LOOKING FOR A DEPENDABLE PIPE FABRICATOR? KEEP THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND!

August 20, 2019

Regardless of your company’s size or area of expertise, finding a dependable pipe fabricator is crucial. Especially within the industrial sector, where tight turnaround times are rampant and product quality is paramount, working with the best pipe fabrication companies can mean the difference between success and failure.

That’s because choosing the right custom pipe fabrication shop will directly impact the quality of work that your company is able to put out and, by extension, the satisfaction of your clients. With that in mind, it’s important to identify which companies that can deliver pipe fabrication work that lives up to your high expectations.

This guide will cover the essential things you should consider before starting an engagement with any pipe fabrication company. Let’s get to work!

Is the company adequately experienced?

One of the first things that you’ll want to investigate is the experience of the company you plan on doing business with. In the extremely technical pipe fabrication industry, working with an experienced company is very important, so you shouldn’t shy away from ensuring your partners fabricate both quality and safe products.

You can ensure a company has experience by checking out their website and finding case studies or blogs that detail their projects throughout the years. You can learn a lot about a company’s history and capabilities before ever even calling the by reading these resources.

If you don’t see any case studies, blogs, or similar resources listed on the company’s website, that’s a pretty good sign they aren’t prioritizing the information they’re giving out to potential customers online. In turn, this means they probably aren’t prioritizing the info they’re providing in-person, either – and in this industry, transparency is essential.

What’s the company’s turnaround time?

The principle of transparency is also applicable to turnaround times, as even the most experienced fabricators might cut corners to meet extreme or unrealistically quick deadlines. On the other hand, a reliable company should take the time to guide you through their process from beginning to end, which will allow you to see what a realistic time frame will be for completion, even if it can’t match the initial expectations.

With this in mind, any step-by-step walkthrough of a company’s process and associated turnaround times should also cover important processes, including:

• Materials used in production.
• When components and/or materials will be ordered and delivered to the fabricator.
• When your finished product can realistically be ready for delivery.
• 
  

How do their costs compare to the competition?

Another thing to never be shy about when it comes to pipe fabrication work is pricing. Now, if you’ve never worked with the same pipe fabrication company before, you might not be aware of the fair and competitive pricing available from other companies. If so, get out there and investigate, ask for quotes, and be transparent with fabricators that you are shopping around. In the end, you might receive better pricing overall.

Pipe fabrication companies will be happy to discuss their pricing practices and quotes (if they’re not, that’s likely a red flag). Also, keep in mind that simply requesting a quote doesn’t automatically mean that you’ve actually started an engagement of any kind, and it’s not at all abnormal for customers to approach several companies to compare and contrast cost projections. In fact, we expect you to.

After talking to three or four different fabricators, you should have a pretty steady frame of reference for prices. Just remember to never settle on the cheapest estimate you receive simply because it’s the cheapest. While an estimate that’s substantially higher than your other options might signify that a company is trying to take advantage, it might also speak to their experience and ability to deliver a quality product.

Similarly, if one fabricator’s estimate is drastically lower than the others, this may actually speak to a comparative lack of experience. Of course, all of this ties back into you doing your due diligence and evaluating the extent of each fabricator’s experience.

Does the company really prioritize customer service?

Of all the questions we’ve asked you to consider, this one might be one of the hardest to verify. All companies speak to their commitment to top-quality customer service in one way or another, whether true or not. Therefore, to ensure that you receive top-quality pipe fabrication services that are delivered in an appropriate turnaround time and reasonably priced, engage with a pipe fabricator who has long prioritized customer service as one of their leading values.

For the past 30 years, Globe LLC’s core mission and vision has been based on growing the American industry through the fabrication of high-quality products that support the country’s most critical infrastructures. Of course, none of this is possible if our customers aren’t satisfied.

This is precisely why customer service has been tightly woven into our mission statement since we opened up shop in 1984. It’s also why every one of our 160+ team members are repeatedly and meticulously trained, ensuring their skills remain on par with the best craftsmen in the entire pipe fabrication industry.

Meanwhile, our close relationships with some of the best supplier networks throughout the country allow us to underbid our competitors and frequently deliver ahead of schedule to further ensure unparalleled customer satisfaction.



Want to Learn More About Working with Pipe Fabrication Companies?

If you’d like to speak directly with our staff about any of the above considerations, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today and we’ll reply promptly!