Metals & Services, Addison, Ill., didn't get caught up in the excitement of the 90,000-PSI waterjet pumps that seemed to be all the rage at recent tradeshows. Company management did its own homework and found that using a 60,000-PSI pump with multiple heads works out just swimmingly for its waterjet cutting operations.

The FAB 40 listing for 2011 indicates that metal fabricators are gearing up to cope with an expanding manufacturing economy.

Plasma beveling technology has progressed in recent years to the point where the degree of taper has been reduced greatly and the ability to achieve predictable results, cut after cut, is possible. Having said that, a knowledgeable equipment operator can have a tremendous impact on optimizing the equipment's performance.

Atlanta Precision Machine & Fabrication, a job shop launched in 2009, represents the latest venture of Atlanta Attachment Co., a made-to-order equipment manufacturer that has found success with diversification, both in the markets it serves and the services it offers, from basic fabrication to complete assembly.

These days, plate rolls are forming plate 6 and 7 inches thick--and even thicker. Vessel designs that would have been forged just a decade ago are now being sent to fabrication houses. The variable-geometry plate roll system, which really operates more like a press brake than a traditional plate roll, is making such extreme rolling possible.

Even a modern quoting software package is no guarantee that all job estimates will be done consistently and correctly. But tips, such as investigating the software's full capabilities and establishing master routing templates, can help the software meet those high expectations.

When others sat on the sidelines praying for a miracle during the Great Recession, Seconn Fabrication added 25,000 square feet, invested in new equipment, implemented a new MRP system, refocused its marketing efforts, and tackled other projects to better prepare itself for the economic rebound.

Mayville Engineering Co. of Mayville, Wis., has grown into a metal fabrication powerhouse, with seven plants that altogether employ more than 1,000 workers. But it hasn’t been an easy ride. Less than a decade ago, MEC was struggling to find its way. Today, the company has a conservative, healthy balance sheet, and plenty of runway room for serious growth.

Three books together paint a good picture of this industry. It’s a combination of technical knowhow, pragmatism, down-to-earth humor, and big-picture thinking.