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Ahead of the curve

The Future of Steel Fabrication.

At Watkins Steel, our commitment lies in consistently enhancing our processing capabilities for onshore operations. We are dedicated to staying ahead in our industry through ongoing research and strategic investments. As leaders in the field, we take pride in embracing the latest technology and remaining at the forefront of advancements.

Watkins Capabilities

Watkins Steel delivers fully integrated structural steel and metalwork solutions designed to improve speed to market, reduce project risk, and provide greater certainty across complex construction environments.

With all stages managed in-house from site scanning and steel detailing through to robotic processing, fabrication, transport, and installation.

Our capability spans structural steel, architectural metalwork including handrails, balustrades, screens and stringers, refurbishments, tight-access environments, and bespoke fabrication where precision, sequencing, and constructability are critical.

Core capabilities include:

Digital Capture, Engineering & Modelling: High-accuracy 3D laser scanning, point cloud capture, scan-to-model workflows, NIM coordination, 3D detailing, and direct CNC data transfer.

Advanced Manufacturing: Digitally connected CNC coping, drilling and sawing with automated processing accuracy to +2mm over 12 metres.

Facilities & Production: 11,000sqm fabrication facilities split over two sites, 500+ tonne yard capacity, and annual production capability up to 12,000 tonnes.

Material Expertise: Specialising in structural steel fabrication, with capability across stainless steel and aluminium projects.

Transport, Installation & Site Services: Internal fleet, in-house riggers and dogmen, mobile welding, cranage coordination and installation capability for loads up to 18+ metres.

Fully In-House Delivery: Integrated digital modelling, estimating, fabrication, project management, and installation teams delivering full control over quality, safety, schedule and cost.

FLAT AND ANGLE CNC PROCESSING

Centrepoint marking/counter sinking/drilling/layout marking/numbering/shearing/sorting/thread tapping
7 vertical punches/1 horizontal punch
110 tonne vertical punch
70 tonne punch capacity

MULTI PROCESSES CNC HEAVY-DUTY PLATE MACHINE

Multiple Machining Operations – Drilling, Tapping, Milling, Counter boring, Counter sinking
Multiple Cutting Operations – Plasma, Plasma Bevel, Flame
Pin Marking.

PLATE DEBURRING

0 – 100mm table opening
1350, 1600mm working width
Deburring/edge breaking /edge rounding/finishing 2mm radius on mild steel

3D LASER TUBE PROCESSING

All profiles
18m stock infeed/management
Max 600mm diameter
Weld preps/copes/slots

MULTI SYSTEM INTEGRATED CNC BEAM PROCESSING

Drilling/sawing/coping
18m stock infeed/management
Max 1000WB
Weld preps/copes/slots

ROBOTIC WELDING

18m maximum length
Max 1000WB
Max 4.5 tonnes

Our Experience with Robotics

We use the combination of the V630 Drilling Machine and VB1050 Band Saw to begin the process. The Voortman V630 Drilling Machine uses three independent drilling heads and automatic tool changing for four-side processing of steel. While the Voortman VB1050 Band Saw is specially designed to produce high quality cuts of structural steel at optimal cutting speeds.

Benefits of Robotic Fabrication

The benefit of this technology is that model-based information from Tekla Structures 3D Software can be imported directly to the Voortman machines for processing and fabrication. This process ensures the consistent, reliable and accurate transfer of information between the shop drawing and fabrication process. In addition, the quality of structural steel is improved as rectification work is significantly reduced with the precision of automated robotics.

Ready to take your steel fabrication to the next level?

Get in touch with us today to see how our robotic technology can benefit your steel fabrication needs.

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