Frequently Asked Questions

Unifab is located at 5260 Lovers Lane in Portage, Michigan.

We routinely serve customers across Michigan and the broader Midwest, and can ship completed assemblies to customers throughout the United States.

If you are looking for a custom metal fabricator in Michigan or the Midwest, we can quote, build, and ship directly from our Portage facility.

Unifab supports customers across a mix of transportation and industrial markets, including:

• Transportation vehicles and chassis components.
• Material handling and storage systems.
• Bulk and point-of-purchase displays.
• Emergency vehicle components and assemblies.
• Data center racks and enclosures.

Custom metal fabrication is flexible by nature, and we regularly apply our capabilities in new markets. If your industry is not listed, please contact us. We love tackling new challenges!

The industries on our site represent Unifab’s areas of deep experience, not our limits. If your product involves precision sheet metal, tube fabrication, or welded assemblies, we can partner with you to deliver a solution, even if your market is not specifically named.

Many of our long-term relationships started with a single project in a “new” industry that grew over time.

Yes. We fabricate metal enclosures and racks that are designed to maximize space, airflow, and cable management in data centers.

With in-house engineering, laser cutting, forming, welding, and finishing, we can support everything from individual components to full rack and enclosure assemblies for data center environments and critical infrastructure work.

At Unifab, our core purpose is to “Face the Challenge. Make a Difference. Exceed Expectations.”

Our work is guided by three values that shape how we operate as a team and as a partner.

• We are Rooted in doing things the right way. That includes integrity, hard work, and caring for the Unifab family, which includes our families, employees, customers, and community.
• We are Growing through continuous doing what is right. This immovable goal involves strength, consistency, dependability, transparency, and always be ready to listen and change to improve.
• We are Flourishing when our customers and the Unifab family succeed. We achieve excellence by embracing commitment, investment, high intention, sincere effort, and the ability to see obstacles as opportunities.

These values support everything we do from daily decisions on the shop floor to long-term planning for equipment, staffing, and customer support.

When you partner with us, you’ll find that our response time, attention to detail, and relationship-based approach set Unifab apart.

The easiest way to start a project with Unifab is to request a quote or contact our team. Share your drawings, quantities, and any special requirements, and we will follow up to clarify details, provide pricing, and discuss next steps.

You can reach us online through our Request a Quote form or by calling the Unifab team at 269.382.2803.

Unifab is a full-service precision metal fabricator with in-house engineering, fabrication, and finishing. Our core capabilities include laser cutting, formed metal fabrication, tube laser cutting, turret punching, tube bending, and MIG/TIG welding.

We also offer value-added services such as prototyping, assembly, storage, and shipping so your project can move from concept to finished product under one roof.

Yes. Unifab has an in-house engineering department that helps customers move from concept or to production-ready parts.

We use SolidWorks and a full CAD/CAM toolset to prototype and refine your designs.

As part of that process, we look at DFM factors such as bend radii, hole sizes and spacing, weld access, and material selection. Small design adjustments can reduce cost, shorten lead times, and improve long-term performance.

Key considerations when designing assemblies include weld access, part fit-up, heat input, distortion control, and fixture strategy. Small design adjustments, such as adding locating tabs or adjusting joint geometry, can improve efficiency and long-term part performance.

Our equipment supports stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum, copper, and brass across a broad range of sheet and light-gauge thicknesses.

If you have a specialized alloy, our engineering team can review it during quoting.

Our Bystronic fiber lasers and press brakes are built for precision. For many parts, we can hold tight tolerances typical for precision sheet metal fabrication, such as a few thousandths of an inch on laser-cut features, when supported by the design and material.

Actual tolerances depend on material, geometry, and downstream processes.

During quoting, our team will review your drawings and let you know where we can meet your requirements as specified, and where a slight tolerance change might reduce your cost.

Our engineering team can work with a broad range of CAD formats.

Accepted formats include:

• Native SolidWorks files.
• STEP and IGES.
• AutoCAD DXF and DWG.
• Autodesk Inventor
• Parasolid.
• STL.

If you are unsure about your file format, send what you have and we will confirm whether a conversion is needed. We’d also be happy to help you define and refine the design for best performance, cost, and machinability.

Material thickness affects forming behavior, required tooling, weld strength, and overall stability.

Very thin materials may need increased bracing or specific tooling to prevent distortion while thicker materials require more tonnage and may impact bend radius constraints.

We help align thickness with function and cost.

Unifab operates under an ISO 9001 certified quality management system. Every setup is verified, processes are documented, and we can provide full PPAP submissions for customers that require them.

We also use in-process inspections, final checks, and ongoing training so that each production run meets your specifications from part number one to part 1,000.

Yes. Unifab routinely signs non-disclosure agreements and treats customer designs, models, and product information as confidential. Many of the programs we support involve proprietary components or pre-market product development, so protecting intellectual property is a standard part of our work.

All files, prints, and project details are handled securely within our engineering and production systems, and access is limited to the team members who need it to build your parts.

If you have your own NDA, we can review and sign it. If you need an NDA from us, we can provide one at the start of your project.

To help us provide an accurate estimate for your metal fabrication project, we typically ask for:

• 2D drawings and, when available, 3D CAD models.
• Material type and thickness.
• Expected annual usage or order quantities.
• Any critical tolerances, certifications, or testing needed.
• Finishing, assembly, packaging, and shipping requirements.
• Target timeline or launch date.

When you’re ready to partner with Unifab, you can send this information through our contact form or by working directly with our sales and estimating teams.

Piece price is important, but it is only part of the story.

We look at design efficiency, automation, finishing, assembly, freight, inventory handling, and release scheduling. Many cost drivers occur outside the basic part price, so we aim to reduce the full lifecycle cost of your project.

Our approach to total cost includes:

• Designing for manufacturability to reduce scrap, rework, and assembly time.
• Using automation to improve consistency and throughput.
• Offering finishing, assembly, storage, and shipping in one location to cut freight and handling.
• Working with you on order quantities and timing that best fit your requirements.

These practices can reduce the hidden costs that often exceed the difference between two quotes.

Several factors influence cost of a metal fabrication project, including:

• Material type, grade, and thickness.
• Part complexity and required tolerances.
• Quantity and repeat frequency.
• Finishing requirements such as powder coating or special packaging.
• Certification or testing needs, such as PPAP or special inspections.

By engaging our engineering team early, you can often adjust features or tolerances to achieve the performance you need at a more efficient cost.

Lead times depend on project scope, material availability, and current volume.
As a general rule:

• Simple repeat parts with stock material often run on shorter lead times.
• Complex assemblies, new product launches, or projects that require tooling, fixtures, or extensive finishing require more time to test and deliver quality.

Our goal is to deliver in full and on time, not to overpromise. We will provide an estimated lead time with your quote and update you if anything changes.

Yes. Our engineering and prototyping capabilities help launch new parts, and our mix of automated laser cutting, turret punching, tube laser, robotic forming, and welding supports low, medium, and high-volume production as demand grows for scalability.

This combination lets you work with one partner from first prototype through full production, which can reduce ramp-up time and quality risk.

Laser cutting delivers clean edges and is ideal for complex shapes or tight tolerances while turret punching excels on high-volume parts with repeating features like holes, louvers, or slots.

We determine the best method based on the geometry, material, and budget of a project.

Structural needs, performance, aesthetics, and cost help determine whether a part should be welded, formed, or assembled from multiple pieces.

Welding is ideal for structural joints or multi-component assemblies. Forming can reduce weld seams, which often lowers cost and improves consistency.

Our engineering team can review your design and recommend options.

Tube laser cutting replaces manual saws, drill presses, and fixtures with precise automated cutting to improve accuracy and cost. This reduces setup time, improves repeatability, and allows features like copes, tabs, and slots to be cut directly into the tube for faster assembly.

Yes. In addition to engineering and fabrication, Unifab offers surface finishing and powder coating, as well as storage and shipping services.

We can also support assembly and kitting so your parts arrive ready to install or ship to your own customers, which can shrink your internal handling and warehouse needs.

These services allow you to consolidate vendors and reduce handling before parts reach the field or your customer.

While our primary focus is quality and delivery, sustainability is an important part of modern metal fabrication.

We work to:

• Nest parts efficiently on sheet and plate to minimize scrap.
• Use automated equipment that improves energy efficiency and consistency.
• Follow recycling practices for metals and other process byproducts.

We are continually looking for ways to reduce waste and support customers that have their own environmental goals.