Introduction
In today’s manufacturing environment, there is a need for higher accuracy, speed, and flexibility than ever before. Every OEM in various fields depends on the seamless production of high-quality metal components to maintain the quality of the equipment they sell. As a result, a strong market has emerged that specializes in providing OEM metal fabrication services, which is essential for scaled-up production and modernization.
This paper seeks to give a clear understanding of OEM metal fabrication by defining it, the various types of metals and technologies used in the process, the benefits that come with OEM metal fabrication, and the factors to consider when choosing a fabrication company.
What is OEM Metal Fabrication?
OEM metal fabrication is the process of creating metal parts and components for a specific OEM based on the exact requirements of the OEM. OEM fabrication is different from the ordinary metal products that are manufactured in large quantities and sold in the market. It deals with the production of parts that are specifically designed to fit a certain product or a certain use.
OEMs are companies that develop and create products that are then built by other manufacturers for use in their products or for resale with their own brand name. The partnership between an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a metal fabrication service provider is a close one, which involves the sharing of information, drawings, and specifications, as well as quality checks to ensure that the fabricated metal parts meet the OEM’s specifications. This is important in many industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical equipment, construction and many others where the performance and strength of the metal parts are critical.
Common Metals Used in OEM Fabrication
In OEM metal fabrication, the choice of the metal material is very important. Each metal has its own characteristics in terms of physical and chemical properties that qualify it for certain uses. The following table shows the comparison of several metals that are frequently used to enable you to make a better comparison:
| Material | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Corrosion Resistance | Density (g/cm³) | Machinability | Recyclability | Cost | Application Areas |
| Steel | 400-1200+ | 250-700+ | Low to Medium | 7.85 | Medium | High | $$ | Building structures, automotive parts, machinery, tools, household appliances, etc. |
| Stainless Steel | 500-1400+ | 200-900+ | High | 7.4-8.0 | Medium | High | $$$ | Medical devices, food processing equipment, chemical equipment, architectural decoration, kitchenware, etc. |
| Aluminum | 70-700+ | 20-600+ | Medium to High | 2.7 | High | High | $$$ | Aerospace, automotive lightweighting, electronic product casings, packaging, building profiles, etc. |
| Copper | 200-400+ | 70-300+ | Medium | 8.96 | High | High | $$$$ | Electrical wires and cables, electronic components, heat exchangers, pipes, architectural decoration, etc. |
| Brass | 300-700+ | 120-500+ | Medium | 8.4-8.7 | High | High | $$$ | Plumbing fittings, valves, locks, decorative items, musical instruments, etc. |
| Titanium | 400-1400+ | 200-1300+ | Very High | 4.5 | Medium | High | $$$$$ | Aerospace, medical implants, chemical equipment, sports equipment, marine engineering, etc. |
| Zinc | 100-300+ | 50-200+ | Medium | 7.14 | High | High | $$ | Electroplating, die-casting parts, battery casings, roofing materials, etc. |
| Magnesium | 150-300+ | 50-200+ | Low | 1.74 | High | High | $$$ | Automotive parts, aerospace, electronic product casings, hand tools, etc. (surface treatment is usually needed to improve corrosion resistance) |
Note: The values and ratings in the table are relative, and specific values can vary greatly depending on the alloy type and processing methods.
The type of metal to be used depends on the application, environment, strength, weight, cost and appearance among other factors. OEM metal fabrication service providers are usually conversant with various types of metals and can advise on the most appropriate one to use.
Core OEM Metal Fabrication Technologies
Transforming raw metal stock into precise components demands a diverse array of specialized technologies and processes. Competent OEM fabricators possess mastery over several core techniques to meet varying design complexities, tolerances, and production volumes. These technologies include:
CNC Machining
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining is an advanced technology of modern precision manufacturing. It involves using computer-controlled machines to remove material from a workpiece (subtractive manufacturing) to achieve highly accurate shapes and dimensions. Key CNC processes include:
- Milling: Uses rotating multi-point cutting tools to remove material from a stationary workpiece. Ideal for creating flat surfaces, slots, pockets, and complex 3D contours.
- Turning: This is the rotation of the workpiece against an unmoving single-point cutting tool. It is mostly used for forming cylindrical or conical shapes, shafts, and threading parts on lathes.
- Grinding: Uses abrasive wheels to obtain a very fine finish, accuracy and extremely tight tolerances.
CNC machining offers outstanding accuracy, repeatability, and complex geometry creation that may be challenging or impossible to achieve manually. It is applicable for prototyping, low-to-high volume production runs, and components that require tight tolerances.
Sheet Metal Fabrication
Sheet metalworking is a process that involves forming thin metal sheets of ta hickness of typically less than 6mm or 1/4 inch into the required shapes and sizes. This is a common technology in many industries for manufacturing enclosures, chassis, brackets, panels, and housings for electronics, home appliances, automobiles, and industrial products. You may also fill out our online contact form for inquiries. Some of the main operations in sheet metal fabrication are as follows:
Cutting
Cutting is the first process of sheet metal working where the metal sheet is separated into the desired shapes and sizes. Common cutting methods include:
- Laser Cutting: It uses a concentrated high energy laser beam to melt, vaporize or burn through the material. Characterized by accuracy, smoothness of the edges, speed, and the ability to work on different types of metals and thicknesses. Less heat affected zone as compared to plasma.
- Plasma Cutting: It uses an electrically charged gas known as plasma to melt and expel material. Quicker than laser for thicker materials but in general has less accuracy and a larger affected zone.
- Waterjet Cutting: Uses a high pressure water jet, which may be mixed with an abrasive material to cut the material. It does not produce a heat affected zone, which is suitable for materials that are heat sensitive. It can cut very thick materials and a variety of metals.
- Shearing: A process of cutting material using blades that are slanted in a manner that enables straight cuts to be made. Good for simple rectangular blanks but only suitable for straight edges.
All of them have their own benefits in terms of accuracy, thickness of the material that can be used and cost.
Punching
Punching is a process that involves the use of a punch press to make holes or slots or to shape the material with the help of a punch and die. CNC turret punch presses are machines that have several tools and can punch holes and shapes in a sheet in a short time. It is useful for parts that need extensive punching or special shapes to be cut out.
Bending
Also known as forming, this is a very important process that is used to make angles, curves, and V-shapes in the sheet metal from the blanks. The most common tools used are the press brakes which use a punch and die to exert force and bend the material. It is important to have precise control of the bend angle, the bend radius and the flange length. Air bending, bottoming and coining are three different techniques that have different levels of precision and force.
Welding
Welding processes are essential for joining separate metal components into a permanent assembly. The choice of welding technique depends on the materials, thickness, required strength, cosmetic appearance, and production volume. Common methods in OEM fabrication include:
- MIG (Metal Inert Gas) / GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding): Uses a continuously fed wire electrode and a shielding gas. Fast, versatile, and relatively easy to automate, suitable for various metals and thicknesses.
- TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) / GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding): Uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and a shielding gas, often with a separate filler rod. Slower than MIG but produces high-quality, precise, and clean welds, ideal for thin materials, stainless steel, and aluminum where appearance is critical.
- Spot Welding (Resistance Spot Welding): Joins overlapping sheets of metal at specific points by applying pressure and electrical current. Common in automotive bodies and appliance manufacturing.
- Laser Welding: Uses a focused laser beam to create deep, narrow welds with minimal heat input. Offers high speed, precision, and suitability for automation.
Surface Treatment
Many of the fabricated metal parts need some sort of finishing after the basic fabrication processes have been completed. It has several functions, including increasing corrosion protection, improving the appearance, increasing wear or abrasion resistance, or preparing the surface for a subsequent process such as painting or bonding. Common treatments include:
- Powder Coating: Spraying and applying dry powder that is charged and then baked to form a hard, smooth, and glossy layer. Environmentally friendlier than liquid paint.
- Liquid Painting: This conventional technique is available in a variety of colors and sheens.
- Plating: This is the process of coating a thin layer of another metal such as zinc, nickel, chromium or tin on the substrate for the purpose of protection from corrosion, enhancement of conductivity or for aesthetic value.
- Anodizing: An electrolytic process mainly for aluminum to form a hard, thick, and anti-corrosive oxide layer. It can be dyed in various colors.
- Passivation: A chemical treatment, usually for stainless steel, to dissolve the free iron and strengthen the natural passive film, thus improving corrosion protection.
- Abrasive Blasting(Sandblasting, Bead Blasting): The process of using an abrasive material to impact the surface to remove contaminants, and smooth edges, or to roughen the surface for better coating bond.
Assembly
OEM metal fabrication is not only limited to the production of single parts but also the joining of different parts to form a complete product or sub-assembly. This can be done by fastening with screws, bolts, rivets or by welding or any other joining technique. OEM fabrication service providers may also provide assembly services to their clients to offer a one-stop shop for manufacturing.
Key Benefits of OEM Metal Fabrication for Your Business
Working with a specialized OEM metal fabricator provides more than just the required parts; it also provides strategic and operational benefits. These benefits are as follows and have a direct bearing on an OEM’s efficiency, profitability and ability to respond to market forces.
Cost-effectiveness
Outsourcing of metal fabrication also reduces the need for large capital investment in equipment, factories and maintenance. OEMs also do not incur the costs of recruiting, training, and maintaining a competent manufacturing workforce. In addition, specialized fabricators may have higher equipment utilization rates and better material purchasing, which could make per-part costs less than in-house production for fluctuating or lower volume. They can also help in improving efficiency of processes, thus cutting on costs such as time and material used in production.
Access to specialized expertise
OEM fabricators are all about metal manufacturing and are well aware of the latest trends in the industry. They have extensive experience in the selection of various materials, an understanding of the peculiarities of various types of fabrication, and an awareness of the latest technologies. OEMs get hold of this pool of expertise – human resources such as technicians, welders, machinists and manufacturing engineers – without having to pay for them in full. This can result in enhanced DFM input for improved product designs, higher quality parts, and resolution of various manufacturing issues.
Improved efficiency
Specialist fabricators are companies that are dedicated to the production of quality products. Their working methods, tools, and timetables are well coordinated to ensure that they produce the best products. This often means that lead times and turnaround can be shorter than what may be possible in a non-specialized, in-house operation that has other responsibilities. Their dedicated project management can also help in the reduction of overall communication and the amount of work that the OEM’s internal teams have to do.
Focus on core business
Perhaps the most significant strategic benefit is that outsourcing fabrication allows OEMs to concentrate their resources – financial, human, and managerial – on their core competencies. These typically include research and development, product innovation, design, branding, marketing, sales, and customer service. By offloading the complexities of manufacturing, OEMs can enhance their competitive edge in areas that truly differentiate their brand and drive market success.
What to Consider when Choosing OEM Fabrication Partner
Selecting the right OEM metal fabrication partner is a critical decision with long-term implications for product quality, supply chain reliability, and overall business performance. A thorough evaluation process is essential. Key factors to consider include:
Experience and Expertise
Look beyond general fabrication claims. Is the potential partner experienced in your line of business or at least in the industry you are operating in (automotive, medical, aerospace)? Have they done similar projects to yours in terms of difficulty, material and precision? Request case studies or references. Determine the technical competence of their team. Do they have specialized knowledge in the key processes that define your parts like intricate metal stamping?
Communication and Project Management
It is important that there is good communication between the two parties in a partnership. Evaluate their communication protocols. Do you have a dedicated contact for your projects? Are they responsive when asked questions and do they take the initiative to follow up on matters? How do they manage change control or any other problems that may arise? A structured project management can approach shows that the company is professional and it can also avoid confusion or time wastage.
Manufacturing Capabilities and Technology
Determine whether their facility and equipment meet your requirements. Does the company have the right kind of equipment? Is the equipment in good condition and up to date with the latest technology available in the market? What is their capacity and can they be able to meet the fluctuations in your demand by increasing or decreasing their production? It is advisable to visit the facility for a tour either virtually or physically to confirm the capacity of the facility.
Quality Control and Assurance
This is non-negotiable. It is also important to examine their quality management system (QMS). Are they compliant to standards such as ISO 9001 or other standards of their respective industries? Learn about their inspection process – first article inspection (FAI), in-process checks, and final inspection. What kind of measuring instruments and equipment do they employ (CMMs, gauges, etc.)? Are they able to provide material traceability and keep records of the same? If possible, request their quality performance metrics.
Cost and Pricing Structure
Of course, price is always an issue, but it is better to focus on value rather than the cheapest option. Make sure that they explain their quoting process and provide a breakdown of the costs of tooling, setup, materials, labor, and finishing. Understand their payment terms. Explain how they manage costs of change in design or change in price of materials. A partner whose strategic goal is to be the low-cost provider may cut on quality or service.
Design and Engineering Support
A valuable partner can offer more than just manufacturing. Assess their ability and willingness to provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback. Can they review your designs and suggest modifications to improve quality, reduce cost, or streamline production? Do they offer prototyping services? Early collaboration with a knowledgeable fabricator can yield significant benefits downstream.
Lead Times and Delivery
Reliable delivery is crucial for maintaining your production schedules. Inquire about their typical lead times for projects similar to yours. Evaluate their historical on-time delivery performance – ask for data if available. Understand their capacity planning and how they manage scheduling. Assess their logistics capabilities and experience in shipping to your locations. How do they handle expedited requests if needed?
Partner with TZR for Quality Sheet Metal Fabrication
When the success of your products hinges on the precision and reliability of metal components, TZR is your ideal manufacturing partner. As a leading sheet metal company proficient in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass, we cater to the demanding needs of the automotive, medical, 3D printer, and renewable energy sectors. Our expertise ensures material suitability and high-quality results with tight tolerances, products backed by a 98% qualification rate, meeting ISO 9000 standards.
TZR offers comprehensive solutions from design support (DfM) and prototyping to advanced manufacturing technologies like laser cutting, CNC punching, plasma cutting, and precision bending. Our streamlined internal processes allow us to complete large-scale orders efficiently, with a typical turnaround time of 7-20 days. This, coupled with our more than 12 in-house surface finishes, ensures efficient production and faster time-to-market. We are dedicated to providing competitive, high-value solutions for SMEs needing customized, high-quality metal parts, especially during design and production transitions. Partner with TZR to experience the difference.
Conclusion
OEM metal fabrication is an indispensable service enabling manufacturers across countless industries to bring innovative and reliable products to market. By leveraging the specialized capabilities of external partners, OEMs can achieve significant cost savings, gain access to advanced technologies and expertise, improve operational efficiency, and maintain a strategic focus on their core business activities.
Ultimately, a successful OEM-fabricator relationship is a strategic partnership built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to quality and excellence, driving mutual success in a competitive marketplace. Securing the right fabrication partnerships is fundamental to achieving manufacturing objectives.
FAQS
Q: How does OEM metal fabrication ensure quality?
A: OEM metal fabrication ensures quality through an ISO-certified quality management system, strict raw material inspection, precise machining equipment, and routine quality control procedures to guarantee each product meets the required standards.
Q: What information is required for OEM metal fabrication?
A: Customers typically need to provide detailed information, including design drawings, dimensions, material requirements, surface treatment specifications, quantities, and other relevant details.
Q: Do OEM metal fabrication factories offer transportation and logistics services?
A: Many OEM metal fabrication factories provide a full range of services from production to delivery, including packaging, transportation, and logistics support, ensuring that parts are delivered to the customer on time.
Q: Can OEM metal fabrication support rapid prototyping?
A: Yes, many OEM metal fabrication factories offer rapid prototyping services, using methods such as 3D printing, rapid casting, or small-batch production to help customers quickly validate designs and functionality.
