Differences Between Sheet Metal Fabrication and Ironwork

Blog | November 22nd, 2018

If you don’t already have a background in metal fabrication you might end up conflating different subsets of the industry with one another. Today, we are going to be highlighting the key differences between sheet metal fabrication and ironwork. Our goal today will be to outline what you can expect to get from a sheet metal fabrication team as well as what you can expect from an ironworker. We’ll outline each aspect of the industry before touting their specific goals. With this knowledge, you’ll be ready to get your project up and off of the ground.

Sheet Metal Fabrication Vs. Ironwork

At a glance, sheet metal fabrication and ironwork can be two similar forms of metal-working. With that being said, there IS a rather fundamental difference between the two jobs in terms of the actual process itself and the materials involved. Let’s outline the two different processes so that we can understand their core differences.

1) What Does An Ironworker Do?

Back when ironworking first came into existence, the primary goal of the field was to work with wrought iron. Skilled laborourers would work with only iron in order to make all manner of projects a reality. You’d find ironworkers building bridges buildings, and even amusement parks. Basically, any project that was primarily built of iron would require an ironworker. Nowadays, ironworkers are still plying their trade but they also use other metals, as well.

Types of Ironworkers: Ornamental, Structural and Reinforcing Ironworkers

2) What Is Sheet Metal Fabrication?

Sheet metal fabricators are absolutely essential to basically every type of industry on Earth. Skilled fabricators work in shops both large and small in order to handle different types of metals as they form their material into the desired outcome of their project. Sheet metal fabrication entails working with tensile strengths, different metal qualities, and finally different fabrication methods. You’ll find sheet metal fabrication experts working in essentially every field on Earth. Sheet metal fabrication experts can specialise in a number of different subsets of the field. Typically, these experts will work with aluminium, steel, zinc, stainless steel and more.

Types of Sheet Metal Fabricators: Metalwork Maintenance, Installation, Fabrication.

3) What Are The Primary Differences?

As you can see, both metal-working fields are incredibly similar in a number of different ways. Both professionals will work with and render metal into the desired shape of their customers. Sheet metal workers tend to work with more dynamic materials and they are tasked with handling more aspects of the construction process. Ironworkers are typically focused on working with iron though they occasionally branch out into other metals.

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