How much do you need to invest in a sheet metal shop to get it up and running?
Over the years, we’ve had many contractors and fabricators come to us asking what they would need to start a sheet metal shop of their own.
Starting your own shop has a lot of advantages, and if you do it right, it can be very lucrative. If you’re working in the metal roofing industry, it can allow you to take control of another facet of your business and help improve efficiency. But before you make the leap, it’s important to know what equipment you’ll need and how much it will cost you.
Sheffield Metals International (SMI) is a leading distributor of metal roofing materials, including painted Galvalume and aluminum metal coils and sheets. We’ve been producing quality materials for decades and understand what it takes to run a successful operation.
In this article, we’ll look at the various costs required for starting a sheet metal shop from scratch.
Costs of a Sheet Metal Shop
You’ll see that for many of the categories below the price ranges vary widely. When it comes to metal production, you’ll have plenty of options, ranging from cost-effective products to cutting-edge, top-of-the-line machines. Ultimately, what you start with for your sheet metal shop will come down to the scope of your operation and what your budget is.
Because while there is a minimum amount of investment required to get things up and running, you can spend as much as you feel comfortable to get quality equipment that will help streamline your business.
Facility: $50,000+
The first thing you’ll need for a sheet metal shop is a facility to house your equipment and run your business. It’s difficult to put an exact price range on this since it will vary widely based on the location of the facility and its square footage. Plus, you may need to pay for additions to the building to suit the needs of your sheet metal shop, such as three-phase power.
Sheet metal shops will typically require three-phase power to efficiently run equipment. For some buildings, it just might not be feasible to upgrade to three-phase power, so be sure you’re taking this into account and finding a site that already has three-phase power or has the capacity to be upgraded.
Likewise, it’s important to consider the concrete slab which all of your equipment will be sitting on. Sheet metal equipment can weigh thousands of pounds, so it’s recommended to have at least 6” of slab to safely hold equipment.
Brake: $10,000 – $75,000+
A sheet metal brake allows you to manipulate metal to create hems for various profiles. Brakes will vary based on length and their ability to cut different metal thicknesses.
When looking for a brake make sure you’re considering the different types of metal thickness you’ll be working with, as well as the amount of metal you’re dealing with, as this will dictate the size of the brake you need.
Shear: $50,000 – $100,000+
A hydraulic shear machine is very useful for sheet metal shops, as they can run through even very thick metal and make accurate cuts.
The technology for folding and shearing metal has improved drastically in recent years, and there are now machines run on software that can automatically make custom trims and cut panels to length just by pressing a button on a screen. These machines will be much more expensive than your standard shear, so make sure you tailor your options to your unique budget.
Rollformer: $80,000 – $150,000+
A rollforming machine is essential in a sheet metal shop since it allows you to roll custom panels quickly. You can find a wide selection of machines and pricings based on what type of panels you’re looking to form. Smaller machines geared toward residential profiles will be less expensive, while more comprehensive machines that can produce larger, more custom profiles can run well over $100,000.
You can check out New Tech Machinery’s website for more detail on the specific machines and their pricing:
Portable Roof & Wall Panel Machines and Seamless Gutter Machines
Forklift: $40,000-$75,000+
A forklift will be required to move metal coils, which can weigh multiple tons. The price of a forklift will depend on the weight capacity it can handle, its lift height, the specific make and model, whether it’s gas or electric, and how old it is. You might be able to find a used forklift at a discounted price, but be sure it’s still in good shape and can handle the work of moving metal coils.
One of the main factors you’ll want to focus on is the weight capacity of the forklift. You’ll want an industrial-grade machine that can easily lift the weight of a metal coil. These usually start around $40,000 and can go upwards from there depending on what model you buy and any attachments you want.
