Sheet Metal

The nature of sheet metal work is very involved in geometry and trigonometry as well as layout methods. Layout of the pieces and fittings, as well as overall system layout are both very important and mathematically heavy processes. HPE has over a century’s worth of history involving these practices. If technology throws a new element of the trade at the sheet metal department, it is easily assimilated into the process since the base is firm and established.

This is visible today from within HPE’s sheet metal fabrication shop where plasma tables, coil lines, and all different kinds of industrial forming machines are routinely put to use. It is visible in the field where employees can be seen using laser levels, integrating with survey location and total station, and reviewing three-dimensional models of the project on their laptops.

Our sheet metal crews are signatory with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, undergoing an apprenticeship typically lasting between four to five years and becoming familiar with methods that are both traditional and contemporary. These workers have been through years of training over a shop table, swinging a compass over their layouts and forming fittings with little more than hand tools and elbow grease. These same apprentices also are made familiar with project management and the responsibilities of a foreman, even if these are not their overall aspirations. They still understand.

HPE has very firm niche within the sheet metal trade and rather than just keeping up with the newer trends, we pioneer ahead and make every effort to be among the firsts to learn them and subsequently, train others in them.