Welding and metal fabrication demand in Middle Georgia runs along two distinct tracks. The industrial track serves Robins Air Force Base, the region’s manufacturing plants, food processing facilities, and the agricultural operations that rely on custom equipment repair and fabrication to keep running. The residential and commercial track serves property owners who need custom gates, handrails, fencing, decorative ironwork, structural steel, and specialty projects that off-the-shelf products cannot address. The region’s industrial base creates a deeper talent pool of certified welders than most comparably sized markets, but that same demand means the best shops stay busy and lead times for custom work can extend to several weeks during peak periods. Welding quality varies enormously between shops: a MIG weld on mild steel for a gate is a fundamentally different skill set than TIG welding stainless steel for food-grade equipment or SMAW stick welding on structural members that must meet AWS D1.1 code requirements. Georgia does not require a specific welding license, but structural welding on commercial buildings requires certified welders, and shops performing pressure vessel work need ASME certification. The five shops below are independently operated, verified through their own business websites, and currently active across different parts of the region.
1. C & C Manufacturing, Inc. (Assassin Smokers) — Macon
C & C Manufacturing has been serving the Middle Georgia area since 1996 as a full-service welding and manufacturing shop. Their facility at 220 NW Industrial Boulevard in Macon is equipped with serious fabrication machinery: a 10-foot hydraulic press brake, 10-foot half-inch plate shear, horizontal band saw with bundle cutting capability, plate roller rated for 3/16-inch material up to 72 inches wide, a 6-by-12-foot plasma cutting table, a forklift, and a 10-by-24-foot semi-downdraft paint booth. This equipment list puts C & C in a different category from mobile welders and small garage shops. They handle stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel welding, and their fabrication portfolio includes handrails, stairs, mezzanines, tables, trailers, frames, carts, and custom projects. They also manufacture their Assassin Smokers line of barbecue smokers, grills, and trailers, which demonstrates their capacity for both heavy industrial work and consumer-grade finishing. For projects requiring precision cutting, forming, welding, and painting under one roof, C & C’s equipment and 28-year track record deliver capabilities that most shops in the region cannot match.
Services: Custom metal fabrication, MIG/TIG/stick welding, stainless steel welding, aluminum welding, carbon steel welding, handrails, stairs, mezzanines, trailers, plasma cutting, press brake forming, plate rolling, painting, smoker and grill manufacturing.
Address: 220 NW Industrial Blvd, Macon, GA 31216
Phone: (478) 561-3017
Website: https://www.assassin-smokers.com/welding-fabrication/
Hours: Mon-Fri 7AM-3:30PM
2. Macon Metal Works — Macon
Macon Metal Works is a small fabrication shop founded by two childhood friends who specialize in custom designs, small production runs, one-off projects, and turning client visions into reality. Their combined decades of experience span metal fabrication, CNC welding, MIG/TIG welding, AutoCAD design, business signage, metal wall art, 3D sculptures, fire pits, custom automotive parts, and display pieces. The shop uses American-made materials whenever possible and produces everything locally in Georgia. Their positioning as a custom design shop rather than a production facility means they take on projects that larger industrial shops may not want to bother with: a custom fire pit for a backyard, a one-off automotive bracket, a piece of metal wall art, or a business sign that needs to be fabricated to specific architectural specifications. When you contact Macon Metal Works, you deal directly with the owners rather than a salesperson, which means the person quoting your project is the person who will build it.
Services: Custom metal fabrication, CNC welding, MIG/TIG welding, AutoCAD design, business signage, metal wall art, 3D sculptures, fire pits, custom automotive parts, display fabrication, small production runs.
Address: Macon, GA
Phone: Contact via website
Website: https://maconmetalworks.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM
3. MacAljon Fabrication Shop — Macon
MacAljon Fabrication is a full-service steel and metal fabrication company with ASME and API certifications, operating from their Macon facility at 1600 Waterville Road alongside locations in Jesup, Augusta, and Richmond Hill. This is industrial fabrication at scale: over 50,000 square feet of fabrication space with 25,000 dedicated to tanks and vessels and 25,000 for structural steel and pre-fab piping. Their capabilities include pressure vessels, storage tanks, structural steel, pipe fabrication, and specialty fabrication for the chemical processing, pulp and paper, oil and gas, water treatment, and power generation industries. The shop runs a high-definition Messer plasma cutting table, Pandjiris welding manipulator stations, and design software including AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Compress for pressure vessel engineering. Their ISO 9001:2015 certification confirms a quality management system that meets international standards. For industrial clients who need ASME-coded pressure vessels, API-certified fabrication, or large structural steel projects, MacAljon’s Macon facility provides capabilities that no small shop can replicate.
Services: ASME pressure vessel fabrication, API-certified fabrication, structural steel fabrication, pipe fabrication, storage tank manufacturing, chemical processing equipment, sand blasting, painting, delivery, AutoCAD/Inventor design, ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Address: 1600 Waterville Rd, Macon, GA 31206
Phone: (478) 803-9144
Website: https://www.macaljon.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 7AM-4PM
4. US Machine & Tool — Macon
US Machine & Tool serves as a trusted metal manufacturer in Macon providing precision metal fabrication, machining, and full-service manufacturing solutions for businesses across Middle Georgia. Their operation combines precision machining with fabrication capabilities under one roof, which reduces lead times and eliminates the coordination headaches that arise when machining and fabrication happen at separate facilities. Their services include precision machining with tight-tolerance components, metal stamping for high-volume parts, advanced cutting services for intricate designs and thick materials, and welding and assembly. The firm occupies a niche between small custom fabrication shops and massive production facilities, offering the precision and responsiveness of a smaller operation with the industrial capability to handle production work. For businesses that need more than basic fabrication but do not want to get lost in a massive production facility’s queue, US Machine & Tool provides the balance of capability and attention.
Services: Precision machining, CNC machining, metal fabrication, metal stamping, laser cutting, plasma cutting, welding, assembly, production manufacturing, prototype fabrication, tight-tolerance components.
Address: Macon, GA
Phone: (478) 788-2700
Website: https://usmachineandtool.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 7AM-4PM
5. Fabricad Industrial — Middle Georgia
Fabricad Industrial delivers premium metalwork serving the Middle Georgia area and beyond, combining traditional fabrication methods with innovative CNC technology. Their services include precision plasma cutting, forming, and custom fabrication with attention to detail on every piece. The shop produces custom grills, smokers, trailers, and a range of fabricated metal products. Their emphasis on both robustness and aesthetics reflects a shop that understands its client base: Middle Georgia property owners and businesses want fabricated metal that performs structurally while looking finished and professional. The Southern tradition of strong values and hard work that Fabricad references in their approach translates to a collaborative process from initial design through final product delivery. For residential and light commercial projects where the visual quality of the finished metalwork matters as much as its structural integrity, Fabricad brings the combination of CNC precision and hand-finishing skill that produces professional results.
Services: Custom metal fabrication, CNC plasma cutting, metal forming, custom grills and smokers, trailer fabrication, structural metalwork, decorative metalwork, design consultation, residential and commercial projects.
Address: Middle Georgia
Phone: Contact via website
Website: https://fabricadindustrial.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM
FAQ
How much does custom welding and fabrication cost in Middle Georgia?
Pricing varies dramatically based on project complexity, material type, and certification requirements. Simple mild steel welding such as gate repairs or bracket fabrication runs $50 to $100 per hour for shop work. Custom gate fabrication costs $500 to $3,000 depending on size, design complexity, and material. Handrail fabrication and installation runs $50 to $120 per linear foot for steel or aluminum. Stainless steel and aluminum welding command 30 to 50 percent premiums over mild steel due to material cost and specialized skill requirements. Industrial fabrication involving ASME-coded pressure vessels or structural steel certified to AWS D1.1 is quoted on a project basis with engineering, materials, labor, and inspection costs itemized separately. Always get written quotes specifying material grade, welding process, finish, and any applicable certifications.
What types of welding certifications should I look for?
For residential and light commercial work such as gates, fencing, handrails, and decorative metalwork, certification is less critical than demonstrated skill and a portfolio of completed projects. For structural work on buildings, look for welders certified to AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code. For pressure vessels and piping, look for ASME-certified shops with documented welding procedures. For food-grade stainless steel fabrication, the shop should demonstrate experience with sanitary welding techniques and surface finishing. Ask to see examples of completed work similar to your project, and for structural or pressure-rated work, ask for copies of the shop’s welding procedure specifications and welder qualification records.
How do I choose between a fabrication shop and a mobile welder?
Mobile welders are appropriate for field repairs, on-site installations where the material cannot be moved to a shop, and simple projects that do not require cutting, forming, or finishing equipment. Fabrication shops are necessary when the project requires precision cutting with plasma or laser tables, material forming with press brakes or plate rollers, multiple welding processes, painted or powder-coated finishes, or quality-controlled assembly. The cost difference is significant: mobile welders charge $75 to $150 per hour with lower overhead, while shop rates reflect the equipment investment but produce more precise and consistent results. For anything beyond basic field repairs, a fabrication shop with proper equipment will produce a superior product.