Sheet metal facilities Archives -

Sheet metal product manufacturing to your designs in the UK

Tuesday, October 19th, 2021

Laser cut and CNC folded sheet metal brackets – Sheet Metal Products

Sheet metal products can take so many forms. We pride ourselves on turning our hand to most ideas our customers present of with. Sometimes it’s a fully detailed CAD model with dimensioned drawings. With these sheet metal products we just have to read them into our system and worry about the CAM. Whether it’s selecting the correct punch press tooling, laser gas and refining the cut size to suit available bend tooling.

If a sheet metal product is slightly less well formed, perhaps a design sketch or a sample which is being used as a starting point we can still help. We may create our own 3D software model to double check the fit of parts. Our document the product with a dimensioned drawing for both customer and supplier to use as a master document.

In either case we review the sheet metal product design to be sure it’s suitable for manufacturing. Where we can clean up designs to speed up production and save money we will be glad to help you.

CNC punched and CNC folded sheet metal brackets – Sheet Metal Products

If a customer has a sheet metal product that lends itself to a certain set of manufacturing processes then we will simply follow the design. If however the part for instance could be CNC punched or laser cut we will investigate bother processes to offer the most suitable and cost effective production method. Perhaps a sheet metal product has a curved shape. Should we roll the curve, form the curve with a custom tool or simulate the curve with a series of small bends created on a CNC press brake. We will offer options as best fits the design and customer’s expectations.

For hundreds of examples of past sheet metal product projects please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

What’s next?

If you have a sheet metal product that needs manufacturing give us a call. If it’s just a few parts, many hundreds or thousands. We will take a look and see what process will best suit.

Sheet metal sub-contract manufacturing and sheet metal production

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Sheet metal brackets

Sheet metal sub-contract manufacturing is a very important service for so many businesses. Whether your business does not have the skills or require enough sheet metal production to justify your own department we are here to help you. It may be that you only occasionally require some sheet metal parts manufactured. Perhaps you only need 50 brackets twice a year. That’s no problem for us. We can CNC punch or laser cut just a few brackets from a small off cut of sheet metal. You may have a regular need for repeating parts for your production line. Again it’s something we can help with. Perhaps we can hold some in stock for you.

Sheet metal sub-contract manufacturers can also help with the design stages of your product development. Advising on material selection, treatments and the best design options to save money once in manufacturing.

Sheet metal brackets

Sheet metal sub-contract manufacturing can encompass a wide range of production techniques. Laser cutting is now very popular with the ability to cut complex shapes and put safe handling radius corners on products. CNC punching sheet metal hole patterns and 3D forms with special tooling. Along with CNC press brakes to fold up simple angle brackets right up to complex chassis work. Simply ask us and we will be happy to advise on the most suitable production technique to suit your designs.

For a quick review of recent sub-contract sheet metal projects please feel free to visit our Pinterest Boards.

Send us your CAD data or drawings and we will be happy to help.

Sheet metal manufacturers in the UK – sheet metal production

Tuesday, September 7th, 2021

Sheet metal manufacturers

Sheet metal manufacturers in the UK produce a wide range of sheet metal projects. Sub-contract manufacturers produce parts to any given design and are a great support to UK based companies who do not have the expertise or the volumes to justify their own manufacturing facility. V and F Sheet Metal are one of these sub-contract manufacturers. We have been producing sheet metal work since the 1980s in Hampshire.

Sheet metal manufacturers based in the UK

Whether your project is only small or many thousands of parts sheet metal manufacturers in the UK can help you out. Keeping things local not only reduced shipping costs and time but helps to support the whole engineering supply chain. Materials are purchased in the UK, treatments and finishes sourced in the UK. You also have the ability to deal in your own time zone and visit if you need to.

Sheet metal manufactured enclosures

Using a wide range of sheet metal manufacturing techniques we cover most of the sheet metal parts UK companies need. Whether it’s produced by laser cutting, CNC punching or CNC bending we have the facilities to help you today. Simply ask us to take a look at your drawings and we will be happy to produce a quotation for you.

For a much larger range of work produced by sheet metal manufacturers in the UK take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Sheet metal fabricators in Southampton – ask for a quote today

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

Laser cutting stainless steel

Sheet metal fabricators work with a wide range of materials. The types of material fabricated split into 2 camps, ferrous and non-ferrous. So that’s materials that are iron based and those that are iron fee. The types of materials can include simple mild steel along with treated steels such as Zintec and galvanised steel. More exotic stainless steels such as 304, 316, 403 and 3CR12 can be worked. They come in standard (2B) mild finish, bright annealed or grained finishes. Aluminium alloys such as 1050A and 5251 are often stocked.

More unusual materials such as tin plate, spring stainless, copper, brass and lighting reflector materials and be used to fabricate components. For exact details of the correct materials to specify in your design and the thicknesses available it’s always worth a chat first to be sure your design can be fabricated.

Aluminium sheet metal brackets

Sheet metal fabricators use a diverse range of fabrication equipment. Whether it’s laser cutting thin to thick ferrous and non-ferrous materials. CNC punching standard sheets. CNC folding simple to very complex sheet metal components and assemblies.

V and F Sheet Metal are sheet metal fabricators with over 35 years of experience manufacturing in the UK. We are happy to help point you in the right direction with design ideas. Guidance on material selection, the right options when it comes to sheet metal inserts and finishing / treatments. The design will always be yours we just help to speed you through the process.

Have a new design idea? Want to double check your current prices? Send use your ideas and we will be happy to quote.

Mild steel bespoke sheet metal fabrications manufactured in the UK

Tuesday, July 13th, 2021

mild steel sheet metal fabrications

Mild steel is such a flexible sheet metal material. It’s been used over several centuries as the basis of so many components and fabricated assemblies. We have been manufacturing bespoke mild steel fabrications for over 35 years. We predominately manufacture components from mild steel material from 0.5mm to 3.0mm thick. The sheet comes in 3 standard sizes; 2M x 1M, 2.5M x 1.25M and 3.0M x 1.5M. It’s also possible to have bespoke sheet sizes de-coiled to suit if there are reasonable volumes. From these sheets we can cut a wide range of component shapes and sizes.

If a component is either rectangular or square as a flat blank it is possible to just guillotine the part from sheet. However if the component has a more complex outer profile or has internal holes then this process isn’t the best way to go. We would then either laser cut or CNC punch the components. These processes not only enable us to produce more complex shapes but at the same time cut holes. These holes could take the form of circular holes, windows, slots, corner notches, radius forms etc. The flexibility of laser cutting is CNC punching are great tools to have and we have both in house.

That produces us a flat blank (pattern) but this is just the starting point. If the component had a 3D form such as the guard covers show here we need to go further. We need to fold up the mild steel sheet. We have a range of sheet metal bending machines know as CNC press brakes. They can be programmed to produce different bend lengths and angles and are perfect for sub-contract sheet metal work.

For more examples of mild steel sheet metal work a great place to check out is our Pinterest Boards.

After folding these covers they were TiG welded and cleaned off nice and smooth. As you know you cannot just leave mild steel untreated as it will eventually go rusty. These components were then powder coated by the customer. For more information on mild steel components and the production processes we apply please give us a call. Alternatively, you can always send us drawings and we will be happy to quote for your next mild steel bespoke sheet metal fabrications.

Bespoke sheet metal fabrications manufactured in the UK

Tuesday, April 27th, 2021

Bespoke sheet metal fabrications

People need bespoke sheet metal fabrications when they cannot purchase a standard component. We can all search the internet for standard sheet metal boxes, brackets, rack equipment etc. Sometimes these products will be perfect for our needs. Other times with a small amount of machining they can be made to work. There will however be times when try as hard as you may you cannot find the right product. This is when you will need the support of a company like V and F Sheet Metal. You design your bespoke components and we manufacture them for you. It’s as simple as that, in theory.

In practice there can be a few stages to go through but we will support you along the way.

You will obviously have some idea of the part you need to fulfil a role in your design. You can communicate that idea to us in a range of ways. It may simple be a sketch with a few dimensions. Perhaps a photo of a similar part you want to base your new bespoke sheet metal design on. Or you may even have a sample that you can send to us to reverse engineer.

Of course if you have a CAD file or even a 3D model that’s a great start.

Bespoke sheet metal fabrications

Once we have your data, in whatever form it takes we can get down to helping you realise your ideas. This initially takes the form of a quotation to manufacture. Perhaps you will want several prices for different quantities so you can see the perfect breakeven point for your design. You may want options on different materials of finishes. This is no problem and we can build these options in at the quoting stage. This is the point where we take a good look at your design with our experience and suggest options to save money. Once you move forward to an order we can start CNC programming.

The manufacturing of bespoke sheet metal can take many forms. Be it CNC punching or laser cutting to start producing the initial sheet metal blank. CNC bending to form up shapes such as those shown here. Rolling, welding and a host of other manufacturing techniques can be employed to produce that individual part for you.

If you have that sheet metal component that cannot be purchased as a standard part ask us to help you out. Our engineering team are here ready to help you.

Precision sheet metal fabrications manufactured to your designs

Tuesday, April 20th, 2021

Precision sheet metal fabrications

Precision sheet metal fabrications can be used in so many different ways.

It may be sheet metal components manufactured for an electronics housing. Precision cut outs for cable connector to snap into place. Perhaps precision lighting reflectors to focus the light from a high performance lamp. Precision sheet metal copper plates for electrical bus bars. When there are many components brought together to form an assembly there will be need for precision in the cutting and folding of the individual parts.

Precision sheet metal fabrications

With these particular images we have custom components being formed on one of our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. The shapes formed are a combination of CNC bends, CNC curve multi-bends and using curved form tooling. All these precision sheet metal techniques have produced complex shapes without the need for special tooling.

The initial calculations to produce the profile were not easy. 3D CAD/CAM was used to produce a developed blank. This was then experimented and refines. Several iterations later we had the correct blank size for laser cutting and CNC bend programs that worked in production. Having a laser cutting machine is idea with a profile such as this. We can easily cut precision templates to check the shape during a product batch.

Precision sheet metal fabrications

For lots of ideas on sheet metal designs it’s always worth looking at past projects. Our Pinterest boards are a great starting point.

If you have a precision sheet metal fabrication project that needs manufacturing and you have a set of drawings, feel free to send them over to us. We will be happy to work through them and put prices on your volumes breaks for manufacturing as well as suggest any changes that could save you money. Please use sales@vandf.co.uk or call us if you want a chat.

Multi bending curves in sheet metal using CNC press brakes

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021

Multi bending curved surfaces

Whenever we need to produce curves in sheet metal we have several methods to consider. The overall length of the profile, material type, thickness, radius and production volumes all play a part in this decision. With small components in relatively high volumes constructing a form tool may well be a sensible option. This type of tooling could be mounted in a CNC press brake, power press or if small in a fly press. It would be idea for small brackets with curved profiles.

If however the part had an even radius form, rolling the curve may be a better option. With a range of hand and power rollers in house we often roll curved shapes. Up to 1M wide and a range of materials and thicknesses up to 3mm can be processed. Rolling works best where a consistent radius is required, for instance a semi-circular band. If however a more complex multi-radius curve is required then multi bending is the perfect solution.

Multi bending sheet metal curves

Multi bending on CNC press brakes can be a very flexible manufacturing process. With the ability to create complex shapes with both concave and convex curves within the same piece of sheet metal, multi bending is the method of choice for larger and complex profiles. Being able to adjust CNC programs from batch to batch to suit different material spring back characteristics is perfect. Curves can be checked against laser cut templates to ensure their accuracy.

With no special tooling required multi bending can also be used as a quick way to try out shapes for prototype work before money is committed to expensive hard tooling. More images of curved sheet metal can be found on our Pinterest Boards.

The great thing about all these processes; forming, rolling and multi bending is that we can apply the right one to suit your design and volumes. With a copy of your drawing or CAD data we can explore the options for you and produce a range of prices to suit. Simply send us an enquiry and we will do the rest.

Sheet metal manufacturing near me

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

If you are looking for sheet metal manufacturing near you perhaps you should be talking to V and F Sheet Metal. Based in the south of England and with well over 30 years experience in manufacturing sheet metal work for people right across the UK. We ship product locally and far afield. Please take a look at our website pages to see the wide range of parts we manufacture and all to our customers own designs.

CNC punched galvanised brackets

The images shown here illustrate the stages of CNC punching and CNC bending a sheet metal bracket. You can see that once a single component has been tooled it can easily be copied over a whole sheet. This enables us to achieve a high yield from any given sheet size.

Sheet metal component manufacturing

This is a good example of CNC punching a part with a range of simple off the shelf tooling. A small range of circles, rectangles and a single D were used to create the component profile and holes. If you want to view the wide range of CNC punch press tooling that we have for you to use for free, take a look at our tooling library. For more examples of CNC punching it’s well worth a look at our Pinterest Boards. There is also a collection of past manufacturing projects illustrated in our gallery pages with hundreds of ideas for your nest sheet metal design. Feel free to take a look and call us if there is something that catches your eye. We can often adapt tooling and ideas to suit different products.

Sheet metal CNC punched nests

The scrap sheets known as “skeletons” are collected up and recycled along with all the metal that comes from the holes. Metal is grouped together by grade e.g. stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel and kept separate. This metal is then sent for melting down to remake fresh metal sheet. This process is very green with very little waste. Even components that are used to help set up manufacturing processes and then scrapped can be included and recycled.

CNC bent sheet metal brackets

And finally the folded bracket is ready to be shipped to the customer. This small galvanised steel bracket is typical of the sheet metal work that we produce every day of the week. If you have a sheet metal project that needs manufacturing please give us a call or e-mail us your drawings and we will be happy to take a look for you.

So for sheet metal manufacturing near you please ask for details.

Sheet metal production companies in the UK 2020

Tuesday, November 17th, 2020

Sheet metal production – small brackets

Sheet metal production of small brackets and plates.

I thought it would be good to take a random selection of sheet metal production components as they perfectly illustrate the wide range of production techniques used today in the UK. These parts are typical, but be no means exhaustive of the different materials, thicknesses and finishes that we are requested to produce on a daily basis by our customers. Often using simple standard CNC punching and CNC bending tooling no additional costs are applied to these production projects. If the parts needs to be laser cut that production can also be catered for in house on our Trumpf 3KW fibre laser.

I have given a little more detail for each of the components in the photo, their material type, part finish and production stages to produce the complete part.

If you click on the photo you can clearly see each component identified with a number which corresponds with the details listed below.

Component 1

Material is 2mm thick mild steel. The part has been laser cut. It will be finished by zinc plating and clear passivating.

Component 2

Material is 3mm thick CZ108 brass. The part has been laser cut using pure nitrogen. No other finishing or treatment was required on this small brass washer.

Component 3

Material is 1.0mm thick 5251 aluminium alloy. The part has been CNC punched using standard tools of the shelf. All outer edges have been de-burred to remove the CNC punch nibble marks. It was finally anodised and dyed black.

Component 4
Material is 3mm aluminium. The parts has been CNC punched and then barrel de-burred to remove all sharp edges.

Component 5
Material for this small welded assembly is 0.7mm 316 stainless steel. The parts were laser cut together from the same sheet, CNC folded and then TiG welded together.

Component 6
Material for this copper bracket is C101. The bracket was laser cut on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutter. A simple edge de-burring was used to remove any sharp edges and then folded up on our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes.

Component 7
Material is galvanised weld mesh material used as a filter plate. This part was simply cut to size on our Safan guillotine.

Component 8
Material is 1.2mm aluminium. An interesting shape which has been CNC laser cut, CNC folded up and then powder coated matt black.

Component 9
Material is 2.5mm 304 stainless steel. These parts were laser cut, barrel de-burred, CNC folded and then had threads tapped in the holes.

Component 10
Material is 0.9mm thick galvanised mild steel. Simply CNC punched and edge de-burred.

For additional examples of sheet metal production pleas take a look at our Pinterest boards.

If you have some sheet metal production that needs looking at please don’t hesitate to send us your drawings. We will be happy to produce price options and review designs where needed.

Sheet metal and Woodwork furniture projects manufactured in the UK

Friday, August 14th, 2020

Bespoke Furniture Projects

Sheet Metal and Wood Work furniture projects

We are always pleased to combine sheet metal work with other materials. This time we have the chance to show you the perfect combination of sheet metal and wood. With vibrant colours and clean simple lines this furniture project shows how easy it is to turn an idea into reality with sheet metal.

No special tooling was needed. Simply CNC programs laser cutting and bending.

Sheet Metal and Wood Work furniture projects

We always enjoy working with customers who need some input at the design stage. These furniture projects are no different. Discussion over the exact metal gauge needed and handle shapes helped to reduce weight and manufacturing costs. With all the cutting and folding programs saved away it’s easy to run this project again. It’s also just as easy to adapt the programs for alternative shelving shapes and sizes.

If you have a bespoke furniture project that needs manufacturing please contact us and we will put you in touch with our customer. With their expertise and our engineering support you will soon have a solution.

Sheet Metal and Wood Work furniture projects

What next?

If you already have a set of drawings or 3D CAD data don’t hesitate in sending them over to us. Our engineering team will be happy to take a look and produce some prices for you. Small batches of components, assemblies and higher volumes are all catered for. Take a look at our website pages and blog posts. You will see a wide range of ideas and past projects. Alternatively you can always view our Pinterest Boards.

It should give you a good idea of just what we are capable of here at V and F Sheet Metal.

Sheet metal engineering facilities in Great Britain

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020

Sheet metal engineering of ventilation grilles

Sheet metal manufacturing of ventilation grilles

We are happy to offer our sheet metal engineering facilities for manufacturing in Great Britain. We have a wide range of skills and manufacturing plant with over 30 years of experience in this sector.

From helping newly formed companies with their designs, explaining the best manufacturing process to achieve the quality they want with an affordable price. Working with companies who need to reduce costs on existing products with perhaps a fresh set of eyes. Right up to larger volumes and KANBAN ideas to help plan projects over longer periods of time.

With an eye to new ideas and machines V and F Sheet Metal have constantly invested over the years. We have CNC punching, laser cutting and a wide range of CNC bending machines all supported with the latest CAD/CAM software. Feel free to follow the links to plant pages and also take a look at our gallery pages to see some of our recent sheet metal engineering projects.

Laser cut zintec rings for ceiling light fittings

We have a lot of free advice on our website with regards to tooling to help you save money when designing. Design data and guidance for material selections can also be useful when you first start out working on a new design. If you cannot find what you want on our website simply call us on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to help you.

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Another good place to see hundreds of examples of sheet metal engineering projects is on our Pinterest pages.

If you have a sheet metal engineering project that needs pricing and free advice please send us your drawings. You can either use our enquiry form or e-mail us at sales@vandf.co.uk. We will do the rest.

A quick look back at sheet metal manufacturing projects in 2020

Monday, May 18th, 2020

Sheet metal angle brackets

Although these have been difficult times in 2020 we are still looking forward to doing what we do best, manufacturing projects. I thought it was nice to look back at some recent sheet metal projects completed even during these difficult times.

We have been laser cutting, CNC punching, CNC bending and welding with a small team to keep our customers satisfied with their urgent needs. Along with a great network of painters and platers we have managed to finish off many projects.

Welded sheet metal work

As we bring in more staff our delivery times will reduce and the range of sheet metal work we can complete will increase. We are still producing new quotations for customers needing metal work and CNC programming where needed.

There is always the chance to rush something through when needed in a hurry. Please just ask and we will be happy to look for you at what we can do. Send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk

There’s always a great range of images to help with your designs on our Pinterest Boards

So what to do know?

If you have a drawing or two, please send them to us. We will be happy to review them for you. Comment on design ideas and offer price options.

Sheet metal manufacturing near Portsmouth – Give us a call for a quote

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Sheet metal manufacturing of mild steel brackets

Are you based near the Portsmouth area?

V and F Sheet Metal have been sheet metal manufacturing near Portsmouth since the 1980s. We have grown as a company with steady investment in manufacturing equipment, people and software. Now based in a 13,000 square foot factory on the Segensworth industrial estate we are ideally placed to support companies in the Portsmouth and Southampton region.

Whether you have a small batch of sheet metal brackets, boxes or plates you want or a larger volume of electronics housings, stainless steel panels or aluminium trays we are here to help you.

Sheet metal manufacturing of ventilation grilles

Please take a look at our website to see just how many different sheet metal projects we get involved with. You will be amazed at the variety and complexity of the sheet metal work we can produce. Using Radan 2020 CAD/CAM sheet metal software to drive our 2 CNC punch presses and fibre laser cutter to save time and money on your orders. We are always looking to improve our workshop equipment and tooling to maintain a high quality at the right price.

Laser cutting mild steel brackets

Although we have been sheet metal manufacturing near Portsmouth for a long time we have a customer base that stretches right across the UK. From Scotland and Northern Ireland right through England and Wales. Supporting small companies and “one man bands” to larger concerns with sheet metal work and advice on design.

Looking for more examples of modern sheet metal manufacturing? Take a look at our sheet metal Pinterest boards.

We will be happy to work with you on new sheet metal projects in 2020. Contact us through our website, call us and have a chat or e-mail your drawings and we will be pleased to produce you some price options.

Sheet metal manufacturers near Southampton – Give us a call

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

Sheet metal manufacturers producing aluminium housings

V and F Sheet Metal are sheet metal manufacturers of a wide range of components. Being sub-contract sheet metal workers based near Southampton we get involved in all sorts of projects. These aluminium housings, stainless grille and mild steel trays are typical of the projects we manufacture everyday of the week. We are always working hard to help out our customers. Whether it’s free advice on their designs. Perhaps alternative ideas to save money or call off volumes to help with production planning. We are here to help where and when we can. With over 30 years experience in sheet metal in the UK we are here to help you.

Sheet metal manufacturers producing
laser cut stainless steel grilles

Being able to work with your drawings direct into our CAD/CAM system speeds up programming and reduces confusion on the shop floor. Our engineering team are always keeping an eye on designs to make sure they are practical in production. Even at the quote stage we will suggest alternatives for you to think about to save money. We are here to work in conjunction with you.

Sheet metal manufacturers producing mild steel trays

With laser cutting, CNC punching, CNC bending, welding and press work in house, there isn’t much we can’t tackle for you. With 3D CAD/CAM and an experienced engineering team that is here ready to help, go on, give us a go.

Send us you drawings when you are ready and we will be happy to take a look and prepare a quotation for you.

File formats DXF, DWG, SAT, STEP, IGES and of course PDF are fine.

Sheet metal projects manufactured during November 2019

Thursday, November 7th, 2019

Sheet metal projects November 2019

Being a sub-contract sheet metal manufacturer enables us to work on a wide range of sheet metal projects. Although we do not have our own product, we feel we have an investment in all our customers products. Whether it’s helping to fine tune a design to save time in production, input at the design stage to solve problems or simply offering a range of prices to suit the right order volume.

Sheet metal projects November 2019

With many customers across a wide range of industries in the UK we have an interesting time each month manufacturing sheet metal projects. As shown in the photos here we work with mild steel, aluminium, Zintec as well as stainless steel, copper, brass etc. It’s the ability to turn our hand to work with so many different materials and thicknesses that make us your idea partner for sheet metal work.

Sheet metal projects November 2019

Using laser cutting and CNC punching to produce sheet metal blanks enables us to select the most effective production method to suit your design, material and volumes. We may start production of a component on say our fibre laser and then if volumes increase, we may move the part to CNC punching with tooling. Along with a range of 7 CNC press brakes all in house we can offer the complete service for your sheet metal projects.

Sheet metal projects November 2019

We only manufacture sheet metal work and that’s what we specialise in. We have a network of companies that we can use to help us with powder coating, zinc plating, anodising etc.

With over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing sheet metal components for UK companies we are always happy to help you out. Our engineering teams in design and production have seen it all before. We have the latest CAD/CAM software to aid communication with your designers. We can also simulate jobs before manufacturing starts to be sure we can get the best from any sheet of metal.

Simply send us your drawings or 3D data to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest for you.

Aluminium sheet metal fabrications manufactured in the UK

Thursday, October 31st, 2019

Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake folding aluminium sheet metal fabrications

Aluminium sheet metal fabrications can come in many shapes, thickness and sizes. We have been producing sheet metal work for over 30 years and have seen most everything that people want producing. From small volume tiny electrical components right up to fully welded aluminium sheet metal fabrications. 19” rack mounted components, support angles and lots for the UK lighting industry.

Using both CNC punching and laser cutting to produce blanks and then onto CNC bending to fold up brackets, trays, boxes, long profiles etc.

Aluminium sheet metal blanks

Producing an accurate sheet metal blank is crucial if we are to fold up a correct component. This accuracy comes from using Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software. This is the starting point for all our CNC punching and laser cutting activities. It enables us to communicate with our customers taking their designs and feeding back changes in a most efficient way. The ability to produce the correct blank size, edge profile and corner notch conditions leads to folded sheet metal work with consistent sizes and joints.

aluminium sheet metal fabrications

Consistency when folding aluminium sheet metal fabrications is essential. The ability to write a CNC program using standard tooling to fold up a part is one thing. To be able to repeat the cycle again and again without interruption is important. To be able to do that months apart and on different machines in a very powerful technique. Having 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes all reading the same programs and using the same tooling is essential to achieving this consistency.

For more examples of sheet metal fabrications please take a look at this Blog post.

So finally here’s the sales pitch, if you have a sheet metal fabrication that you wish to have manufactured why not let us take a look for you. We can take your drawings, have a good look and see if there are any points than can be fine tuned to save you money and offer you a range of prices. Just send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest for you.

Sheet metal manufacturing in Hampshire UK

Thursday, October 24th, 2019

Sheet metal manufacturing in Hampshire

I have been looking at the wide range of sheet metal work we get involved with and it amazes me where all the parts go. With customers ordering sheet metal parts from the 4 corners of the UK we get involved in so many different manufacturing sectors. Electrical/electronics, heating, lighting, professional audio, building, pumping systems, signage to name but a few are supported by us. With orders from 1 off specials right up to many 1,000s of production volumes we have the equipment to cope with your needs. Typical batch sizes are a few hundred parts at a time.

With over 30 year’s experience of manufacturing, tooling and skills we have a comprehensive service to offer you. You only have to look at our website galleries and BLOG to see the wide range of parts we manufacture. And being a sub-contract company we never know what people might ask for next.

You can always look at past projects to collect design ideas from other industries that may solve a design issue you have. With so many examples to view here and on our Pinterest Boards it’s a great resource for design ideas.

If you want to understand more about the processes we go through to manufacture your parts there is a helpful page on our website to look through, “What is sheet metal work and how is it made?“.

By all means give us a call if you want to know more. Perhaps you have a specific project in mind but are not quite sure of the details. Our engineering team will be happy to help you proceed or work out some price options for you.

Ray Frith
Director

Sheet metal manufacturing in Hampshire UK

Cloak room storage systems with sheet metal bracket assemblies

Monday, October 21st, 2019

Modular coat hanger systems

Here’s a great example of a project we were recently involved with. Combining both woodwork and metalwork to produce cloak room storage systems. The simple line and function being key to this projects success. Metal components laser cut from sheet steel and thicker steel plate. Once the metal parts were powder coated and assembled they easily became part of the whole design.

A frame system for coat and bag storage

It’s always a pleasure to work with customers on bespoke projects and see the final product fulfilling its potential. These cloak room storage systems are used for a London University to provide flexible storage and space dividers.

There were a few hundred components that were needed in total for this project. That volume perfectly suits our manufacturing processes. Using laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending processes to manufacture bespoke sheet metal components and assemblies. If you can drawing it we can probably make it.

Using the latest Radan CAD/CAM software with 3D modelling enables us to get the best from our machines and to interact directly when needed with our customer’s designers. Swapping ideas and quote options is easy and helps to refine the design quickly when time is of the essence.

If you have a project coming up that needs some bespoke sheet metal work, give us a call. We are happy to chat through your ideas and fine tune designs where needed to save time and money.

If you are already at the final design stage then simple e-mail us at sales@vandf.co.uk and our engineering team will be pleased to put together some cost options for you.

Welded fabricated trolley brackets

For more examples of recent sheet metal project and ideas for your next design why not take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Another good place to start looking at sheet metal designs is our website gallery pages.

Where can I find a sheet metal working company in the UK

Thursday, October 17th, 2019

CNC punched sheet metal work

Where can I find a sheet metal working company in the UK?

Right here in Hampshire.

V and F Sheet Metal have been manufacturing sheet metal components for companies in the UK for over 30 years now. With a wide range of computer based manufacturing machines and traditional hand craft skills we offer a comprehensive manufacturing service. From CNC fibre laser cutting and CNC punching along with CNC bending to press work, rolling and many different welding techniques. Here’s a great example of using CNC punching thin gauge Zintec to produce housings for industrial light fittings. The housings are supplied flat “as punched” and then folded up by the customer along the “dotted lines”. This design idea helps to save storage space and reduces volume in shipping.

We are always happy to help you with your designs and can advise you on the right tooling that we hold on the shelf. Most new projects that we look at for our customers do not need new punching or bend tooling. Used in conjunction with our Trumpf fibre laser we can tackle a wide variety of designs and profiles. With many ferrous and non-ferrous sheet materials held on the shelf for a speedy turn around when needed.

Call us and we can guide you or e-mail your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk for a quick price on your next project.

For more examples of sheet metal working in the UK why not take a look at our Pinterest Boards. We have thousands of images of past sheet metal projects that you can study and re great of ideas when considering a new design.

So in conclusion, “Where can I find a sheet metal working company in the UK?” right here in Fareham, Hampshire.

Give us a call today and we will start to save you money.

Sheet metal enclosures manufactured in mild steel with formed louvres

Monday, October 14th, 2019

CNC punching sheet metal enclosures on our Trumpf 200 punch press

Sheet metal enclosures come in so many shapes and sizes. Different materials, manufacturing processes and finishes are called for and you need to be sure you are getting the right price. When it comes to manufacturing sheet metal enclosure we have all the facilities you require. Whether it’s CNC punching as these examples of laser cutting we can process your designs efficiently.

Formed sheet metal louvres - 3 sheets waiting to be broken out

Formed sheet metal louvres – 3 sheets of CNC punched mild steel waiting to be broken out

These particular mild steel sheet metal enclosures are being manufactured to house fibre optic lighting control gear. They will be folded up on our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes and have a variety of bushes and studs inserted. With spot welded corner joints and accompanying covers they will then be powder coated.

Sheet metal enclosures still in their CNC punched nest

If you want your sheet metal enclosures powder coated, zinc plated, anodised or silk screened we have a selection of sub-contract suppliers who work with us to give you the best service possible. You simple have to ask and we will track down that unusual material or finish if that’s really what you need for your design.

If you want help with your designs and are not quite sure how to get the best from today’s sheet metal manufacturing equipment, give us a call. We can easily take a look at your drawings and suggest improvements to simplify features to speed up production. Perhaps you need to look at our CNC punch press tooling tables to eliminate the chances of needing new tooling.

Feel free to call us or e-mail your ideas to sales@vandf.co.uk

Sheet metal workers in Hampshire – call us now for a quote

Thursday, October 10th, 2019

CNC punched and CNC formed mild steel sheet

Looking for sub-contract sheet metal workers in Hampshire? We have been manufacturing sheet metal work for over 30 years in Hampshire, UK. We don’t have our own products we simply just concentrate on offering a good service to our customers in manufacturing their products.

From the early days of guillotining materials, using fly presses and manual bending machines to produce simple sheet metal components and welded assemblies we have been production sheet metal workers. Now with the advent of CNC punch presses, CNC bending machines and CNC laser cutting the complexity of parts we can offer you has greatly increased. Coupled with sophisticated CAD/CAM software the range of sheet metal work we produce today is quite astonishing. The speed we can take an idea that you might have and turn it into a complete finished product has comes right down in the past few years.

We have so many examples of past sheet metal projects here on our website in past blog posts and gallery pages. We also have a large collection of sheet metal component ideas on our Pinterest Boards.

Sheet metal workers in Hampshire, UK

So if you want us to help you with your next sheet metal work project what do you need to do next? Simply send us your drawings and we will be happy to quote for your next engineering project. Send either 3D (STEP or SAT) or 2D data (DXF, DWG, PDF) to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest.

Want to chat through your ideas with sheet metal workers who listen? Call us on 01489 577786 and our engineering team will be happy to advise you on getting the best out of our manufacturing plant to keep your purchasing costs down.

We hope to work with you soon.

Sheet metal work in Hampshire 2019 – call for a quote

Tuesday, September 17th, 2019

Sheet metal work in Hampshire 2019

V and F Sheet Metal have been producing sheet metal work in Hampshire for over 30 years.

Whatever your sheet metal work requirements might be we will try our best to help you. Whether it’s laser cutting, CNC punching or CNC bending we have many years’ experience in solving problems.

If you need help selecting the right material, the correct gauge or a finish / treatment that’s right for your design, give us a call.

We have so many examples of sheet metal work on our Pinterest boards, take a look for yourself.

From small batches and prototypes right up to high volume production we have the machines to help you. Along with the latest production equipment we have CAD/CAM software to enable us to efficiently communicate with your designers. Understanding a customer’s needs early on helps to save time and money when it comes to production. Tooling tables on our website give you free access to CNC punch press tool profiles. This enables you to tailor your designs to suit standard tools and again save you money. Most of our customers find that they don’t need to purchase any tooling for new designs.

Simply send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to sort out some price options for you. Alternatively, you can call us and have a chat to tell us what you are trying to achieve before spending time designing if that helps.

If you are based locally then you are always welcome to pop in and see what we get up to.

Sheet metal components manufactured in Great Britain

Thursday, July 25th, 2019

Sheet metal projects

If you are looking to source sheet metal components manufactured in Great Britain then you really should be talking to V and F Sheet Metal. With over 30 years of experience sub-contract manufacturing in Great Britain we have a wealth of ideas and tooling to aid you with your next sheet metal component design. Whether it’s advice on selecting the best commercially available materials or cheapest finishes, just ask us and we will be happy to help.

If you take a look at our GALLERY PAGES you will see hundreds of past projects that may give you just the design idea you are looking for. You may also be interested to view our Pinterest Boards with over 1000 sheet metal component images.

If you just want to understand more about the sheet metal manufacturing processes we apply here in Fareham, Hampshire then our extended web page “What is sheet metal work and how is it made” is well worth a read.

With a wide range of sheet metal components manufactured in Great Britain using the latest CNC techniques we are a great partner for your next sheet metal project. Whether it’s laser cutting, CNC punching or CNC bending we can help. With more obscure manufacturing processes in house such as power rolling, spot welding and press work there’s not much we cannot cope with in our factory. We also have a wide range of contacts in engineering allowing us to machine, apply finishes and treatments along with silk screening to finished sheet metal components.

With the ability to offer a range of quote prices and process options there is usually a solution that will suit you and your budget.

Contact us on 01489 577786 or send us your drawing data to sales@vandf.co.uk. Our engineering team will be happy to help and produce you competitive prices.

Stainless steel sheet metal brackets manufactured in Great Britain

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019

Stainless steel brackets

If you are looking for a supplier of brackets manufactured in Great Britain then you really should be talking to V and F sheet Metal. With over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing sheet metal brackets there’s nothing we haven’t seen before. From thick gauge aluminium angle brackets to support electronics rack mounted chassis to stainless steel top hat brackets. Mild steel, Zintec, galvanised steel you name it and we have worked with it.

Stainless steel brackets

For brackets manufactured in Great Britain by a family owned British company we are the people to come and talk to. The stainless steel brackets shown here were from an order for one of our customers in Oxfordshire. All 3 types of brackets were laser cut, barrel de-burred to take away any sharp edges and then folded up on our CNC press brakes.

The design and order volume was all to suit our customer’s needs.

Stainless steel brackets

The advantage in using laser cutting machines, CNC punch presses and CNC press brakes is the flexibility they bring to manufacturing. We can change details to suit your needs from batch to batch. Be it hole sizes, bend lengths, bend angles or material thicknesses.

Perhaps you have a standard bracket but need a modified special batch for a new installation, give us a call and we can easily produce options for you.

With a wealth of manufacturing experience along with a large range of standard tooling we are your perfect partner when it comes to sourcing brackets manufactured in Great Britain.

Contact our estimate and programming team on 01489 57776, use the onsite contact form or send your drawings direct to us at sales@vandf.co.uk

We will be happy to produce some price options for you and help where we can to get your prices down.

Lighting sheet metal work ideas from V and F Sheet Metal in the UK

Tuesday, May 7th, 2019

Lighting sheet metal work for the UK

Lighting sheet metal work ideas

Lighting sheet metal work is something we have been involved with since the 1980s. We have helped numerous companies based in the UK to realise their ideas and turn them into practical products. Working with large and small companies we have seen so many products, worked with so many materials and seen the industry change.

Lighting sheet metal work ideas

We have many lighting sheet metal materials in stock and access to a wide range of stockists to source odd materials when needed. Along with a large library of CNC punching and CNC bending tooling we can often manufacture components without the need for new tooling.

Along with a Trumpf fibre laser cutting in house we can produce any complex shape you can dream up. In standard ferrous and non-ferrous materials as well as brass and copper.

Lighting sheet metal work ideas

These simple housings were designed to fit at the end of a standard light batten and hold a motion sensor. By using pre-painted mild steel and easy bends the customer was able to wrap the sheet metal around the sensor and fix it to the batten as a retrofit.

So, what do you do now?

Well if you want to talk to sheet metal worker who specialises on manufacturing products for the lighting industry you really should be talking to us. Send in your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01489 577786 for assistance.

Sub-contract sheet metal workers based in the UK

Thursday, May 2nd, 2019

Sub-contract sheet metal work produced to your designs right here in the UK

sub-contract sheet metal work

No matter what sub-contract sheet metal work you are looking for we have probably come up against it before. With over 30 years experience manufacturing sheet metal products in the UK we have the people and the equipment to tackle most projects you are likely to want.

sub-contract sheet metal work

With CNC punching, CNC laser cutting and CNC bending all in house we can manage a project from the start to the finish. Using Radan sheet metal work CAD/CAM software to create 3D models, accurate developed blanks and efficient laser cutting and CNC punching nests.

From the smallest batches and new design prototypes right up to repeating batches of many hundreds or thousands. We can provide you with 3D images before committing to full production if that helps with a new design you may have.

CNC bending sheet metal workers

In addition to a wide range of manufacturing processes that we have in house we also have a tight knit group of finishing companies we can call upon to offer the complete service. Whether it’s anodsing or Iridite NCP treatment of aluminium electronics components. Powder coating or wet spraying components. Silk screening or brush finishing. Zinc plating with colour or clear passivate. You name it and we can get it sorted for you.

For more example of recent sheet metal projects please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

So if you are looking for sub-contract sheet metal work, give us a call and we will be happy to help you.

Manufacturer of sheet metal components in the UK

Thursday, April 18th, 2019

If you are looking for a manufacturer of sheet metal components in the UK take a look at V and F Sheet Metal.

manufacturers of sheet metal components in the UK

manufacturer of sheet metal components in the UK

Perhaps you have to source a small batch of sheet metal work for a special project. You have a new design that requires sheet metal assemblies. You have an established product that needs a cost / design review. Whatever your requirements we are here to help. With over 30 years experience in a wide range of sheet metal manufacturing processes we can apply a keen eye to your designs. If we can suggest small changes to save time or material we will be happy to save you money.

manufacturers of sheet metal components in the UK

Whether it’s laser cutting, CNC punching or CNC bending we have the facilities to support you. Take a look at some of our past projects and I’m sure you will see we have the facilities to support you. Working with all the standard sheet metal materials as well as special lighting materials, many on the shelf. From 0.3mm up to 8mm thick and from small brackets on a few mm across right up to 3M long sections. We can cover the vast majority of sheet metal manufacturing projects required by you.

Call us on 01489 577786 and our engineering team will be happy to talk with you. If you prefer, feel free to send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will work on cost options for you.

Sheet metal work manufacturing in Great Britain 2019

Friday, March 22nd, 2019

Sheet metal work manufacturing in Great Britain with or without Brexit!

Sheet metal work in Great Britain 2019

Taking a quick walk around the factory today and I can see lots of new sheet metal projects. Some are just prototypes for new customers and other projects are in decent volumes. The parts that you can see here are just typical of the manufacturing we produce every day for our customers.

All our customers are keen to explore new ideas and designs that can be used to improve their products. Ideas sometimes come from seeing a past project for a completely different industry and realising it can help them solve a problem. The same is true with materials, some industries prefer particular sheet materials that are unknown to others. A quick look through our website and it can start a discussion which we are always happy to have.

Stainless steel sheet metal work

The same is true for tooling. We have on many occasions brought in tooling to solve a particular manufacturing requirement only to find that it works perfectly for other people’s products. That’s why we have a range of CNC punching tooling tables on the website. You can browse through them and often find something that will do the job. Specify it on your drawing and you have just saved yourself time and money.

Stainless steel sheet metal work

So if you not just looking to have sheet metal work manufactured but also want to save money in your design this is the place to start. You can give us a call if you have seen an image and you want to understand how we have made it. Perhaps you want to know a particular material we have used and the options for your design. For a good range of sheet metal ideas and past projects it’s always worth a look at our Pinterest Boards.

If you are at the quoting stage and have your drawings ready please send them to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will take a look for you.

Where can I get stainless steel sheet metal work in the UK

Tuesday, February 26th, 2019

Here are just some of the services we can offer you to produce your stainless steel sheet metal work in the UK include the following:

• Laser cutting

• CNC punching

• CNC bending

• Rolling

• Power press work

• Spot welding

• TiG welding

• Insertion of stainless steel studs and bushes

Laser cut stainless steel bespoke handrail blank

Great example of using our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting machine to produce bespoke hand rails. The decorative part details were taken direct from our customers DXF CAD files. Reading it straight into Radan CAD/CAM software was no problem. All we had to do was to clean up the images a little and we were away, laser cutting. All the parts were laser cut for this one off project in under an hour and then onto CNC bending.

TiG welded stainless steel sheet metal work

Stainless steel TiG welds beautifully. Of all the sheet metal materials we are asked to weld stainless steel is the best. These display board housings were fabricated from 304 stainless steel that had been CNC punched, CNC folded and then TiG welded. If you look carefully you can still see the bending marks used on our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes to create the curved corner sections. These bend marks were removed during the cleaning up and de-burring process. Once the housings were polished there was no sign of the manufacturing process.

Folding a small stainless steel channel

Some stainless steel sheet metal work needs to be protected when being manufactured. We can specify to the material stockists that we want a peelable plastic film on the surface of the sheet metal. Even with this protective film sometimes the bending process can still press lines into the surface of the sheet from the CNC bend blocks. Using an extra thick bend film, as in the photo, enables us to ensure the part will have no marks on the outside surface of the bend.

For more examples of sheet metal work that might help you with your current stainless steel designs, why not take a look at our Pinterest Board

If you have a good idea what you want to have manufactured but just want us to take a look and produce a range of prices for you please e-mail us at sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to help.

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