Professional Custom Metal Fabrication Services
From a single custom bracket to a complete structural platform system, Alpha Rigging & Fabrication's in-house fab shop delivers precision metalwork built to last in demanding industrial environments. Based in Chehalis, Washington, our fabrication division serves manufacturers, industrial facilities, construction companies, and commercial businesses throughout the entire Pacific Northwest.
What separates us from other fabrication shops is the seamless connection between our fab floor and our rigging division. We don't just build the component — we design it for its final environment, fabricate it to exact tolerances, and then deliver and install it using our own rigging and lifting equipment. One company, one point of contact, one invoice. That integration means fewer handoffs, faster timelines, and accountability from first cut to final installation.
From Raw Steel to Finished Installation
Most fabrication shops stop at the dock. Alpha Rigging & Fabrication takes your project all the way to final placement and commissioning. Our fab team works directly with our rigging crews so every component is designed with installation in mind — correct lift points, accessible bolt patterns, field-friendly dimensions. The result is a product that goes in faster, fits right, and costs less overall.
What is Custom Metal Fabrication?
Custom metal fabrication is the process of cutting, bending, forming, and joining raw metal stock into finished components or assemblies engineered for a specific application. Unlike off-the-shelf products, custom fabrication produces parts that precisely match your facility's dimensions, load requirements, and operational needs. The process encompasses:
- Material Selection: Choosing the right steel grade, wall thickness, and profile for structural requirements, corrosion resistance, and budget
- CAD Design & Engineering: Translating your specifications or field measurements into detailed fabrication drawings with exact dimensions, material callouts, and weld specifications
- Cutting & Forming: Plasma cutting, saw cutting, press braking, and roll forming to create individual pieces to tight tolerances
- Fit-Up & Welding: Assembling components to drawing dimensions and welding per applicable structural welding codes
- Finishing: Grinding, cleaning, priming, and coating for corrosion protection and appearance
- Delivery & Installation: Coordinating transport and rigging for final placement using our integrated equipment fleet
Custom Fabrication Products We Build
Alpha Rigging & Fabrication produces a comprehensive range of custom steel products for industrial and commercial clients across Washington State:
Structural Supports
Equipment supports, pipe racks, vessel supports, column bases, and custom structural frames for any load requirement
Industrial Platforms
Work platforms, mezzanines, operator decks, and maintenance platforms with grating, handrail, and toe plate
Stairs & Ladders
Industrial stair systems, alternating tread stairs, caged ladders, and ship's ladders to OSHA and IBC standards
Railings & Guardrails
OSHA-compliant guardrails, handrails, safety barriers, and decorative railings in steel, stainless, and aluminum
Custom Frames & Skids
Equipment skids, machinery frames, generator bases, compressor skids, and custom support structures
Tanks & Vessels
Storage tanks, containment basins, sumps, and custom vessels in carbon steel, stainless steel, and specialty alloys
Conveyor Components
Conveyor support structures, transfer chutes, hoppers, and material handling components for production facilities
Gates & Enclosures
Security gates, machine guards, equipment enclosures, and access control structures for industrial facilities
Architectural Metalwork
Custom architectural features, canopies, awnings, decorative panels, and structural aesthetic components
Our Custom Metal Fabrication Process
Step 1: Consultation & Requirements Gathering
Every custom fabrication project starts with a thorough understanding of what you need and why. Our team discusses the application: what loads the component must support, environmental conditions it will face (indoor/outdoor, exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes), clearance and dimensional constraints in your facility, code requirements (OSHA, IBC, AWS, AISC), finish requirements, timeline, and budget parameters. For complex projects, we conduct an on-site visit to take field measurements and assess installation conditions firsthand.
Step 2: CAD Design & Engineering
Our in-house design capability transforms your requirements into fabrication-ready drawings. We produce detailed 2D and 3D CAD drawings showing every component with exact dimensions, material specifications, and weld callouts. For structural components, we perform engineering calculations to verify load capacity and code compliance. Drawings are reviewed with you before fabrication begins — we encourage client input at this stage because catching a revision in CAD costs nothing; catching it on the fab floor is expensive.
Step 3: Material Procurement
We source steel from established Washington State and Pacific Northwest distributors, maintaining relationships that ensure material availability, competitive pricing, and consistent quality. Standard structural shapes (angles, channels, beams, tube) are typically stocked or available on short lead times. Specialty materials — stainless steel, aluminum, high-strength alloys, specialty plate — are sourced as required. All material is verified against mill certifications and visually inspected upon receipt.
Step 4: Fabrication
Our Chehalis fab shop is equipped for efficient, accurate production work: plasma cutting table for precise plate and shape cutting, cold saw and band saw for structural shape cutting, press brake for bending operations, welding stations equipped for MIG, TIG, and Stick processes, and grinding and finishing equipment. Our fabricators work from detailed shop drawings to precise dimensions, performing in-process checks at critical stages to catch deviations before they compound into larger problems.
Step 5: Quality Inspection & Finishing
Completed fabrications undergo dimensional inspection against drawings before finishing. Welds are visually inspected per AWS D1.1 criteria — undercut, porosity, crater cracks, incomplete fusion, and profile are all checked. For critical structural welds, we offer non-destructive testing (NDT) including magnetic particle and dye penetrant inspection. Finishing options include grinding to smooth, primer coating, single-color paint systems, galvanizing coordination, and powder coating. Documentation packages are available for regulated industries.
Step 6: Delivery & Installation
Here is where Alpha Rigging & Fabrication truly differs from every other fab shop in Washington: we deliver and install what we build. Our rigging division provides flatbed transport for large fabrications, crane and lifting equipment for placement, bolting and final connection work, and commissioning support. Components are designed from day one with installation in mind — lift points are incorporated into the design, field splice locations are chosen for accessibility, and clearances are verified against your as-built conditions before we leave the shop.
Fabrication Capabilities & Equipment
Cutting Systems
Precise cutting is the foundation of accurate fabrication. Our cutting capabilities include:
- CNC Plasma Table: Cuts plate steel up to 2" thick with high dimensional accuracy and clean edge quality, reducing secondary grinding
- Structural Cold Saw: Clean, burr-free cuts on beams, channels, angles, and tube up to 14" in maximum dimension
- Band Saw: Versatile cutting for structural shapes, heavy plate, and odd-form materials requiring slower, controlled cuts
- Torch Cutting: Oxyfuel cutting for heavy plate and field cutting operations beyond the capacity of the plasma table
Forming & Bending
Many custom fabrications require formed components that cannot be assembled from straight stock:
- Press Brake: Bending capacity for plate up to 1/2" thick and 10 feet wide, producing precise bend angles for brackets, enclosures, and structural shapes
- Pipe & Tube Bending: Rotary draw bending for handrail, structural tube, and pipe in standard and custom radii
- Roll Forming: Plate rolling for curved components, curved handrail systems, and cylindrical shapes
- Drill Press & Magnetic Base Drills: Precision hole patterns for connection plates, base plates, and flanged components
Welding Processes
Our certified welders work in all processes required for industrial fabrication:
- MIG (GMAW): The workhorse of production fabrication — fast, consistent, and strong for carbon steel structural work
- TIG (GTAW): Precision welding for stainless steel, aluminum, and applications requiring clean, high-quality weld appearance
- Stick (SMAW): Versatile process for heavy structural connections and field welding in outdoor environments
- Flux Core (FCAW): High-deposition welding for heavy structural weldments requiring maximum productivity
Finishing Equipment
A quality finish protects the investment in fabrication and often matters for appearance in visible locations:
- Angle grinders and flap disc systems for weld grinding and surface preparation
- Wire wheel and abrasive blasting for surface preparation prior to coating
- Spray application equipment for primer and topcoat application
- Coordination with local galvanizers and powder coaters for specialty finishes
Industries We Fabricate For
Food & Beverage Processing
Food processing facilities in Washington's agricultural regions have specific requirements: stainless steel contact surfaces, sanitary weld profiles, sloped drainage features, and FDA/USDA-compliant designs. We fabricate stainless platforms, processing equipment supports, conveyor frames, tank stands, and custom food-grade components that meet hygiene standards and stand up to daily washdown environments. Our TIG welders produce smooth, crevice-free welds that don't harbor bacteria and clean up easily.
Pulp, Paper & Timber Industry
Washington's forest products industry depends on rugged, reliable equipment and structures. We fabricate heavy equipment supports for pulp digesters and paper machines, walkways and platforms for mill environments with steam and chemical exposure, conveyor structures for wood chip and fiber handling, custom wear liners and chutes for abrasive material handling, and replacement structural components for mill maintenance and repair. Our experience with mill environments means we design for access, durability, and ease of future maintenance.
Agriculture & Agribusiness
Washington's farms, grain elevators, and food processing operations need practical, durable metalwork. We fabricate grain bin and storage structure components, hop yard structures and trellising hardware, equipment mounting frames for tractors and implements, processing facility platforms and catwalks, and irrigation system support structures. We understand that agricultural clients need value-engineered solutions that work hard and last — not overbuilt showpieces.
Construction & Contracting
General contractors, mechanical contractors, and specialty contractors throughout Washington rely on our fabrication for custom structural components that aren't available off the shelf, pipe supports and equipment pads for mechanical and plumbing systems, access structures for maintenance and inspection, temporary shoring and bracing systems, and custom connection details for complex structural situations. Our turnaround times and quality track record make us a reliable fabrication partner for projects with demanding schedules.
Oil, Gas & Chemical Facilities
Industrial process facilities require fabrications that meet stringent material, dimensional, and documentation requirements. We produce equipment skids and modules, pipe support systems and pipe racks, vessel saddles and support structures, safety barrier and equipment guard systems, and stair and platform access systems to OSHA standards. Documentation — material certifications, weld records, dimensional inspection reports — is available for regulated applications.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Power generation facilities, water treatment plants, and other utility infrastructure throughout Washington State require specialty structural fabrications for equipment support, access, and safety. We build transformer and switchgear platforms, access stairs and ladders for utility structures, equipment support frames for pump stations and treatment plants, security fencing and gate systems, and replacement structural components for aging infrastructure.
The Advantage of Integrated Fabrication and Rigging
Design for Installation
When your fabricator and your rigger are the same company, design decisions change. We know how the piece will be lifted, what the approach clearances are, where the crane will be positioned, and how field crews will make final connections. Lift points are engineered into the structural design rather than added as an afterthought. Field splice locations are chosen for wrench access, not just structural convenience. Anchor bolt patterns are coordinated with existing conditions. The result is a fabrication that installs faster with fewer surprises.
Single-Source Accountability
When fabrication and installation are separate vendors, finger-pointing is inevitable when something doesn't fit. "The fab was wrong." "The field measurement was off." "You should have coordinated that." With Alpha Rigging & Fabrication handling both scopes, there is one team responsible for the complete outcome. We measure, we design, we build, we install. If something doesn't fit, it's our problem to fix — quickly, without charging extra for our own error.
Faster Project Timelines
Coordinating separate fabrication and installation contractors adds scheduling complexity, communication overhead, and risk. We streamline the process: our fab team and rigging crew schedule is coordinated internally, handoffs are seamless, and we can accelerate installation by beginning rigging mobilization before fabrication is 100% complete when project sequencing allows. Many clients tell us their projects finish weeks ahead of what they'd achieved using separate vendors.
Quality Standards & Certifications
Alpha Rigging & Fabrication maintains quality standards appropriate for industrial and structural fabrication work:
- AWS D1.1 Structural Welding: All structural steel welding performed to AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code requirements with qualified welding procedures
- AWS D1.6 Stainless Steel Welding: Stainless fabrications performed per AWS D1.6 for structural and sanitary applications
- AISC Design Standards: Structural designs reference AISC Steel Construction Manual provisions for member sizing and connection design
- OSHA Compliance: All platforms, stairs, ladders, and guardrails are designed to applicable OSHA construction and general industry standards
- IBC Compliance: Building code-compliant structural designs for permitted construction projects
- AWS Certified Welders: Our welding staff holds current AWS certifications demonstrating qualification in applicable processes and positions
Project Documentation & Traceability
Many industrial clients require documentation that confirms their fabrications meet material and quality requirements. Alpha Rigging & Fabrication offers complete documentation packages including:
- Mill certifications (MTRs) for structural steel and plate material
- Certified material test reports for specialty alloys and stainless steel
- Weld procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR)
- Welder qualification records (WQR) for each welder on your project
- Dimensional inspection reports with as-built measurements
- Non-destructive testing (NDT) reports for inspected welds
- As-built drawings reflecting any field changes from original design
Pricing & Lead Times
Fabrication Pricing Factors
- Material type and grade (carbon steel, stainless, aluminum carry different material costs)
- Complexity of design (simple shapes vs. complex assemblies with many fit-up operations)
- Weld quality requirements (structural vs. aesthetic vs. sanitary weld profiles)
- Quantity (setup costs amortize over larger runs; unit cost typically drops with quantity)
- Finish requirements (bare metal, prime only, painted, galvanized, or powder coated)
- Documentation requirements (basic vs. full material and quality documentation package)
- Timeline (standard lead time vs. accelerated production schedule)
Typical Lead Times
- Simple components (brackets, supports, small frames): 1-2 weeks from approved drawings
- Medium assemblies (platforms, stair sections, equipment skids): 2-4 weeks from approved drawings
- Large or complex projects (multi-level platform systems, large tanks): 4-8 weeks from approved drawings
- Rush fabrication: We maintain capacity for priority projects when schedule demands — contact us to discuss your timeline
All quotes include detailed scope of work, material specifications, and delivery/installation scope. We provide fixed-price quotes for defined-scope projects and time-and-material pricing for projects requiring field adaptation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Custom Metal Fabrication
A: Both. We regularly fabricate from customer-supplied engineering drawings, architect drawings, or detailed sketches. We also provide full in-house design services when customers have a requirement but no drawings. For the latter, we conduct a consultation and site visit, then develop fabrication drawings for your review and approval before cutting any steel. Many clients provide rough sketches or verbal descriptions that our design team converts to professional shop drawings.
A: Our Chehalis facility handles fabrications up to approximately 60 feet in length and up to the overhead crane capacity of our shop. For very large or heavy assemblies, we can design modular systems that are field-assembled after delivery, or we can perform field fabrication at your site for components that cannot be practically transported. Our integrated rigging capability means we can move and install very large components regardless of how they're fabricated.
A: Yes. If you provide a paint color code (RAL, Pantone, manufacturer color code) or a sample chip, we can match the color for new fabrications that need to blend with existing equipment or facility aesthetics. We work with local industrial coating suppliers and can source virtually any industrial coating color.
A: Yes. Stainless steel fabrication is a regular part of our work, particularly for food and beverage clients who require sanitary construction. We work in 304 and 316 stainless for most applications. Aluminum fabrication is also available for applications requiring light weight or specific corrosion resistance. Each material requires different cutting, forming, and welding techniques — our certified welders are qualified in all three.
A: We work with licensed professional engineers in Washington State for projects that require PE-stamped structural calculations and drawings. If your project requires a building permit or is subject to third-party engineering review, we can coordinate PE services as part of the project scope. This is common for mezzanines, elevated platforms, and structural modifications to existing buildings.
A: Our quality inspection process is designed to catch issues before parts leave the shop. If a fabrication error occurs and passes through inspection, we correct it at no charge — period. We stand behind our work. For any component that doesn't meet the approved drawing dimensions, we rework or replace it. Our integrated approach (where we also install what we build) gives us additional motivation to get it right the first time, since we're the ones who have to make it fit in the field.
A: Absolutely. Reverse engineering and replacement fabrication is a regular part of our business. When original components are worn, broken, or unavailable from the original manufacturer, we take field measurements, develop drawings from the existing component, and fabricate a replacement. This is common for older machinery with obsolete parts, custom equipment that was built in-house by your maintenance team years ago, and foreign equipment where replacement parts have long lead times or unavailability issues.
A: Yes. Some projects require fabrication in place — modifications to existing structures where removing the component isn't practical, large assemblies in confined spaces, or repairs where bringing the work to the shop isn't possible. Our crew can bring cutting, welding, and forming equipment to your site. On-site fabrication typically costs more per hour than shop fabrication due to setup overhead and working conditions, but is often the most practical and cost-effective solution when transport and handling costs are considered.
A: Call us at (509) 555-0100 or use the contact form at www.alphariggingfab.com. For simple components, a phone conversation and emailed sketch or drawing is often sufficient to generate a quote. For complex projects, we'll schedule a site visit to collect field measurements and discuss requirements in detail. We turn around most quotes within 2-3 business days. There's no charge for quoting, and we're happy to provide guidance on design alternatives that might improve performance or reduce cost.
A: This is our core differentiator. Yes — we handle complete turnkey fabrication and installation. Our rigging division has the equipment to move and place virtually anything we can build: cranes from 3 to 500 tons, specialized rigging hardware, hydraulic gantries for confined-space lifts, and experienced certified riggers. We coordinate the complete scope from initial design through final installation and commissioning, with one contract and one point of accountability throughout.
Service Areas: Custom Metal Fabrication Across Washington
Alpha Rigging & Fabrication provides custom metal fabrication services to clients throughout Washington State from our Chehalis shop, including:
- Seattle
- Tacoma
- Spokane
- Bellevue
- Everett
- Vancouver
- Yakima
- Bellingham
- Olympia
- Renton
- Kent
- Federal Way
- Auburn
- Pasco
- Richland
- Kennewick
- Redmond
- Kirkland
- Sammamish
- Bothell
- Shoreline
- Burien
- Tukwila
- SeaTac
We deliver fabricated components statewide and provide on-site fabrication services anywhere our customers need us across the Pacific Northwest.
Ready to Start Your Custom Fabrication Project?
Contact Alpha Rigging & Fabrication today for a free consultation on your custom metalwork needs. Whether you have detailed drawings or just a concept, our team will help you get from idea to installed component efficiently. Call us Monday through Friday or reach our emergency line 24/6 for urgent fabrication needs.
Call (509) 555-0100 Request Free Quote