Custom metal fabrication and welding for Minnesota

Yes. For winter service we review weld details on high-stress joints and, on hydraulic tanks, fluid capacity, breather selection, and return line placement, since cold-start aeration is the most common failure we see on cold-climate machines.

A common starting point is two to three times the pump's flow rate in GPM, so a 20 GPM pump suggests a 40 to 60 gallon reservoir. That is only a starting point. Duty cycle, heat load, cylinder volume, and available cooling all move the number, and mobile equipment often needs a smarter design rather than a bigger tank because the space and the airflow are both limited. Tell us the pump flow and how hard the system works and we will talk it through before anything gets cut.

Baffles are internal plates that force returning oil to take the long way around before the pump picks it up again. That extra dwell time lets air separate out and contaminants settle instead of getting pulled straight back into the system. They also stiffen the tank walls against pump pulsation, which reduces fatigue cracking at the welds over time. Most reservoirs benefit from at least one; the height and placement depend on your flow rate and tank geometry.

Carbon steel is the default and it is the right answer for most builds. It is strong, economical, welds well, and takes powder coat well. Stainless makes sense when the environment demands it: washdown areas, food and beverage plants, marine or coastal equipment, or corrosive chemical exposure. Most systems do not need stainless, but the ones that do really do. Describe the operating environment and we will tell you honestly whether the premium is worth paying.

Yes. We weld to AWS D1.1, the structural steel code, using robotic MIG for production repeatability and manual MIG or TIG where the joint calls for it. If your parts carry load or go into a safety-critical application, ask us for the specifics and we will give them to you.

No. Plasma cutting, press brake forming, welding, leak testing, and finishing all happen in our own shop in Anamosa. That is worth asking any fabricator, because outsourced work means nobody can tell you who actually touched your part or what their process was.

We find the cause before the production run starts, not after. That is the entire point of a first article. Over 80,000 hydraulic reservoirs have shipped from this shop with zero defects, and that record comes from catching problems at the first part rather than the hundredth.

Yes. First article inspection reports and mill certifications for raw material are available on request. If traceability is a contractual requirement on your end, tell us at the quote stage so it is built into the job rather than added on later.

A print in DWG, DXF, STEP, or PDF form is fastest, and you can attach it directly to the quote form on this page. If you do not have a drawing, send photos of the part with overall dimensions and material thickness, or ship us a sample. For a hydraulic tank, we need capacity, envelope dimensions, material, port sizes and locations, mounting style, and finish.

Both, and there is no minimum order. We build single replacement parts and prototypes alongside ongoing production weldments. Repeat designs move to robotic welding once the first article is approved, which is what keeps later runs consistent and the per-part price down.

It depends on size, quantity, material availability, and current shop load. Tell us your required in-service date when you request the quote and we will confirm up front whether we can hit it, rather than finding out after you have placed the order.