THE JOB AND WHAT’S INVOLVED

Sheet metal workers make a wide range of items using pieces of flat metal up to three millimetres thick. Examples include:

– Panels for motor vehicles and airplanes
– Electrical and electronic equipment
– Domestic appliances and furniture
– Business equipment
– Street signs
– Narrow strips for wheel rims
– Ventilation ducting
– Food preparation and pharmaceutical equipment
– Tables, trolleys and storage systems
– Stainless steel products

Sheet metal workers often work with mild steel, but may also work with other ferrous metals, such as stainless or galvanised steel, or non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium, copper, brass and pewter.

They work from engineering drawings and mark out shapes on the metal before cutting them out. Some work on benches using hand-powered tools. Increasingly, sheet metal workers use computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting and pressing machines when producing quantities of metal sheets for mass-produced items

In some jobs, it may be the sheet metal worker’s responsibility to key instructions into the machine’s computer.

Sheet metal workers also use:

• Measuring equipment, such as spirit levels, gauges and micrometers.
• Brake presses and guillotines.
• Bending machines.
• Drill presses and punches.
• Metal expanding machines.
• Crimping machines.
• Laser cutters.
• Riveting, brazing, soldering and welding equipment to assemble items.

Sheet metal workers often work as part of a team with other craft workers, such as welders and hand machinists, to produce finished products. To complete some projects, sheet metal workers may help to install work at customers’ premises.

Sheet metal workers normally work standard full-time hours, Monday to Friday. This may include shifts and overtime is common. Working on a customer’s premises may involve a night shift.

Sheet metal workers work alone or in small teams. They work at a bench in a factory or workshop. The work involves standing, bending and lifting. They wear protective clothing and equipment, including ear protectors, boiler suits, gloves, helmets, glasses and safety boots.