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Browse our collection of articles, covering a wide range of topics and ideas.

Featured Articles

Where to Get Sheet Metal Parts

There are tens of thousands of sheet metal shops scattered throughout the United States, each with a different combination of capabilities and services. Here is our review of a handful of shops that make the ordering experience quick and easy.

Why operating at scale lets metal fabricators ship faster

Queues are a fact of life, and it’s really a shame. It means as demand grows, customers have a worse experience. Nobody likes waiting in line. Yet a healthy backlog is in some ways desirable for manufacturers. It’s nice to know that you’ll keep your people busy for the next several weeks. It’s great for the shop, but less so for the customer. This uneasy tension between manufacturers and customers creates a sort of balance.

What software automation means for custom fabrication

OSH Cut is different, but is it disruptive to the sheet metal manufacturing industry?

Steel Prices are Dropping in 2022

Beginning roughly in November 2020, steel prices increased dramatically, with costs peaking at 2.5x pre-COVID levels by November 2021. In the months following, prices stabilized and have dropped 33%. Prices still exceed previous levels by a factor of 2, but they appear to be recovering.

Latest Articles

Steel Prices Increased Dramatically in 2021

Driven by high demand and persistent supply-chain issues, steel prices increased dramatically in 2021. Price increases have affected the entire supply-chain, from material rationing at mills, to long service center leads, and finally increases in product costs.

Understanding the impact of tariffs on metal fabrication businesses

Tim Heston, Caleb Chamberlain, Lance Thrailkill, and Cody Lee discuss tariff implications, diversification strategies, and adaptability within the evolving manufacturing landscape.

The metal fabrication business, accelerated with tech

Columnist Caleb Chamberlain recalls the days of the IBM-compatible computer, massive calculators, and a starkly different time in U.S. manufacturing. Things have changed—and mostly for the better.

The emergence of private equity and vibe coding in fabrication

From the surge of co-bots and advanced automation tools on display to the practical challenges of integrating and maintaining them, FABTECH revealed just how fast the industry is evolving.

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Practical approaches to using AI in manufacturing and fabrication

As tariffs and reshoring continue to stir uncertainty and volatility, Tim, Caleb, and Lance talk about how fabricators are looking for ways to stay competitive and agile. AI and automation are emerging as powerful tools, with the potential to transform everything from quoting and scheduling to sales and customer service in manufacturing.

OrcaVue: From Backyard Stunts to Market Leaders in 360 Photo Booths

OrcaVue, the market leader in the photo booth industry, has revolutionized the event experience with their slow-motion glamor booths. Founded by engineering graduate Daniel Rosenberry and his brother, OrcaVue started as a way to capture captivating moments with just one camera. With a commitment to innovation, customer service, and quality - OrcaVue is set to lead and create more categories within entertainment.

Optimizing metal manufacturing performance like Formula One racing

Engineers and analysts in performance racing and financial planning use Monte Carlo simulations and data to predict outcomes of incredibly complicated scenarios. Soon, more fabricators might be doing the same.

Next-generation metal fabrication

This month’s Tech Talk gives a preview of Next-Gen Metal Fab, FMA’s newest podcast, with episodes featuring conversations between Senior Editor Tim Heston and Caleb Chamberlain, founder of Utah-based custom fabricator OSH Cut.

Moving shop in metal fabrication

Columnist Caleb Chamberlain backward casts his eye, to quote Robert Burns, and delves into the challenges of moving shop, laying bare the best-laid plans of mice and men.

Modernizing Sheet Metal Processes

Digital tech has transformed sheet metal manufacturing, and it is changing sheet metal ordering processes as well. Sheet metal parts can now be ordered quickly and easily, with fast lead-times, lower prices, and minimal overhead.