Structural Steel Fabricationin Northwest Indiana
Quick overview
SSI fabricates industrial structural steel, including platforms, stairs, catwalks, pipe and equipment supports, equipment bases and mezzanines, in our Portage, Indiana shop. Our field crews then install it in your plant. We build to your engineer's drawings or field-measure and draw it for your approval.
What structural steel does SSI fabricate?
| Structure | What we build | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms & mezzanines | Work platforms, maintenance decks and mezzanine floors | Usable space and safe footing at height |
| Stairs & ladders | Stair stringers, treads, handrails and ladders | Safe routes to equipment your crews use every day |
| Catwalks | Walkways over conveyors, pipe racks and process lines | Access without climbing over equipment |
| Pipe & equipment supports | Pipe racks, hangers, frames and brackets | Pipe and equipment held where it belongs |
| Equipment bases | Fabricated bases and skids for motors, pumps, fans and gearboxes | A rigid, level base that holds alignment |
- Field measuredBuilt to fit your plant as it is.
- Installed by usOur crews set and weld it in.
- AWS certifiedCertified structural welders.
How does a structural steel job run?
Step 1: Measure
Field-measure the area, tie-in points and clearances.
Step 2: Drawings
Build from your engineer's drawings or draw it for your approval.
Step 3: Fabricate
Cut, fit and weld the steel in our Portage shop.
Step 4: Inspect
Check dimensions, welds and fit before it ships.
Step 5: Set & install
Rig, set, bolt up and weld in on site.
Signs you need new steel
When does a plant need new structural steel?
Most structural steel calls come from one of these.
- Crews climbing equipment to reach it
- Corroded or damaged platforms and stairs
- New equipment needs a base or support
- Pipe or conveyor rerouted overhead
- Equipment base flexing or cracking
- Need more floor space at height
What is industrial structural steel fabrication?
Industrial structural steel fabrication is building the platforms, stairs, catwalks, supports, bases and mezzanines that give your crews safe access and hold your equipment in place. SSI cuts, fits and welds that steel in our Portage, Indiana shop. Then our field crews rig, set and install it in your plant.
This is not building-frame work. It is the steel inside a working plant: a platform at a press so maintenance can reach the hydraulics, a catwalk over a conveyor, a base under a new pump, a pipe rack for a reroute. Every piece has to fit around what is already there.
What structural steel do plants usually need?
Most plant structural work falls into access, support or floor space. Here is how those break down.
| Need | Typical structures | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Platforms, stairs, ladders, catwalks, handrail | Crews reach equipment safely instead of climbing it |
| Support | Pipe racks, hangers, frames, brackets | Pipe and equipment stay where they were designed to be |
| Machine mounting | Equipment bases, skids, sole plates | A rigid base holds alignment and cuts vibration |
| Floor space | Mezzanines, elevated decks | Room for equipment, storage or controls without new building |
Access platforms and catwalks
Fall protection is easier to plan when there is a proper place to stand. We build platforms, stairs and catwalks with handrail, toe board and grating sized for the job. If your plant has a standard for stair angle, rail height or grating type, we build to it.
Equipment bases
Equipment bases are where structural work and millwright work meet. A base that flexes or sits out of flat lets the machine move under load. That makes laser alignment drift and shortens bearing and seal life. We fabricate bases stiff and flat, and our crews set and align the machine on them.
How do you install steel in a running plant?
We install structural steel in operating plants by planning around production, prefabricating as much as possible and following your site safety rules. Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA). Hot work permits, lockout/tagout and fall protection are part of the plan, not an afterthought.
The steps on a typical install:
- Field-measure tie-in points, clearances and overhead obstructions.
- Prefabricate in the shop so on-site welding and cutting are kept to a minimum.
- Schedule the install into a shift, weekend or outage window.
- Rig and set the steel, then bolt up and weld in.
- Walk the job with your team before we leave.
Larger jobs often pair with equipment installation or plant relocation work, where the steel and the machinery go in together.
Who does SSI build structural steel for?
We build structural steel for plants across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including steel mills, refractory plants, pulp and paper mills and power generation facilities. The work changes from plant to plant. The approach does not: measure carefully, build it right in the shop and install it safely.
Structural steel is one part of our custom metal fabrication work, and our AWS certified welders also handle specialty and field welding when the job is on site.
How do you get a quote for structural steel?
Send photos, rough dimensions and any drawings through the quote request form, or call (219) 386-1506. If you don’t have drawings, we will come measure. Tell us the load, the use and when it needs to be in service, and we will build a schedule around it. No shortcuts, no excuses.
Structural Steel Fabrication across the Region
Tell us about the equipment
Send the make, model and what you're seeing. A crew lead will call you back with next steps.
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ISNetworld
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Structural Steel Fabrication FAQs
What structural steel does SSI fabricate?
We fabricate industrial platforms, stairs, ladders, catwalks, handrails, pipe racks, equipment supports, equipment bases and mezzanines. The work is built in our Portage, Indiana shop and installed in your plant by our own field crews, so one contractor handles it from measurement to final weld.
Do you design the structure or work from drawings?
Both. We build to drawings from your engineer when you have them. For smaller access and support work, we can field-measure and draw it for your approval. When a structure needs a stamped design, we work from your engineer of record's drawings and specifications.
Can you install structural steel in an operating plant?
Yes. Most of our structural work goes into plants that are running. We plan the job around production, follow your hot work and lockout rules, and do a job hazard analysis (JHA) before work starts. Larger installs are usually scheduled into an outage.
Why does an equipment base matter so much?
A base that flexes or sits out of level lets the machine move. That makes alignment drift, which shows up as vibration and early bearing and seal failure. A rigid, flat fabricated base gives your motor, pump, fan or gearbox something solid to hold alignment on.
Do you repair existing platforms and stairs?
Yes. We replace corroded grating, treads, handrail and damaged members, and reinforce structures that have been overloaded or modified over the years. If a repair is not worth the money, we will tell you plainly and quote a replacement instead.
What materials do you use for structural work?
Most structural work is carbon steel shapes, plate and grating. We use galvanized or stainless material where corrosion is a concern, such as wet areas or chemical exposure. Your plant standard, if you have one, sets the material and finish.
Can you fabricate steel for a new equipment installation?
Yes. New equipment usually needs a base, supports, access platforms or guarding. We fabricate that steel and our millwright crews set and align the equipment on it, so the steel and the machine are installed by the same team on the same schedule.
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