Trends and Technologies in Improving Metal Fabrication

Even thousands of years after humans first began working with metal, we are still honing our metal fabrication skills and coming up with brand-new tools and technologies that allow us to develop unique, groundbreaking creations.

Here’s a quick look at some of the current trends and technologies that are taking the world of custom steel fabrication by storm in Indiana.

Automation and CNC

Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are not at all new to the metal fabrication industry. However, what is new is the automation being used to control them.

Until relatively recently, it was necessary for humans to program these machines to function properly. However, automation is being incorporated to a greater extent than ever into CNC functionality, which increases efficiency and productivity. This reduces the risk of repetitive motion and stress injuries for human employees and provides them with other opportunities to focus on in their careers.

Robotics

Advances in robotics continue to occur, and the latest trend we’re seeing is an increase in collaborative robotics. Collaborative robots, also known as “cobots,” are seeing a lot of use in tasks that can be tedious or potentially dangerous. These devices can work alongside team members or enter areas where workers should ideally not have to go themselves.

Cybersecurity

As new technologies, particularly digital technologies, continue to see wider adoption in the world of metal fabrication, the necessity for cybersecurity protocols to be put in place has increased. Networks driving fabrication operations must remain secure, and potential cyberattacks could prove devastating to fabrication facilities that have not taken the appropriate steps to protect themselves.

Just several years ago, manufacturing was one of the most frequently hacked industries in the world, and this forced these companies to start taking a tech-focused approach to their security to ensure safety and quality for workers and customers alike.

Increased digitization

The fabrication industry has been slower than other industries to adopt the digital spread we’ve seen throughout the world as a whole. However, business owners in the industry are now beginning to embrace digitized technology (along with the cybersecurity mentioned above), and are focused on doing so in ways that do not completely eliminate the human factor that is involved with fabrication work.

3D printing

It doesn’t feel like all that long ago that proponents of 3D printing were scoffed at by longtime industry figures. However, the technology for 3D printing has rapidly evolved to the point where it’s not just hobbyists who are big advocates for it—it now has a major place in the fabrication world. This is due in large part to its versatility in a wide range of industries. There are nearly limitless applications for 3D printing, as well as additive manufacturing, in the world of metal fabrication, and its prevalence is only expected to increase.

Interested in learning more about the trends in tech for custom steel fabrication in Indiana? We encourage you to reach out to the professional steel fabricators at Benchmark Fabricated Steel with any questions you have.

Categorised in: Metal Fabricators

This post was written by Writer