DGF Engineering Limited
VerifiedFounding Member
Premium
Subcontract machining for all sectors
Waterjet Cutting
CNC Milling (3-axis)
CNC Milling (4-axis)
+5
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
Buyer categories
Metals & Fabrication
Sheet metal, welding, cutting, presswork and forming across the UK metal fabrication supply chain. Castings sit under Castings & Forgings; finishing under Surface Finishing & Treatments.
Relevant UK suppliers
Metals & Fabrication companies
Industrial Connected suppliers with recorded capabilities relevant to metals & fabrication.
Birds Precision
Verified
Core
Precision CNC machined components for a multitude of industries
CNC Press Braking
Laser Cutting (flat sheet)
Welding & Fabrication (MIG / TIG / MMA)
+7
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
Bespoke Industrial ltd
VerifiedFounding Member
Core
Designed. Manufactured. Delivered.
Architectural Metalwork
Structural Steelwork (BS EN 1090)
Welding & Fabrication (MIG / TIG / MMA)
+12
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
Contechs Materials Handling LTD
Verified
Core
Materials Handling and Prototype Services
Presswork & Stamping
Welding & Fabrication (MIG / TIG / MMA)
Industrial Racking & Shelving Supply
+7
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
Sumac Precision Engineering Limited
Verified
Core
Precision CNC Machining & Engineering Solutions for High-Performance Industries
Laser Cutting (flat sheet)
CNC Milling (3-axis)
CNC Turning
+5
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
Redhill Manufacturing Ltd
Verified
Core
Manufacturers of storage, access and material handling equipment solving H&S requirements
CNC Press Braking
Laser Cutting (flat sheet)
Laser Cutting (tube)
+8
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
PMP Laser Technology
Verified
Core
Laser Welding, Laser Engraving and Precision Polishing Services
Laser Welding
Laser Engraving
Precision Polishing
Full profile, capabilities and contact available to members
How suppliers appear on this page
- Suppliers must qualify for the public Supplier Marketplace to be listed here.
- Relevance to metals & fabrication is based primarily on the capabilities a supplier has recorded.
- Where a capability match is ambiguous, it may be AI-assisted and is then administratively reviewed.
- Verification and membership badges are shown individually on each card.
- This is not an editorial ranking of the "best" companies.
Categories in this group
24 totalSheet MetalWeldingLaser CuttingWaterjet CuttingPressworkMetal FormingTube & Pipe BendingTube Laser CuttingPlasma CuttingWaterjet CuttingPress BrakingSection & Plate RollingStructural SteelworkArchitectural MetalworkSheet Metal SubcontractHeavy FabricationPressure Vessel FabricationCladding & Weld OverlayRobotic WeldingOrbital WeldingLaser WeldingBrazing & SolderingHot-Dip GalvanisingShot Peening
Overview
Cut, formed and fabricated metal
Metals & Fabrication covers the UK supply chain that turns raw metal into finished parts and assemblies - from sheet metal enclosures and welded frames to investment castings and surface-finished components.
When to use
- You need enclosures, brackets, frames or structural metalwork
- You require castings in aluminium, steel or specialist alloys
- You need cutting, forming or pressing in volume
- You need finishing - powder coating, plating, anodising, heat treatment
What to look for
- Capability for the material grade and thickness you need
- In-house finishing vs. subcontracted (affects lead time and price)
- Welding qualifications (BS EN ISO 9606, coded welders for regulated industries)
- Quality systems - ISO 9001, EN 1090 for structural steelwork
Buying guide
How to buy metals & fabrication
Fabrication is process-driven: cut, form, weld, finish. Lead time and price are dictated by which steps stay in-house and which get subcontracted.
- 01Lock the design intent
Issue flat patterns, weld symbols, bend allowances and finished assembly drawings. Ambiguous welding callouts cause more disputes than anything else.
- 02Choose the right process
Laser plus press brake for prototypes and low volumes; presswork for high volumes; waterjet for thick plate or heat-sensitive materials.
- 03Pin down welding qualifications
If parts are structural, pressurised or regulated, name the welder qualification (BS EN ISO 9606), procedure (WPS / WPQR) and inspection level (visual, dye pen, radiographic).
- 04Specify finishing as part of the brief
Reference RAL for powder coat, BS EN ISO 1461 for galvanising, BS EN ISO 7599 for anodising, plus salt spray hours where corrosion matters.
- 05Agree packaging and delivery
Sharp-edged or coated parts damage easily. Specify interleaving, crating and Incoterms before quoting.
Typical services
Services offered in Metals & Fabrication
The service lines suppliers in this category typically deliver.
Laser, waterjet and plasma profilingCNC press brake forming and bendingMIG, TIG and robotic weldingSheet metal enclosure and bracket fabricationStructural steelwork and weldmentsPresswork and metal formingIn-house finishing or subcontracted powder coat
Certifications required
Standards and accreditations to look for
These are the third-party certifications buyers commonly ask suppliers in this category to hold. Industrial Connected Verification is a separate check of company identity and credentials, and approved certifications uploaded by a supplier also contribute towards their Trust Score.
ISO 9001
Baseline quality system across UK fabricators.
EN 1090
CE / UKCA marking of structural steel and aluminium.
BS EN ISO 3834
Welding quality requirements for fusion welding of metals.
BS EN ISO 9606
Coded welder qualification for regulated industries.
ISO 14001
Environmental management for sites running paint and finishing.
Typical lead times
Lead times in Metals & Fabrication
A realistic starting point for planning. Actual lead times depend on volume, material availability, finishing, inspection requirements and current supplier load. Confirm in writing on every quote.
Lead times typically range from two weeks for laser parts to twelve weeks for complex weldments.
Supplier checklist
How to vet a metals & fabrication supplier
Run through this checklist with any candidate supplier before awarding work. If they cannot evidence an item, treat it as a risk to manage, not an assumption to ignore.
- Material grade and thickness range you need is on the standard cut list.
- Welding qualifications (BS EN ISO 9606) and procedures (WPS / WPQR) on file for the joints you need.
- EN 1090 execution class declared if the work is structural.
- In-house finishing or named, approved sub-tier finishers with stable lead times.
- Realistic capacity for the batch size, not just one-off prototypes.
- Quality system certified and audited (ISO 9001 minimum, sector standards where required).
- Two reference customers in your sector willing to take a call.
- Insurance, IP and NDA position confirmed in writing before sharing drawings or data.
- Commercial terms agreed: payment terms, currency, retention, delivery Incoterms.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes buyers make in Metals & Fabrication
The avoidable issues we see most often, with the one-line fix that prevents them.
Sending an STL or PDF instead of editable flat patterns.
Fix: Provide DXF or STEP plus an assembly drawing so the supplier does not redraw the part.
Leaving weld callouts open to interpretation.
Fix: Use full ISO 2553 weld symbols and reference the inspection level required.
Treating finishing as an afterthought.
Fix: Specify finish, colour, thickness and standard at quote stage; it usually doubles the lead time when added late.
Ignoring sheet grain direction on cosmetic parts.
Fix: Call out grain direction on the drawing for any visible stainless or aluminium surface.
Choosing on price without seeing capacity evidence.
Fix: Ask for a current order book snapshot and a named planner before awarding a recurring contract.
Supplier types
Kinds of suppliers in this category
The supplier profiles you will typically meet when sourcing in Metals & Fabrication.
Sheet metal fabricators
Profile, form, weld and finish under one roof, typically up to a few tonnes.
Structural steelwork contractors
EN 1090 fabricators for building frames, walkways and platforms.
Press and forming shops
Higher-volume presswork on dedicated tooling.
Specialist welding contractors
Coded welders for pressure, rail, defence and energy work.
Example projects
Example projects in Metals & Fabrication
Representative briefs and scopes buyers post in this category.
Small batch production of stainless steel enclosures for food processing machinery.
Heavy structural steel frame fabrication for a new industrial warehouse development.
Precision laser cut and CNC folded aluminium brackets for automotive assemblies.
Coded welding for a series of carbon steel pressure vessels and tanks.
Procurement guidance
Buyer & supplier guidance
For buyers
What to include in your brief
- Provide full technical drawings in PDF and CAD formats.
- Specify the required material grade and any thickness tolerances.
- Define the inspection criteria and any non destructive testing requirements.
- Include quantities and required delivery dates for production scheduling.
Common certifications
ISO 9001 Quality ManagementISO 3834 Welding Quality RequirementsBS EN 1090 Structural Steelwork CE/UKCA markingISO 14001 Environmental Management
Typical lead times
Lead times typically range from two weeks for laser parts to twelve weeks for complex weldments.
Procurement considerations
- Verify CE or UKCA marking compliance for structural steel components.
- Evaluate the finish requirements against the supplier in house coating capabilities.
- Assess material traceability for high integrity aerospace or nuclear projects.
- Compare logistics costs for bulky heavy fabrications versus local production.
For suppliers
What buyers expect in your profile
- Showcase high quality images of complex completed weldments and assemblies.
- List maximum crane capacities for heavy fabrication and structural work.
- Detail specific machinery brands and bed sizes for laser cutting services.
- Highlight experience in specific sectors such as offshore or automotive.
Recommended certifications
ISO 3834 Coded WeldingBS EN 1090 Execution Class 2 or 3AS9100 for aerospace fabrication projectsISO 9001 Quality Management System
Capability information to show
- Multi axis CNC laser and plasma cutting services.
- Coded welding for pressure vessels and structural frames.
- High volume sheet metal punching and press brake forming.
- Large scale heavy fabrication and assembly capabilities.
Buyer FAQs
Buyer FAQs for Metals & Fabrication
Should I separate cutting, forming and finishing?
Most UK fabricators offer cutting, forming and welding in-house and subcontract finishing. A single supplier is usually faster and cheaper than splitting work.
What's the best process for low-volume enclosures?
Laser cutting plus bending is the default for prototype and low-volume sheet metal. For higher volumes, presswork becomes cost-effective.
How do I specify a finish?
Reference a standard (e.g. RAL colour for powder coat, BS EN ISO 7599 for anodising) and state any salt-spray or thickness projects.
Other category groups
Precision Engineering
23 categories
Explore
Plastics, Rubber & Polymers
28 categories
Explore
Tooling, Moulds & Production Tooling
19 categories
Explore
Electronics & Electrical Manufacturing
29 categories
Explore
Automation, Controls & Machinery
44 categories
Explore
Sensors, Instrumentation & Control Components
34 categories
Explore
Inspection, Metrology & Quality
47 categories
Explore
Design, Engineering & Support
21 categories
Explore
Assembly, Packaging & Fulfilment
31 categories
Explore
Packaging & Labelling
25 categories
Explore
Fasteners, Fixings & Power Transmission
38 categories
Explore
Surface Finishing & Treatments
28 categories
Explore
Castings & Forgings
25 categories
Explore
Contract Assembly & Box Build
14 categories
Explore
Electrical & Power Systems
24 categories
Explore
Industrial Supplies & MRO
20 categories
Explore
Industrial Services
65 categories
Explore
Industrial Software & Digitalisation
51 categories
Explore
Materials & Raw Materials
21 categories
Explore
Fluid & Process Systems
27 categories
Explore
Safety & Compliance
27 categories
Explore
New Equipment Purchase
72 categories
Explore