Frequently Asked Questions

Metal Fabrication Services

G.E. Mathis Company manufactures components to agreed upon tolerances based on your drawing or 3D model. Our core fabrication services include:

  • Laser cutting for flat sheets and plates.
  • Press brake forming for sheet metal parts.
  • Welding (MIG, TIG, and spot) for structural and cosmetic assemblies.
  • Finishing operations, including deburring, hardware insertion, and quality inspection.

G.E. Mathis Company primarily processes sheet and plate metal. Some common materials include:

  • Carbon steel (mild steel, A36, A1011)
  • Stainless steel (304, 316, 316L)
  • Galvanized steel
  • Abrasion-resistant steel such as Hardox® wear plate
  • High strength steel such as Strenx® performance steel
  • Specialty alloys

Achievable tolerances depend on the required manufacturing process. We always strive to hold the tightest tolerances possible based on the size and complexity of the part being fabricated. If you have a special use case please contact a sales engineer directly for more information. 

NOTE: If you have any specific geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) requirements, be sure to include them in your request for quote (RFQ).

To receive a quote from G.E. Mathis Company, provide the following data:

  • 2D drawings (DXF, DWG) or 3D CAD files (STEP, IGES, SolidWorks)
  • Material specifications (grade, finish, thickness)
  • Quantities (prototype, production, and annual volume estimates)
  • Required tolerances and critical dimensions
  • Surface finish or coating requirements
  • Delivery dates or lead times

Submit your files through our online quote request form or email our engineering team.

Lead times at G.E. Mathis Company depend a variety of factors, including: Job complexity, material availability, and shop capacity. Please contact one of our sales engineers for more specifics.

To decrease unit costs and lead times for sheet metal parts:

  • When possible, maintain a consistent material thickness. Mixed gauges require multiple machine setups
  • Place holes away from bend lines to prevent hole distortion during forming
  • Specify tight tolerances only where absolutely necessary to avoid potential increased production costs

Laser Cutting Services

At G.E. Mathis Company, achievable laser cutting tolerances depend on the size and complexity of the part being laser cut. We always strive to hold the tightest tolerances possible. Please contact a sales engineer directly for more information. 

NOTE: If you have any specific geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) requirements, be sure to include them in your request for quote (RFQ).

G.E. Mathis Company has the capacity to cut the following maximum thicknesses:

  • 16 gauge to 1.25″ (Hot Rolled) 
  • 16 gauge to 0.75″ (Stainless)
  • Our large-capacity laser cutting systems can process plates up to 14 feet wide and 100 feet long

We accept standard CAD formats, including:

  • DXF (preferred for 2D laser cutting): AutoCAD 2000 or later.
  • DWG: AutoCAD drawing files.
  • STEP (.stp, .step): 3D solid models.
  • IGES (.igs): Legacy 3D models.
  • SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm): Native files.
  • PDF: Reference drawings with critical dimensions.
  • When you submit DXF files, place all geometry on a single layer, join closed profiles, and remove construction lines and dimensions.

For parts that have simple shapes, without many cutouts or intricate notching, we typically utilize plasma cutting. When a part has tight tolerance specifications, needs a precise cut, and/or calls for a small hole diameter in relation to the thickness of the material, then we utilize laser cutting. Again, these are general rules and we consider which process is best suited to cut each part on a case by case basis.

To decrease costs and production time, prevent these design errors:

  • Holes smaller than material thickness: This could prove very difficult or impossible to laser cut and result in a need for a secondary option such as drilling. Make the minimum hole diameter equal to the material thickness
  • Open contours in DXF files: Use the “join” or “close” function in your CAD software before you export the file

To lower the cost per part:

  • Simplify profiles to decrease cut times
  • Order larger quantities to amortize setup costs
  • Design parts to fit standard material sizes (48, 60, & 72 inches are standard sheet or plate widths – sheets or plates can generally be brought in at lengths required to fit your part). G.E. Mathis Company’s largest laser table is 100-feet long.

Press Brake Forming Services

Every material type and grade has a minimum forming parameter requirement for top and bottom tooling as defined by ASTM standards.

Bending tighter than the minimum radius can cause the metal to crack during forming. Harder materials may require a larger bend radius relative to the thickness of the material. Consult one of our sales engineers for more information.

G.E. Mathis Company can hold the following tolerances, depending on the size and complexity of the fabricated component:

  • Bend angle: ±1 degree
  • Overall formed dimensions: ±0.063 to ±0.188 inches

Spring-back is the elastic recovery of metal after the machine removes the bending force. High-strength materials show more spring-back than mild steel. G.E. Mathis Company is very experienced with a wide variety of materials and is able to make adjustments in the manufacturing process during forming to account for material spring-back scenarios.

Yes. G.E. Mathis Company processes parts across a wide range of sizes. We form light-gauge sheet metal materials (from 18 gauge up to 10 gauge) on precision CNC press brakes. We also form plate metal from 3/16” up to 2 inches thick on our high-tonnage machines. Our hydraulic press brakes feature capacities up to 1,000 tons and bed lengths up to 48 feet.

Welding Services

G.E. Mathis Company provides a variety of different welding types and processes:

  • Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Seam Welding
  • MIG & TIG Welding

Yes. G.E. Mathis Company welds several different types of stainless steel, including: 304, 316, and 316L. Contact a sales engineer for more information.

G.E. Mathis Company is an ISO 9001:2015-certified facility. We comply with:

  • AWS D1.1: Structural Welding Code – Steel 
  • AWS D1.6: Structural Welding Code – Stainless Steel
  • AWS D9.1: Structural Welding Code – Braze welding nonstructural sheet metal
  • AWS D10.9: Structural Welding Code – Piping and Tubing

Custom OEM Solutions

G.E. Mathis Company manufactures high-quality components for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the construction, mining, energy, and military defense industries.

Yes. G.E. Mathis Company processes small batches, large volumes, and blanket purchase orders to maintain a consistent component supply for your scheduled production.

We’re also an excellent contract manufacturing partner who can create part or all of a component or assembly at an agreed-upon price for a set length of time.

G.E. Mathis Company fabricates crane boom components, frame rails, truck body slides, chassis sections, and components for heavy-duty lifting equipment. We also utilize Hardox® wear plate to produce premium, abrasion-resistant components for longer wear life.

Our team is fully dedicated to ensuring customers receive the highest quality fabricated components for their needs. G.E. Mathis Company is proudly ISO 9001:2015 certified, meaning our quality management system meets all ISO requirements. 

We work hard to maintain this certification so our customers have peace of mind, knowing they will receive the highest quality products and services from our company. In addition, G.E. Mathis Company can provide the following services: We utilize the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR), and statistical process control (SPC) capability studies to ensure dimensional consistency.

No. G.E. Mathis Company does not offer any in-house engineering services.

Contract Manufacturing

Outsourcing to G.E. Mathis Company decreases your internal investment costs for equipment and operator training. You gain immediate access to our large-capacity manufacturing technology, which allows your personnel to focus on core business functions.

Our team is fully dedicated to ensuring customers receive the highest quality fabricated components for their needs. G.E. Mathis Company is proudly ISO 9001:2015 certified, meaning our quality management system meets all ISO requirements. 

We work hard to maintain this certification so our customers have peace of mind, knowing they will receive the highest quality products and services from our company. In addition, G.E. Mathis Company can provide the following services: We utilize the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR), and statistical process control (SPC) capability studies to ensure dimensional consistency.

Lead times at G.E. Mathis Company depend a variety of factors, including: Job complexity, material availability, and shop capacity. Please contact one of our sales engineers for more specifics.

Yes. G.E. Mathis Company is uniquely equipped to process large-scale metal component parts. Our laser tables range in size from 8-foot wide by 20-foot long, up to 14-foot wide by 100-foot long. Our press brakes range in size from 20-foot up to 48-foot forming beds and from 400-ton up to 1,000-ton capacity.

The sales engineers at G.E. Mathis Company evaluate your 2D or 3D CAD drawings, and provide a comprehensive quote that details labor, materials, tooling, projected tolerances, and lead times.