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Highland Machine Company News

What Is Custom Metal Fabrication?

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What Is Contract Manufacturing and Why Use It?

Contract manufacturing is when a business collaborates with another company to produce a product or a part of a product. There are several reasons why a company will work with a contract manufacturer, including a lack of resources or equipment to complete the work in house, not having the capacity to handle the required volume, or wanting to take advantage of the skills that a specialized manufacturer provides.

At Highland Machine we offer a wide range of contract metal fabrication services in order to solve almost any problem that might be interfering with completing a metal fabrication project. As a contract manufacturer, we are experts at precision sheet metal fabrication and have the team, machinery, and capabilities to handle a wider range of projects than most companies would be able to complete in house.

Our sheet metal fabrication process

Types of contract manufacturing

There are several different services that a contract manufacturer can provide for you.

Individual component manufacturing – The contract manufacturer is only responsible for building a single part of a larger, more complex product.

End-to-end manufacturing – The contract manufacturer creates a finished product and is heavily involved in the product design, prototyping, and overall specifications.

 Private label manufacturing – This type of contract manufacturing is similar to end-to-end manufacturing, because the contractor delivers a finished product. In this case, however, the manufacturer is less involved in the design and development stage.

The benefits of using a contract manufacturer

Contract manufacturing is ideal for smaller companies that may not have the required equipment or workforce to build the product. It is also a great choice for larger companies that need a specialized product that they don’t have the capabilities to manufacture in house. If you need a large quantity of the product, then using a contract manufacturer may make sense, because they typically have experience producing high volumes.

 In any of these situations, the benefits of contract manufacturing are the same:

  • Lower production costs– You negotiate a cost for your product, and that’s all you pay. You don’t have to worry about hiring more labor, purchasing specialized equipment, or any other overhead costs.
  • High quality standards– A reputable contract metal fabrication company or other contract manufacturer will have very high standards and excellent quality control measures in place.
  • Expert advice– Fabrication and manufacturing are a contractor’s entire business. They know how to do it well and can offer advice on how to produce your product in the best way possible.

Frees up your time – When using contract manufacturing, you can pay greater attention to other business operations, because the contractor handles all manufacturing related needs and issues.

We handle all of your metal fabrication needs

Metal fabrication is the entire process of manufacturing a product from raw metal materials to your exact specifications. We use methods like laser cutting, CNC punching, TIG, MIG, and spot welding, robotic welding, and stamping and forming.

 Several industries routinely use metal fabrication, including medical, aerospace, automotive, and military.  Most of these industries require a high level of accuracy, customization, and adherence to very tight specifications. When you work with us for your contract manufacturing project, we provide products built to your exact requirements.

Highland Machine is a precision sheet metal fabricator

Our team completes your entire project in house, giving you a one stop shop for all your metal fabrication needs. After fabricating your product, we can also provide assembly, powder coating, and inventory management. By handling the precision sheet metal fabrication and these other services, we help streamline your production process.

If you have any questions about contract manufacturing, metal fabrication, or what to look for in a precision sheet metal fabricator, contact our team today.

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Why Craftmanship Is Key for Sheet Metal Fabrication Jobs

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Sheet metal fabrication projects are very complex and have a lot of moving parts. To avoid costly mistakes, you need a sheet metal fabricator who can complete your project exactly to your specifications. You need a partner that values craftmanship and efficiency above all else.

At Highland Machine, we’re an end-to-end fabrication shop, and we handle the custom finishing and assembly completely in house.

Our sheet metal fabrication process

Highland Machine is a one stop shop. Whether you need a simple component or complex assemblies, our team can deliver a product to your precise specifications. Depending on the component and its requirements, we will use one or several processes, which include laser cutting, CNC punching, TIG, MIG, and spot welding, robotic welding, and forming.

After fabrication, we finish your product with anodizing, powder coating, or with stainless steel polishing or graining. Once everything is assembled, we can help manage your inventory with product stocking agreements. Dealing with a single vendor controls costs, ensures better quality and saves you valuable time.

Craftsmanship at Highland Machine

Precision is the foundation of our craftsmanship, which we define as the ability to tailor a tenable, unique solution to a problem. Our dedication to craftsmanship has helped first responders and healthcare professionals by developing the AerVent, a mobile isolation device that reduced the possibility of exposure to COVID-19, with Aeragen. This unit cuts back on the need for large isolation rooms and helps protect frontline staff.

We took the early AerVent design and developed a working prototype within 48 hours. Then we worked with the Aeragen team to make the device suitable for larger scale, cost effective production.

We’ve also designed and manufactured trailers for mobile power generation systems, plus machined castings, electrical component cabinets, and custom metal enclosures. You can see the extent of our work by checking out our case studies here.

Why choose Highland Machine as your sheet metal fabricator

Highland Machine has been in business since 1944. Our legacy has been one of efficiency, service, and expert knowledge when it comes to sheet metal fabrication and finishing. We work with a variety of materials, including (but not limited to) plastics, cast iron, aluminum, and steel.

Everything at Highland Machine is completed in house. After we fabricate or machine your product, we also offer manufacturing design services, mechanical and electrical assembly, powder coating & finishing, and inventory management. Putting the entire project under one roof will help streamline production and make the process much more efficient.

How our craftsmanship can help you

When you plan for a sheet metal fabrication project, it’s important that it fits your budget and meets your timeline. Our craftsmanship and attention to detail make certain that your project gets done right the first time. Highland Machine provides finished products and components for industries that include:

  • Medical
  • Industrial equipment
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Printing

Highland Machine delivers the quality of sheet metal fabrication that you demand. Contact us now to schedule a consultation.

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Meet Jared

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He’s been a part of Highland since he was a kid

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”18px” header_6_font=”|800|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#000000″ header_6_font_size=”18px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Jared has been working at Highland Machine for 17 years, following in his father’s footsteps who was an employee for 45 years. Jared remembers visiting his dad at his job while he was growing up. At home, he enjoys his two children, six and eight years old. The family always looks forward to spending time together outdoors while fishing, hunting, golfing, and going to the lake.

“I grew up at Highland Machine. I would always come in with my dad and hang around the office, so I knew everyone. While in college I started Highland’s summer scholarship program and then started working here full time as a foreman. I worked as a foreman, production coordinator, and in a quoting position, so I got to experience a lot of the business. Since I was a younger one in the office, my bosses always appreciated the different perspective I would bring.”

At Highland Machine, everyone is focused on improvement

“It’s really awesome to be a part of an organization where everyone is focused on the same goal and moving forward. We even have sheets in the shop called Continuous Improvement Forms that employees can fill out. If someone has an idea to build something a better way, then we’ll get the foreman, supervisor and everyone else together to look at the part and make it better. I love that.”

Tip for our customers

“We do a lot via email nowadays, but it’s still really great when a customer comes to check out our operation or when we can see their product in person. It’s very helpful for our team to understand the product, so we can figure out ways to produce it easier and save our customers money. Also, more communication is always key.” [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://ehlm.winsbystorage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/jared.png” title_text=”jared” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”jared” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”1px|auto|0px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https://ehlm.winsbystorage.com/contact-us/” button_text=”Start Working with Highland Machine” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding=”|50px||50px|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”text-transform:uppercase;” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section]