Shifting the perception of sheet metal fabrication

By Emma Peterson. 

Hear how the fabrication industry is shifting and why even mid-size contractors should consider getting involved. 

The International Roofing Expo (IRE) is the biggest and most influential roofing industry trade event in North America. From the release of innovative products to networking events with every type of industry player to educational opportunities at all levels, IRE has it all. During the 2024 IRE, The Coffee Shops COO Karen Edwards got the chance to stop by CIDAN Machinery Group’s booth to talk to Ryan King.  

CIDAN Machinery is a one-stop partner for sheet metal fabrication machines. They have been around for over a century and offer solutions for a variety of sheet metal applications. Ryan described the roofing industry as CIDAN Machinery’s bread and butter, which he explained, “Every roof typically has some level of metal on it. Even a flat roof will have copings or facias. Even a shingle roof, gutters or eave drip, things like that. So really when it comes to the roofing industry, you can't really escape some level of metal from the building.” 

When asked about the conversations they’ve been having at IRE, Ryan said it was mostly about shifting the perspectives about using sheet metal fabricators. He explained that there are two main concerns that they hear from contractors not yet in the fabrication side of the business – experience and overhead cost. Ryan explained that advancements in technology address the experience concern. He shared, “Before you'd have to type in a dimension, an angle manually, and it would still form it for you automatically, but you had to set each bend. Now even the most basic machines we sell are doing a lot of that work, so you do not need to be a 20-year sheet metal expert to run a sheet metal shop.”  

As for overhead cost, Ryan said that “even a smaller mid-size roofer can very quickly and easily justify one of these machines. They are not always seven-figure investments, and they are also a revenue stream.” Overall, these machines are worth the investment because they give contractors direct control over the quality of material and give them autonomy to complete the job without having to rely on others. 

Watch the rest of the conversation to learn more about CIDAN Machinery and how to get started in the metal fabrication industry.