwork may be delivered as a completed item or divided into practical sections for final assembly on site.
Relevant considerations can include:
- The dimensions and weight of individual sections
- Available access to the installation area
- How components will be handled and positioned
- The order in which sections need to be assembled
- Interfaces with existing structures, plant or equipment
- The project drawings and specified connection details
These are project-specific matters, but they illustrate why workshop fabrication and site assembly should be treated as connected stages of the same delivery.
Accurate preparation in the workshop
Good site assembly begins with controlled workshop work. Material preparation, fabrication, welding and fit-up all contribute to whether the separate parts come together as intended.
Experienced fabricators work from the relevant engineering information to produce the required components and assemblies. Dimensional control and careful checking are particularly important where several fabricated sections must meet on site or connect to existing steelwork.
The objective is straightforward: each part should reach site ready for the next planned stage of the job.
Completing the assembly on site
Once delivered, fabricated sections may need to be lifted or moved into position, aligned and connected in accordance with the project requirements. Site conditions and the agreed method of work determine how this is carried out.
Using a fabricator with both workshop and site experience provides continuity between these stages. The team understands how the steelwork was produced and how its separate sections are intended to form the completed assembly.
This is valuable for structures such as access platforms, walkways, ladders, handrails, pipe bridges, frames, tanks, hoppers and ducting, where the final result may rely on several fabricated elements coming together correctly.
Bespoke industrial fabrication from WM Codd
Based in Barton-upon-Humber, WM Codd provides bespoke fabrication and installation support for customers in oil, gas and heavy industry. Our experienced team produces steelwork for demanding industrial applications and can support the work through to assembly on site.
If you have a fabrication requirement that includes site installation or final assembly, speak to WM Codd about the drawings, site conditions and scope of work.