Contract Metal Fabrication for OEMs & Industrial Manufacturers in Chicago

D&J Metalcraft Co. has been a Chicago custom metal fabrication shop since 1975. Industrial companies and OEMs across the country send us their fabrication work, from small prototype batches all the way up to full production runs. We handle laser cutting, welding, punching, forming, machining and assembly in stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum at our shop on Chicago's North Side. Machining is done in-house and through our trusted partners; painting, powder coating and plating come through our partners, so your parts arrive finished on one PO.

Outsourced Fabrication, Prototype to Production

Some companies would rather not keep a fabrication department of their own. Others have more work than their own shop can handle. Either way, D&J works as your fabrication partner. We can build a small prototype batch to prove out a design, then make the same part in full production runs once it's ready. You keep working with the same shop and the same people the whole way through.

Most of our work is short and mid-size runs, and we have the capacity for larger production volumes when you need them. Lead times can be as little as 1 week, depending on job size.

Our Fabrication Capabilities

• Laser cutting: Trumpf fiber lasers with 5 x 10 ft tables, cutting up to 1" mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum, and up to 3/8" (10 mm) copper and brass. Larger sheets and laser tube cutting are available through our trusted partners.
• CNC turret punching: Strippit turret punch for holes, cutouts and repeat features on sheets up to 110" x 40", best for 10–18 gauge, up to about 1/4" mild steel, ±0.001", plus louvers and knockouts
• Forming: multiple press brakes with 6 ft to 10 ft beds, up to 130 tons, for bent and formed parts and enclosures
• Welding: MIG and TIG welding of mild steel, stainless and aluminum, plus multiple spot welders
• Hardware insertion: PEM nuts, studs and standoffs installed in-house
• Machining: in-house and through our trusted partners
• Finishing: powder coating, wet paint, zinc plating, galvanizing, black oxide, anodizing, chrome plating, electroless plating and passivation through our trusted partners
• Assembly: fabricated parts put together and shipped ready to use

Machining & Secondary Operations

Parts leave our shop ready to assemble. In-house we handle drilling, tapping, countersinking and hardware insertion (PEM nuts, studs and standoffs). Machining is done in-house and through our trusted partners.

Tolerances: typically ±0.003" for laser-cut parts and ±0.001" for punched parts, and ±0.005" and ±0.5° on bends.

We manage the whole job, including partner finishing and machining, so you deal with one shop and one PO.

Server & Data Center Sheet Metal

We fabricate sheet metal for server and data center equipment, including chassis, enclosures and brackets. We cut, punch, form, insert hardware and assemble these parts, and we coordinate finishing through our partners so they arrive ready to install.

We also fabricate parts for:

• HVAC and air handling components
• Material handling and conveyor parts
• EV charging and battery enclosures
• Telecom and network enclosures
• Lighting fixtures
• Retail displays and store fixtures
• Architectural metal and panels
• Agricultural and outdoor power equipment parts
• Packaging and automation machinery
• Water and wastewater treatment equipment
• Beverage dispensing & gas systems
• Machine frames & chassis

Materials We Work With

We mostly work in stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. If your project needs a different material, ask us. We're always willing to take on work outside those three.

Quality and First-Article Inspection

Before a production run starts, we can check the first parts against your drawing and give you a written first-article inspection (FAI) report. That way you approve the part before we make the full quantity.

Why Domestic Fabrication? Reshoring with a US Shop

Many companies buy fabricated parts from overseas. If you're thinking about bringing that work back to the US, a domestic shop has some real advantages:

• Shorter lead times. Your parts ship from Chicago, not from across an ocean, so you aren't waiting weeks for a container.
• No ocean freight or import tariffs. You avoid shipping containers, port delays, customs and the tariffs that come with imported parts.
• Easy communication. You get the same time zones, the same language and people you can call directly. If you want to see your parts being made, you can visit the shop.
• Quality you can check. Problems get caught and fixed here, before the parts ship, not after a shipment arrives with defects.
• Faster changes. When your design changes, we can update it and run revised parts without waiting on overseas shipping.

Serving Customers Nationwide Since 1975

We've been fabricating metal in Chicago since 1975. Our shop is at 4451 N Ravenswood Ave, and we serve industrial and OEM customers all over the country.

Related services: Laser Cutting, CNC Turret Punching, Press Brake Forming, Welding & Assembly

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drill, tap and install hardware so parts arrive ready to assemble?
Yes. D&J Metalcraft Co. drills, taps, countersinks and inserts hardware (PEM nuts, studs and standoffs) in-house, and handles machining in-house and through our trusted partners.

Who can we outsource industrial metal fabrication to in the Midwest?
D&J Metalcraft in Chicago does contract metal fabrication for industrial companies and OEMs. That covers laser cutting, welding, punching, forming, machining and assembly, from small prototype batches all the way up to full production runs. We ship to customers nationwide.

Can a Chicago fabrication shop handle both prototypes and production runs?
Yes. D&J builds small prototype batches and full production runs, so you can keep one shop from your first part through ongoing production. Most of our work is short and mid-size runs, and we have the capacity for larger production volumes when you need them.

Should we reshore our metal fabrication from overseas to a US shop?
A US shop like D&J gives you shorter lead times, no ocean freight or import tariffs, direct communication, and quality you can check before the parts ship. Send us your drawings and we'll quote the work so you can compare.

Does D&J Metalcraft provide first-article inspection reports?
Yes. We don't hold formal certifications, but we can give you a written first-article inspection report so you can approve the part before a full run.

What materials does D&J Metalcraft fabricate?
Mostly stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. We're open to other materials when a project needs them. Our Trumpf fiber lasers also cut copper and brass up to 3/8" (10 mm).

Can you deliver painted, powder-coated or plated parts?
Yes. Powder coating, wet paint, zinc plating, galvanizing, black oxide, anodizing, chrome plating, electroless plating and passivation are done through our trusted partners. We manage the work, so your parts arrive finished on one PO. Machining is handled in-house and through our trusted partners too.

Do you fabricate server and data center sheet metal?
Yes. We make server and data center sheet metal such as chassis, enclosures and brackets, from prototypes to production runs.

What tolerances can you hold?
Typically ±0.003" for laser-cut parts and ±0.001" for punched parts, and ±0.005" and ±0.5° on formed bends.

How fast can you turn parts around?
Lead times can be as little as 1 week, depending on job size.

What drawing formats do you accept?
PDF, DXF, STEP and SolidWorks .SLDPRT. Email your files to info@djmetalcraft.com.

Request a Quote

Email your drawings (PDF, DXF, STEP or SolidWorks .SLDPRT) to info@djmetalcraft.com with the quantities you need and your timeline, and we'll get back to you with a quote.

Call: 773-878-6446
Email: info@djmetalcraft.com
Visit: 4451 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640