Sheet stock is used to make housings for the heating industry, cabinets and internal parts for air conditioning, lawn furniture, hoppers, control panels, control cabinets for electronic devices, and fabricated components for hobbyists and gardeners. Cold rolled steel, Gavanealed, galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel and other stocks are used.

Square shear equipment, turret punch presses, punch presses, forming units, hydraulic press brakes, welders and painting equipment are among the machines and tools needed to manufacture the fabricated components listed above. Secondary operations equipment such as sanders, drilling presses, grinding tools and packaging equipment is also needed. Forming systems that accept flat stock and bend it into complete boxes are used. The punch presses used have the necessary capabilities for slotting and angle cutting.

Because of environmental and process considerations, these fabricated components are given application and finish coatings. In preparation for coating, the parts are degreased (iron phosphate), cleaned (butyl Cellosolv) and rinsed (water and non-chromic coating). Coating can be through automated methods or manual spraying.

A.W. Mercer, Inc. uses an automatic powder system that deposits epoxies, urethanes and polyester in a wide range of standard and custom colors. These coatings are applied in place of paint are environmentally friendly. They do not crack, peel or mar and can withstand abrasion corrosion and chemicals.

Parts made by these metal fabrication methods must meet industry/commercially accepted tolerances. Software programs used in the industry include CadKey for CAD, SmartCAM and Advanced Fabrication for CAM.