Hermanson Company opened its Kent fabrication facilities to more than 400 attendees of the Stratus Innovate Conference on Aug. 20, providing contractors and construction professionals with a firsthand look at how fabrication technology and production planning are being integrated into mechanical construction.
Visitors toured both Hermanson's sheet metal and pipe fabrication shops, moving through five interactive stations in each facility. Demonstrations included spiral machines, laser cutting equipment, the TigerStop system and pipe-cutting equipment.
The demonstrations focused on how fabrication work can be planned and completed before materials reach the jobsite. For owners and general contractors, this approach can support tighter installation sequencing, reduce field congestion and improve coordination between fabrication and onsite crews.
The tour also highlighted Hermanson's connected digital manufacturing processes and lean construction practices, including the integration of spiral duct fabrication with Stratus workflows.
The event provided attendees with an early look at Hermanson's newly opened Pipe Division Shop, which expands the company's prefabrication operations in Kent.
The shop includes 19 welding stations and 10 fitting stations, adding capacity for prefabricated piping assemblies and supporting the company's work across the Pacific Northwest and national markets.
Hermanson has worked with Stratus as a technology partner since 2019, participating in beta development and advancing digital workflows for fabrication and construction.
The increased use of prefabrication is particularly relevant as contractors contend with skilled-labor shortages and increasingly complex mechanical systems. Moving more fabrication into controlled shop environments can allow field crews to focus on installation while improving repeatability and coordination.
For project owners, early integration of fabrication planning into design and procurement can also become an important consideration. Mechanical contractors, designers and construction managers may need to coordinate digital models, material specifications, fabrication tolerances, delivery schedules and site logistics earlier in the project lifecycle.
Source: Hermanson.
