Stairs are an integral part of any construction project, be it a production plant, a rocket platform, or an industrial complex. Steel staircases provide the resilience and strength needed to handle high-density traffic safely, and the fact that they can be affixed long after the main building or structure was set up make them an utter convenience. Choosing a good metal stair fabricator who can handle your scale of production is key to getting the perfect balance between design, strength and cost for your stairs.
Why Use Metal Stairs?
Metal stairs are a commonplace in most industrial and commercial settings. You will find them up communication masts, rocket launch pads, storage silos, as fire escape stairs on commercial buildings and in warehouses and factory floors. Why are they so widely used?
- Metal stairs are easy to maintain. They are resistant to extreme stress, fluctuating extreme temperatures and humidity, and thus are suitable both indoor and outdoor use.
- A custom metal stair fabrication will fit into your installation site’s profile easily. The result is a seamless integration that will be easy to install and won’t require a lot of structural reorganization.
- Metal stairs are tough. They will withstand the test of time under various environments. Moreover, they offer a better weight to strength ratio making it perfect for commercial or industrial application.
- A custom metal fabricator can customize the stairs to whichever shape, size or style. This leaves you the freedom to build a staircase that utilizes your structures strengths and compensates on its weaknesses
Metal Stair Fabrication
The most commonly used material in custom metal stair fabrication is steel and aluminum. These two metals are the perfect balance between versatility, availability and cost. The metal fabricator you choose to work with will determine the quality of metal stair you end up with. At Swanton Welding, we take pride in our ability to deliver beyond your wildest expectations. With 60 years of experience in the industry, we have grown from a small-scale fabricator to a large-scale company who has what it takes to handle bulky and complex projects with ease.
Our team of highly trained and experienced custom fabricators can adapt to your requirements and specifications. We use a number of techniques to make the best handrails and metal stairs. Our production line incorporates innovative technologies that guarantee high precision fabrication at all times. These include:
- Hammer and forge methods
- Plasma cutting
- Water jet cutting
- AutoCAD
To ensure we deliver accurate and quality custom fabrication we always challenge ourselves and try to stretch our limits. We get the work done by using result-oriented methods and techniques, and never shy away from trying new things.
Metal Stairs Styles
There are a number of metal staircase styles. The choice will vary depending on the application and installation point. You can count on us to help you choose the perfect design for your premises by taking into account the specific structural, aesthetic, strength and operational requirements. We have mastered the art of manufacturing
- Straight flights
- Spiral stairs
- Quarter turn stairs
- Helical stairs
- Movable staircases
Metal Stair Tread Options
There are a number of treads options for metal stairs. Their main purpose is to make the stairs less slippery hence safer to use. Safety is a key factor in most commercial and industrial settings. Our understanding of the market puts us at a better place to equip your new stairs with the right grip surface without tarnishing its native strength and versatility. Some of the most common treading options offered at Swanton Welding include:
- Plate stair treads
- Bar grate stair treads
- Plank stair treads
- Nosing options like diamond plate nose, grooved nose, and abrasive nose back.
What to Look for in a Metal Fabricator
What you will notice when looking for your metal stair fabricators is that there are actually a good number of them out there. The sensitivity of stairs and the integral part they play in a structure requires that you take your time to find someone who is competent for the job. We at Swanton Welding always try to set the bar high and differentiate from the rest by delivering the best quality work possible to our customers. Some of the qualities to look for when choosing your metal stair fabricator include:
- Training and experience
- Certification
- Track record
- Innovativeness
Training and Experience
Training and experience are two things that any good metal fabricator out there must possess. They go hand-in-hand. Look at the training and experience of not only the company but also the individual personnel. We are proud of our highly trained and highly experienced team of fabricators. With over 60 years of experience, we are always improving to meet the changing dynamics.
Certification
Certification is key. Check whether relevant bodies like The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) certify the fabricator. Certified fabricators adhere to acceptable safety and industry standards. Certification by the ASME ensures skilled welds and quality metal fabrication. You can trust on our team of fully certified fabricators to get the job done.
Track Record
One’s record of accomplishment often speaks more of them than what they actually have to say. Choose a fabricator with a good track record from the past projects they have been involved in. What do their past customers have to say about them? Do they have any referrals? At Swanton Welding, you don’t have to take our word for it, our customers have always been happy with the work we do for them.
Innovativeness
Innovativeness is the end game in the metal fabrication business. A zeal for innovation and controlled tests before the implementation the final design are the key to a highly customized design that fits your needs. The fabricator you choose should be innovative enough to complete the job faster and better. Innovativeness means they can develop unique solutions to specific problems. We always incorporate new tools, methods, techniques and technologies to ensure innovativeness to our customer’s satisfaction.
Avoid cutting corners to bring down the cost of your metal stair fabrication. In most cases the lower costs options means the material used is of questionable quality. Also be wary of welders or fabricators who seem to rush jobs that normally require time and focus to accomplish. It is better you pay more for a commendable job that would be safe, durable and of high quality.
How you want your metal staircase to be should dictate the fabricators you choose. A poor fabricator will do a poor job while an average one will do an average job. That is not what you need for your property. Always seek to work with a reputable company like Swanton Welding that has proven its competence over and over again throughout the years.
Project Gallery
Project Gallery
Stainless Steel Platform
Custom fabricated stainless structural steel platform with carbon steel columns and handrails.
Project Gallery
Double Drop Trailer
Swanton Welding Company was contracted to construct a double drop trailer for a client in Ottawa, OH. The project took under two months after a mid-July 2024 start, with completion in early September 2024. A double drop trailer, also known as a lowboy trailer, transports oversized loads considered too large for a standard trailer on […]
Project Gallery
Acid Furnace Fabrication
Swanton Welding & Machining was approached by a chemical industry customer to fabricate a 125,000 lbs. acid furnace. We first drafted complete shop fabrication drawings for the furnace using AutoCAD software. We then used a variety of fabrication methods to complete the A516 grade 70 and A-36 grade steel furnace, including: drilling, rolling, laser cutting, […]
Project Gallery
Lamella Style Inclined Plate Clarifier
Swanton Welding was contracted to fabricate a Lamella Style Inclined Plate Clarifier that will ship to Mt. Holly, NC, when completed. This fabrication will serve as a wastewater clarifier for the facility in North Carolina. Swanton began this project in June of 2024, and it is currently ongoing. When completed, we expect the fully assembled […]
Project Gallery
Support Structure
Swanton Welding is fully equipped to meet all your large-scale structural steel project requirements in-house at our cutting-edge USA facility. We take pride in being a dedicated partner in the success of every fabrication project we complete. Recently, we collaborated with a client based in South Carolina to construct a support structure. Given its critical […]
Project Gallery
Bottom Casing for Glass Furnace
This custom fabrication project was for approximately 30 Bottom Casings for a Glass Furnace. Each section had to have pads custom machined to ensure it was within 1 mm of flatness. After the individual casings were completed, we had to shop assemble the entire length of them and use a transit to ensure their critical […]
Project Gallery
Fulton County Hospital Office Addition
Swanton Welding was tasked with fabricating the steel framework for the new Fulton County Hospital addition in Wauseon, Ohio. We appreciated the opportunity to support Rupp/Rosebrock, Inc. and their construction crews as they constructed a four-story medical building that will attach to Fulton County Hospital. The team at Swanton Welding used our beam line to […]
Project Gallery
125 Ton Steam Car
We built a 125 Ton Steam Car. We fabricated it, blasted and painted it, did the assembly, electrical work, and shop tested it.
Project Gallery
4100 Grillage Fabrication
Barge Stabilizer Swanton Welding took on a project with a simple goal: support a 1500 tons crane with two barges. The heavy duty steel frame binding the two barges together, and the crane would be used to drive in bridge pilings.
Project Gallery
Glass Furnace Rebuild – Support Steel
A client proposed and drew the initial design of this support steel project. It will encase and support a glass melting furnace for the engineered reinforcements industry. Swanton Welding supplied materials such as tie rods, platform steel, stairs, and ladders for the 20 ft tool glass melting furnace. Fabrication, blasting, and painting were customized to […]
Project Gallery
Truck Dump Project
Swanton Welding fabricated two truck dump platforms. These are used in various industries where semi or other large trucks are driven onto a platform for unloading. After securing the truck, the platform is raised high into the air, and the load on the truck is transferred via gravity into a bin or hopper. Our client builds […]
Project Gallery
Catalytic Converter
Fabricated stainless steel Catalytic Converter w/ Pipe Bundle. A customer approached us about doing this job out of stainless steel with the stainless pipe bundle being made out of a special seamless tubing. The timeline was critical as the customer had a two day plant outage scheduled and they needed this unit installed during that […]
Project Gallery
Bridge and Boardwalk
Swanton Welding was contracted to build a bridge and boardwalk for a client in Westfield, IN. Our estimation team and project manager worked with the client to make sure we provided an accurate and complete quote and timeline. This project took place from late May through late September of 2024. This bridge and boardwalk, weighing […]
Project Gallery
Steel Thrustframe Fabrication
A customer from the gas exploration industry approached Swanton Welding & Machining to fabricate an A36 and A-514 steel thrustframe weldment. The 225,000 lbs weldment was fabricated using a variety of processes, including CNC milling, MIG welding, drilling, laser cutting, bending, tapping and forming. The 54′ long and 8′ wide thrustframe was skillfully fabricated using […]
Project Gallery
Replacement Boom
It is basically the structural arm for a heavy duty conveyor ship loader.
Project Gallery
Vertical Clarifiers with Thickeners
These were vertical clarifier tanks used to separate certain materials from water.
Project Gallery
Stainless Steel Hopper
We custom fabricated this stainless steel hopper and finished it off with a polished interior for food grade application.
Project Gallery
CE Boiler Stack Replacement
Swanton Welding was responsible to create a drawing based printed CAD drawings to design and fabricate a replacement stack out of A588 material for the refinery
Project Gallery
Accumulator Tower for Metal Coating Process
Structural Steel Tower This project consisted of constructing two similar towers. The entry side is pictured and the exit side can be seen in the distance. This new customer to Swanton Welding requested the project to be finish painted before it was delivered. These structural steel towers were assembled in the field and required very […]
Project Gallery
Ladle Maintenance Carts
Customer needed a way to conveniently transport large ladles to areas where they will be used.
Project Gallery
Project Gallery
Discharge Hopper, Clarifier, Clarifier Structure, Catwalk & Stairs, Auger
We custom built a large Discharge Hopper, a Clarifier used to remove slurry, the Clarifier Structure, accessible Catwalk & Stairs, and a custom Auger for the Clarifier. The most interesting thing about this project was its overall size and the custom auger we built.
Project Gallery
Industrial Conveyor Fabrication
An agricultural industry client approached Swanton Welding & Machining to fabricate twelve, 5,000 lbs conveyor components. Utilizing AutoCAD 2009, we first drafted complete shop fabrication drawings of the component. We then fabricated the 20′ long, 3’6″ high and 8′ wide conveyor section using a CNC beam line, saws, and drills. After fabrication, during which we […]
Project Gallery
Steel Stack Fabrication
Swanton Welding & Machining was approached by a client from the clean air industry to fabricate 950,000 lbs. of steel stacks. Eight large stacks were fabricated using a variety of processes including rolling, bending, forming and MIG welding. The stacks were fabricated using a combination of material such as, A36 steel and 304 and 409 […]
Project Gallery
CVG Airport Canopy
Fabrication of two large canopies out of steel tubing to be installed at an airport. The canopies were fully assembled in shop prior to shipping. Both canopies were hot dip galvanized to withstand the corrosive installation environment.
Project Gallery
Purification System Filter
Waste Water Separator This project’s client needed a water tight clarifier tank fabricated. We had to build, weld, leak test, shop assembly, blast, caulk, and paint the tank. In the end, we delivered a completed clarifier tank assembly. Completion Date March 7, 2017 Materials All materials were carbon steel Fabrication Methods This project utilized […]
Project Gallery
Project Gallery
Clarifier Tank Project
At Swanton Welding, we have the expertise and resources to meet all your large scale project requirements at our state-of-the-art facility. As your trusted partner in welding and fabrication projects, we are committed to providing exceptional craftsmanship, reliable service, and timely project completion. An example of our capabilities is the recent construction of a sizable […]
Project Gallery
Tire Separator and Hopper
The project involved making a hopper & separator for a tire recycling plant. The hopper was designed to dump truckloads of used tires. It has a motor and sliding floor system that was sloped to feed the tires to the separator, which would separate the tires based on size and feed them to additional equipment […]
Project Gallery
Mixing Tank Fabrication
A customer from the water treatment industry approached Swanton Welding & Machining to fabricate a mixing tank assembly. The 50,000 lbs. tank assembly was made up of many different parts and systems including rapid mix, reactor and clarifier tanks, a 16′-8″ long platform, and a 15′ high draft tube. To fabricate these components and many […]