Capabilities - Fabrication Services

One of the more critical elements in the success of any construction project is the utilization of sheet metal and pipe fabrication. McKinstry Co. is well known for its leadership in metal fabrication and piping "prefabrication". McKinstry maintains one of the region's largest and best tooled manufacturing facilities. Whether the client's issue is cost savings, job site restrictions, enhanced QA/QC, or the logistics of building design, our fabrication teams are fully integrated into all phases of our business. From maintaining schedules to manpower utilization, our fabrication capability is one of our key services.

Our experience can be found in virtually every construction sector including commercial, industrial, manufacturing, high technology, medical, biotechnology, and biomedical research. Client's such as Boeing, Microsoft, Cellpro, Intel, Red Lion Inns, AT&T Wireless, and University of Washington have benefited from the quality and efficiencies realized through the use of our fabrication philosophy.

Sheet Metal Fabrication

For more than 25 years McKinstry Co. has been a leader in the sheet metal segment of the mechanical contracting business. With a fabrication facility in   Seattle occupying some 100,000 square feet, McKinstry Co. has grown to become the largest sheet metal fabricator in the industry. Our shop insures that we deliver the full service approach for all sizes of clients, anywhere in the region. Our sheet metal shop features flexibility and operates on a two shift basis to adapt to the diversity, location and schedules of our client's projects.

This fully automated and modern facility utilizes computer aided design and detailing in the planning and fabrication of every type of sheet metal ranging from galvanized rectangle, oval and round to stainless steel, aluminum and copper for specialty applications. The shop utilizes equipment representing the latest technology available to the sheet metal fabrication industry.

These include:

Engle Coil Line Unit with TDF (attachment): This equipment takes sheet steel from large coils, passes it through a mechanical assembly line, and turns out sized, completed duct components. The end treatment produced in this process permits joining of duct sections in record time and significant cost savings at the point of installation.

Cybermation Plasma Cutting Units (2): These units, equipped with attendant computer hardware and software, produce parts for sheet metal fittings and other fabrications in accurate detail and at high speeds by utilizing computer controlled plasma arc cutting tables. The system also is known for minimizing waste usually unavoidable in custom fabrication, through utilization of sophisticated "Nesting" software.

"SPIRO" Round Duct Machines (2): These machines revolutionized the cost of producing round duct for low pressure applications. With one in the shop and one trailer mounted for job site requirements, we are uniquely qualified for large and small, fast-track work.

Pipe Fabrication

It has been McKinstry's goal in the last few years to pursue a more efficient approach to HVAC piping coordination, fabrication, and installation to compliment our experience in plumbing fabrication. The use of specialized computer software and sophisticated fabrication tools in our spacious fab shop have helped us realize significant progress towards this end.

We have proven job after job that early planning and the use of prefabricated spools is not only fast, efficient and accurate, but also allows the client to be assured a superior finished installation.

The use of the sophisticated AutoCADİ based software such as Propipeİ, allows us to accurately produce 3D models of our work. This can be accomplished in a short duration, and affords us the ability to view the installation long before construction begins. Large problems and small details become very clear and can then be addressed during the detailing phase. This assures a clean, easily maintained space that is critical to operation and owner satisfaction. The hidden beauty of this system is the automatic generation of material and spool sheets from the finished detailed shop drawings. Like the sheet metal division, we can then be assured of accurate estimates up front, and can order materials and parts long before fabrication has begun. Our pipe fabrication shop employs only ASME certified welders who have at their disposal numerous fitup tools and automated welding equipment, assuring fast and accurate spool production.

These include:

  • Plasma Cutter: Accurately cuts all sizes of carbon steel pipe. Cuts   produced need little cleanup.

  • Positioner and Arc Welding machines: A MIG process and spray   transfer are utilized to produce the fastest and cleanest welds possible.

  • Overhead Crane: enables us to build large, prefabricated machine skids that are ready for installation and use with less field labor.

  • Rollgroover: for pipe (up to 36 diameter) allows mechanical joints in lieu of welded, where specifications allow.

  • Specialized welding: equipment for Orbital, SMAW, GMAW, and Tig processes in stainless steel pipe.