Metal Structures: Types, Materials, and How to Order Fabrication
From a workshop frame to an equipment enclosure — what counts as a metal structure and what to know before ordering fabrication.
What counts as a metal structure
Metal structures span a wide category: load-bearing building and workshop frames, trusses and columns, equipment enclosures and housings, pipeline supports and pipe racks, service platforms and stairs, hoppers, tanks, machine frames and bases.
What they share is that each is engineered for a specific load and built to an individual project — there is no off-the-shelf "standard" version.
Main types of metal structures by purpose
Load-bearing structures — frames, trusses, columns, beams — carry the main load of a building or facility. Enclosing structures — housings, covers, cladding — protect equipment and personnel without carrying significant load, but must withstand vibration and process temperature. Process structures — pipeline supports, pipe racks, service platforms, stairs and guardrails — provide access to equipment and route utilities.
Which steel grades and profiles are used
Steel selection depends on load, operating temperature, and environmental aggressiveness. Grade Ст3 (mild steel) is the baseline for structures without demanding cold-resistance requirements. Low-alloy steel 09Г2С retains ductility at low temperatures and is used for critical and outdoor structures in cold climates.
Common stock: sheet metal for housings, cladding, and hoppers; channel and I-beam for load-bearing frames and beams; angle for lattice trusses and light structures; profile tube for lightweight frames and railings.
What drives cost
Cost is driven by: metal mass (steel grade and plate thickness), joint complexity and weld volume, surface finish requirements (powder coating or hot-dip galvanizing for corrosion protection), lead time, and on-site installation if included in the contract.
An exact price can only be given after engineering a specific project — a sketch, technical specification, or fabrication drawings.
Manufacturing stages
A typical cycle: customer specification or sketch → fabrication drawing development → metal cutting (plasma or gas) → edge machining → assembly and welding → weld quality control (visual, ultrasonic, radiographic where required) → corrosion protection (powder coating, galvanizing) → shipment → on-site installation.
How to choose a fabrication plant
Check for: in-house cutting and welding capacity (not subcontracted out), certified welders and an ISO 9001 quality control system, reference projects of comparable complexity, willingness to engineer your specific project rather than sell a generic solution, and logistics — delivery and installation in your region.
Need metal structures for your project?
UK-ZTO-AN — a plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk with plasma cutting up to 40 mm and gas cutting up to 60 mm, full cycle from design to installation. Manufacturing metal structures of any complexity since 2013.