The scrap metal recycling industry has immense growth potential. Scrap metal extends beyond recycling empty soda and beer cans. Steel, iron, nickel, and copper are also bringing in profits from recycling.

The Immense Energy Savings Created By Scrap Metal Recycling

Scrap metal recycling is often advertised as good for the environment, but it also saves money by reducing production costs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycled aluminum saves the nation 95 percent of the energy used to make new aluminum from scratch.

In the metal fabrication industry, the role of the machine shop versus the fab shop is often confused by the casual observer. They both appear to produce parts from raw materials for use in various industry applications, but there is a distinct difference.

Fabrication shops perform metal preparation tasks such as welding, production, and assembly. The machining shop, however, does the intricate tasks necessary to create complex metal-based parts for industries.

The Role of the Fabrication Shop

The fabrication shop prepares raw materials for industrial applications. They may produce sheet metal blanks, weld together brackets, braces and ductwork, or combine production materials to produce general-use parts for an industry client.

Surface-treating and heat-treating processes are a vital part of the metal fabrication industry.

They alter sheet metal for specialized applications. Case hardening, tempering, embrittlement, and annealing are among the various types of treatments that sheet metal may endure before it is suitable for the production process.

Heat-Treating Methods

Case hardening is a heat treatment that heats the surface layer of a sheet of steel. This heating process makes the outer layer of steel considerable harder than the interior. This process alters the composition of the metal by carburizing, cyaniding, or nitriding.