What does industrial fabrication mean at DSI?

Industrial fabrication at DSI means building customized durable parts and structural components for industrial use through cutting, forming, and welding. It is largely considered a value-added process as it consists of putting together actual products or structures from raw metal material.

What fabricated components does DSI build?

DSI fabricates everything from simple cable tray systems to complex, fully built E-houses. Some of our common work includes equipment skids, panel racks, structural steel assemblies, and ESP trailers

How does fabrication reduce installation time?

Reducing installation time with fabricated products is best achieved through pre-engineering, adopting modular or panelized assemblies, and using design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles to simplify on-site assembly.

Why is fabrication integrated with automation and electrical teams?

Fabrication is integrated with automation and electrical teams to maximize production speed, improve precision, enhance safety, and ensure consistent quality through technologies like CNC machines. This convergence reduces material waste, lowers labor costs, and enables complex, flexible, and data-driven manufacturing processes.

Can DSI support repeatable builds across multiple sites?

Yes. DSI designs all products using 3D CAD and creates blueprints and drawings when repeatability is required.

How does DSI maintain fabrication quality?

Fabrication quality starts with detailed CAD drawings, weld specifications, and standardized procedures. Key practices also include training personnel, regular machine maintenance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

What fabrication technology does DSI use?

DSI utilizes 3D CAD software for product design and blueprints, CNC plasma cutting and engraving, MIG and TIG welding, and press brakes to improve accuracy and consistency.

How does employee ownership affect fabrication quality?

Employee ownership improves fabrication quality by fostering a culture of accountability, pride, and attention to detail, as worker-owners are directly invested in the company's reputation and success. This structure increases employee engagement, reduces turnover, and encourages proactive problem-solving, leading to better precision, fewer errors, and improved customer satisfaction.

Where does DSI perform fabrication work?

DSI operates a fabrication division in Grand Forks, North Dakota that supports projects across the United States.

How does fabrication support integrated project delivery?

Fabrication, specifically prefabrication and modular construction, directly supports Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) by driving efficiency, reducing waste, and fostering collaboration between design and construction teams. By shifting assembly to controlled, off-site environments early, IPD teams can improve quality, shorten schedules, and lower costs through shared risk-and-reward models.

Fabrication

Industrial Fabrication Services

Field-ready fabrication support for oil and gas, municipal utilities, industrial processing, equipment systems, and long-term operational reliability.

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Industrial, municipal, and oilfield operations depend on fabricated systems that are built correctly, fit the field conditions, and support safe, reliable operation. Equipment skids, structural supports, access platforms, panel mounts, pipe and conduit supports, guards, frames, and field modifications all have to work in the real environment where they will be installed and maintained.

When fabrication is poorly coordinated, field teams lose time, installations get delayed, equipment conflicts appear, and operators are left solving problems that should have been handled before the system reached the site.

DSI provides fabrication support backed by electrical construction, automation, panel shop, engineering, and field service capabilities. That means fabricated systems can be planned, built, installed, wired, controlled, and supported with fewer handoffs and better long-term accountability.

Fabrication by Industry

DSI builds fabricated systems around the realities of your operation. Explore fabrication support by industry:

Oil & Gas Fabrication

Oilfield infrastructure, production facilities, well pads, SWD systems, LACT units, equipment skids, panel supports, access platforms, field modifications, and repeat-build oilfield components.

Explore Oil & Gas Fabrication

Industrial processing and manufacturing fabrication

Industrial Processing & Manufacturing Fabrication

Processing and manufacturing facilities, production equipment, process systems, equipment supports, skids, platforms, guards, control panel mounts, and field modifications.

Explore Industrial Fabrication

Municipal water and wastewater fabrication

Municipal Water & Wastewater Fabrication

Municipal water and wastewater infrastructure, treatment plants, lift stations, pump stations, equipment supports, access platforms, panel mounts, and field-ready utility systems.

Explore Municipal Fabrication

Fabrication Projects Fail When Coordination Is Missing

Fabrication issues usually happen when the shop build is disconnected from the field reality. Components may be strong enough on paper but still create problems during installation, wiring, access, commissioning, or maintenance.

When fabrication is not coordinated with the full system, customers can face:

Field installation delays
Equipment conflicts
Access and maintenance problems
Electrical and controls routing issues
Rework during startup
Safety and serviceability concerns
Poor fit with existing infrastructure
Vendor coordination problems

DSI approaches fabrication as part of the complete operating system, considering how fabricated components will be installed, powered, controlled, accessed, maintained, and supported long after startup.

Fabrication Backed by Electrical, Automation, Panel Shop, and Field Services

DSI is more than a fabrication shop. Our fabrication team works with DSI electrical construction, automation, UL panel shop, engineering, and field service teams. That integrated approach helps fabricated systems align with the equipment, panels, wiring, controls, field devices, access needs, and long-term maintenance requirements around them.

DSI brings together:

Industrial fabrication
Equipment skids and support structures
Panel and enclosure support fabrication
Access platforms, stairs, ladders, and walkways
Guards, frames, and protective structures
Electrical construction coordination
Automation and controls coordination
UL panel shop coordination
Field installation support
Startup and long-term service insight

A Proven Fabrication Process Built for Field Reliability

1. Plan Around the Full Operating Environment

DSI plans fabrication around the actual field conditions where the fabricated system will be installed and maintained.

DSI considers:

Equipment layout
Field installation conditions
Electrical access
Control panel placement
Instrumentation and device mounting
Maintenance access
Operator safety
Existing infrastructure
Long-term serviceability

2. Coordinate with Electrical, Controls, Panels, and Field Teams

Fabrication works best when the people building the component understand the systems around it. DSI’s fabrication team coordinates with electrical, automation, panel shop, and field service teams so fabricated systems support the full installation instead of creating downstream issues.

This helps reduce:

Installation conflicts
Wiring access problems
Panel mounting issues
Field modification delays
Startup rework
Safety concerns
Long-term maintenance challenges

3. Build for Strength, Access, and Maintainability

Fabricated systems need to be strong, practical, serviceable, and ready for real operating conditions.

DSI supports fabrication for:

Equipment supports
Skids and frames
Pump and motor supports
Panel and enclosure mounts
Access platforms
Stairs and ladders
Walkways and railings
Guards and protective structures
Pipe and conduit supports
Custom field assemblies

4. Support Installation, Modification, and Long-Term Operation

DSI fabrication is built with field execution in mind. Our integrated teams help customers adapt systems, support installation, and solve practical site challenges.

DSI supports:

Field modification support
Retrofit fabrication
Equipment adaptation
Replacement structures
Installation support fabrication
Modernization projects
Expansion projects
Repeat-build programs
Long-term support

See Our Projects

Fabrication Capabilities

DSI provides fabrication services for critical infrastructure and demanding operating environments.

Equipment and Structural Support

Equipment skids
Equipment support structures
Pump and motor supports
Structural bases and frames
Field-installed assemblies
Production equipment supports
Utility equipment supports
Custom fabricated components

Panel, Enclosure, and Controls Support

Control panel support frames
Electrical enclosure mounting structures
Operator station supports
Instrumentation mounting brackets
VFD and MCC support structures
RTU and SCADA equipment supports
Field device mounting solutions
Custom control infrastructure supports

Platforms, Access, and Safety

Access platforms
Stairs and ladders
Walkways
Railings
Guards and barriers
Equipment service platforms
Maintenance access structures
Operator access improvements

Custom and Repeat-Build Fabrication

Custom fabricated components
Field modifications
Retrofit fabrication
Repeat-build fabricated components
Standardized support structures
Multi-site fabrication programs
Design refinement over repeated builds
Documentation and repeatability support

One Team. One Point of Accountability.

Most fabrication shops only build what is on the drawing. DSI looks at how the fabricated system will fit into the entire operation. Our fabrication team works with electrical construction, automation, panel shop, engineering, and field service teams to help customers reduce handoffs and improve installation readiness.

With DSI, customers can:

Coordinate fabrication with electrical and controls
Improve service access and maintainability
Reduce field rework
Support safer installation
Build repeatable infrastructure
Adapt existing systems
Support modernization and expansion
Work with one integrated partner

Built for Installation and Long-Term Reliability

Fabrication has to survive transportation, installation, weather, vibration, production use, utility environments, and long-term maintenance demands. DSI builds fabrication support with the full operating environment in mind, helping ensure fabricated systems are practical to install, easier to maintain, and better aligned with the long-term needs of the operation.

Customers choose DSI to help:

Improve installation readiness
Reduce vendor handoffs
Support electrical and automation integration
Improve operator and maintenance access
Solve site-specific field challenges
Support modernization projects
Standardize infrastructure across sites
Build systems that work in the field

Where We Work

Midland / Odessa Region

Supporting oilfield producers and industrial customers across West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Western North Dakota

Supporting operators across the Williston Basin and Bakken.

South Dakota Operations

Supporting municipal, industrial, and infrastructure customers across the region.

Nationwide Project Support

DSI supports projects across the United States as customer needs arise.

Frequently Asked Fabrication Questions

What fabrication services does DSI provide?

DSI provides fabrication services for equipment skids, support structures, access platforms, panel mounts, enclosure supports, guards, frames, field modifications, and custom fabricated components.

What industries does DSI support with fabrication?

DSI supports oil and gas operations, municipal water and wastewater utilities, industrial processing facilities, manufacturing environments, and infrastructure applications.

Does DSI fabricate equipment skids and support structures?

Yes. DSI fabricates equipment skids, structural bases, frames, pump and motor supports, control panel supports, and field-installed assemblies.

Can DSI build access platforms, stairs, ladders, and walkways?

Yes. DSI supports fabrication for access platforms, stairs, ladders, walkways, railings, guards, and maintenance access structures.

Can DSI fabricate supports for panels, enclosures, and controls equipment?

Yes. DSI fabricates supports and mounts for control panels, electrical enclosures, RTUs, SCADA equipment, instrumentation, VFDs, MCCs, and operator stations.

How does DSI’s fabrication team work with electrical and automation teams?

DSI’s fabrication team coordinates with electrical construction, automation, panel shop, and field service teams so fabricated systems support wiring, controls, installation, startup, and long-term maintenance.

Does DSI support field modifications?

Yes. DSI supports retrofit fabrication, field modifications, equipment adaptation, replacement structures, and site-specific fabrication needs.

What makes DSI different from a typical fabrication shop?

DSI combines fabrication with electrical construction, automation, UL panel shop, engineering, and field service capabilities. That gives customers one coordinated partner for fabricated systems that need to be installed, powered, controlled, and maintained.

Employee-Owned. Integrated. Accountable.

Fabrication Built for the Field

Whether you need custom fabrication, repeat-build components, equipment supports, access platforms, or integrated infrastructure, DSI delivers fabrication support designed for real operating environments.

Talk With Our Fabrication Team View Our Projects

Downloads

Fabrication Resources

Downloadable capability sheets covering what we build, the certifications behind it, and where we work.

Cover of the Rely on DSI Industrial Fabrication cut sheet

Industrial FabricationSkids, supports, platforms, and panel mounts built for the field.Download PDF

Cover of the Rely on DSI Oil and Gas Fabrication cut sheet

Oil & Gas FabricationSkids, well pad structures, access platforms, and field modifications.Download PDF

Cover of the Rely on DSI Industrial Processing Fabrication cut sheet

Industrial Processing FabricationEquipment supports, guards, platforms, and production line structures.Download PDF

Cover of the Rely on DSI Municipal Water and Wastewater Fabrication cut sheet

Municipal Water & Wastewater FabricationTreatment plant and lift station supports, platforms, and mounts.Download PDF

Fabrication

Industrial Fabrication Services