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The competition in the metal fabrication market is at an all-time high. To keep up with the manufacturing market, many organizations in the custom metal fabrication sector will need to keep up with the latest trends in the industry. In this blog, we explore what those trends are and how they will shape the future of the custom metal fabrication sector in the coming years.
Automation has permeated nearly every industry in the world, and custom metal fabrication in Toronto, in particular, is not an exception. And while the trend has already been out there for some time, its adoption rate has seen an unmatched acceleration in the last few years, especially when production shops faced challenges in recruiting skilled labour after the COVID hit.
Automation in the custom metal fabrication industry found its application in various processes such as cutting, welding, milling, etc. With the emergence of CNC technology, metal fabrication has been largely automated, allowing fabrication shops and structural steel fabricators to produce a variety of often complex products in large volumes, at lower cost, with fewer errors and in less time.
Automation in custom metal fabrication is set to continue its growth trajectory in the coming decades, creating more jobs and opening up new opportunities for those already working in the industry.
Much like automation, the global digitization trend has equally affected the custom metal fabrication industry. Many custom metal fabrication businesses choose to digitize their processes by implementing resource planning software into their workflow. Those who have already partaken in this transformation are reaping the benefits of streamlined operations, enhanced productivity and improved decision-making; whereas those who haven’t are at risk of losing their competitive advantage.
Sustainability is another trend that has affected not only the metal fabrication but nearly all other industries out there. Governments and local authorities demand that the metal fabrication sector adopt a sustainable approach in their manufacturing processes. Such a pressure is conditioned by the growing concerns over the environmental issues and the need to reduce carbon footprint. Whether an approach like this can truly help companies reach the goal of sustainability is the question that only time can answer.
With supply chain disruptions emerging after the pandemic, it has become common for many businesses to bring their manufacturing back to home soil. Even though a large chunk of metal fabrication businesses are still located overseas (for obvious reasons), there are many that chose to “reshore” their operations as they find it easier to manage their processes when they are local. And while many reports see little evidence of reshoring of metal fabrication in Canada, this trend is expected to grow in the future.