Engineering & Custom Fabrication

Choosing the right material

Part of every fabrication job is picking the metal that suits how the finished piece will be used. Each has its trade-offs:

• Aluminium - Light and resistant to corrosion, which makes it a common choice for flat decks and ute trays where weight affects payload and fuel use.
• Stainless steel - Resists rust and staining. Good for parts exposed to water, salt or wash-downs, and for exhaust work.
• Mild steel - Strong, easy to weld and usually the most economical. It needs paint or galvanising to protect it from rust.

Tell us what the job needs to do and we can talk through the options before you commit to a quote.

Planning a flat deck or ute tray

A deck gets used every day, so it pays to think about the details up front: the length and width you need, whether you want a headboard or ladder rack, fixed or drop sides, where the tie down points go, and whether toolboxes should be built in. Bring along what the deck will carry and we can design around it.

Modifications, WOF and certification

Some vehicle modifications need more than a good build. The NZ Transport Agency's guidance on modifying your vehicle explains that heavier modifications may need low volume vehicle (LVV) certification before the vehicle can get a WOF, with suspension, engine and steering changes the most likely to need it. Certification is carried out by an independent LVV certifier, so if your project might need it, raise it with us at the start and check with a certifier before work begins.

How a fabrication job works

Most jobs start with a conversation about what the part has to do, how much it needs to carry and what vehicle it goes on. Measurements, photos or a rough sketch all help. From there we give a free, no-obligation quote. Fabrication often goes hand in hand with mechanical work, such as fitting a tow bar to a newly decked ute or replacing an exhaust with a custom system, and our repairs workshop handles that side under the same roof.