Capability
Sheet Metal Fabrication Services
Laser cutting, CNC bending, welding and finishing for custom brackets, chassis, enclosures and panels – built to your drawings, from prototype to 50,000 pieces a year.
- Since 1991Metal parts made in our own factory
- 60+ machinesPresses, laser cutters, CNC centres and casting machines
- ISO 9001 + IATF 16949Certified quality management system
- 24-hour quotationDrawing review and DFM feedback on weekdays
Parts we produce
- Enclosures, cabinets and chassis for electrical and industrial equipment
- Brackets, mounting plates, support frames and structural sheet parts
- Control panels, front panels and laser cut faceplates
- Busbar supports, terminal brackets and insulating mounting plates
- Covers, guards, heat shields and EMI shielding shields
- Sheet metal sub-assemblies with welded, riveted or bolted joints
Capability at a glance
| Sheet thickness | 0.5 – 6 mm formed parts; up to 12 mm for laser cut flat parts (mild steel) |
|---|---|
| Maximum part size | 3000 x 1500 mm for cutting and bending |
| Cutting tolerance | ±0.1 mm on laser cut profiles, burr removed on all edges unless specified |
| Bending tolerance | ±0.1 mm on formed dimensions, ±0.5° on bend angle |
| Minimum bend radius | 1.0 x thickness for mild steel, 1.5 x thickness for aluminium 5052 |
| Minimum hole diameter | Equal to material thickness (smaller holes available by punching or drilling) |
| Surface roughness | As-cut Ra 3.2 µm; smoother via deburring, brushing or plating |
| Volume | Prototype and small batch (1-100 pcs) to serial production (up to 50,000 pcs per year) |
| Lead time | Samples 7-15 working days, serial production 3-4 weeks after drawing approval |
Materials we work with
| Material | Typical range and notes |
|---|---|
| Mild steel | SPCC, SPHC, CRS 1008/1010, Q235 – economical, easy to weld, needs coating for corrosion resistance |
| Galvanised steel | SECC, SGCC, DX51D – built-in corrosion resistance, good for indoor enclosures |
| Stainless steel | 304, 316, 316L, 430 – outdoor and chemical environments, food and medical equipment |
| Aluminium | 5052, 6061, 1060 – light weight, good for enclosures, brackets and heat sinks |
| Copper and brass | C11000, C2680, C2801 – for conductive parts, terminals, busbar and contact plates |
| Pre-coated sheet | Galvanised or pre-painted sheet with PVC film protection for visible panels |
How the process runs
1. Drawing and DFM review
Our engineers check the STEP or DWG file for manufacturing risks: hole-to-bend distances, bend reliefs, tolerance stack-up, welding distortion and material availability. You receive the DFM report together with the quotation.
2. Laser cutting / punching
Flat blanks are cut on fibre laser equipment or on stamping tooling when the annual volume justifies it. Nested layouts are optimised so that material yield stays high and your unit price stays low.
3. CNC bending and forming
Parts are formed on CNC press brakes with compensated tooling. Bend sequence and tooling are set from the 3D model, so the first article matches the drawing without manual adjustment.
4. Hardware and machining
PEM inserts, rivet nuts, standoffs, threads and tapped holes are added before finishing. Tapping is done with torque control to avoid stripping thin sheet.
5. Welding and assembly
MIG, TIG, spot and robotic welding are used according to part size and cosmetic requirements. Weld areas are dressed and smoothed where the part is visible.
6. Surface finishing
Zinc or nickel plating, powder coating, anodising, passivation and brushing are available in house or with qualified partners, then packed with protective film where needed.
Design for manufacture: what to check before you send the drawing
- Keep hole-to-bend distance at least 2.5 x thickness plus the bend radius, otherwise the hole deforms during forming.
- Add bend reliefs at the end of each bend line and keep the relief width at least 1 x thickness to prevent tearing.
- Make bend radius at least 1 x thickness for steel and 1.5 x thickness for aluminium, or specify the exact radius you need.
- Uniform thickness across the part is cheaper than a mix of sheet gauges; combine welded plates instead of step thicknesses.
- Avoid tolerances tighter than ±0.1 mm on formed features and ±0.05 mm on machined features – tighter always costs more.
- Call out cosmetic surfaces and the burr direction. "Deburr both sides" plus a visible face instruction prevents rejects.
- For welded frames, add a fixture hole or alignment slot to control distortion instead of relying on welded dimensions alone.
Quality control
The factory operates a quality management system certified to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949. Inspection records, material certificates and coating reports travel with the shipment.
| Stage | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Incoming material | Mill certificates for steel and stainless steel, chemical composition checked for conductive parts |
| First article | Full dimensional report of the first part before serial production starts |
| In-process | Bend angle and critical dimensions checked on every batch; thread gauges for tapped holes |
| Final inspection | CMM or optical measurement for critical features, visual inspection, torque check on hardware |
| Coating test | Coating thickness measurement, salt spray testing for plated and painted parts |
| Test report | Dimensional report, material certificate and coating report available on request |
FAQ
What file formats do you need for a sheet metal quotation?
STEP or IGES for 3D data, plus DWG, DXF or PDF for the 2D drawing with tolerances, material, thickness, surface finish and quantity. If you only have a rough sketch, email it and we will tell you what is missing.
What is the minimum order quantity?
There is no fixed MOQ for fabricated parts. Prototypes and small batches from 1 piece are quoted at higher unit price, and the unit price drops as volume moves into tooling and nesting production.
How fast can I receive a quotation?
Quotations and DFM feedback are sent within 24 hours on weekdays. Simple flat parts are usually quoted the same day.
Can you supply both the sheet metal part and the finishing?
Yes. Cutting, forming, hardware insertion, welding, plating or powder coating, assembly and packing are all handled by one supply chain, so you receive a finished part rather than a semi-finished one.
How do you control quality on a repeat order?
The approved first article, fixture and bend programme are stored against your part number. Repeat orders are produced with the same tooling and checked against the same report, so the part does not change between batches.
Do you ship directly to our factory or warehouse?
Yes. Parts are packed in line with your requirement and shipped from China by express, air or sea freight, door to door, with the documents you need for customs clearance.
Send your drawing, get a quote in 24 hours
STEP, DWG, DXF, PDF or a rough sketch is enough to start. You receive a price, lead time and DFM feedback – no obligation.
Related: materials · tolerances by process · quality control · Sheet metal enclosures · Sheet metal brackets