Stainless steel plays a vital role in construction, manufacturing, and industrial systems. When it comes to pipework, precision, material quality, and welding expertise are essential to ensure long-lasting, reliable performance.

At Abbey Stainless Pipework Limited, we specialise in the prefabrication of welded stainless steel pipework, supplying high-quality assemblies manufactured in our workshop and delivered to site, ready for installation.

Why stainless steel?

Stainless steel is valued for its durability, corrosion resistance, and clean appearance. These properties make it particularly suitable for pipework systems used in commercial, industrial, and specialist environments.

We work exclusively with stainless steel grades 304 and 316, chosen for their strength, corrosion resistance, and suitability for a wide range of pipework applications.

What is stainless steel pipework prefabrication?

Pipework prefabrication is the process of manufacturing pipe assemblies in a controlled workshop environment before they are installed on site.

Rather than fabricating general steel components, our focus is on accurately manufactured, welded pipework assemblies using:

• • Bought-in stainless steel tube

• • Bought-in pre-formed fittings (such as elbows, tees, reducers, and flanges)

• • Precision cutting to length

• • High-quality welding

This approach ensures consistency, quality control, and reliable fit-up when the pipework reaches site.

Our pipework fabrication process

While stainless steel fabrication can involve many different techniques, our process is deliberately focused and specialised.

Cutting to length

Stainless steel tube is cut accurately to the required dimensions to suit the project drawings and specifications.

Assembly using pre-formed fittings

We use pre-manufactured stainless steel fittings rather than bending or forming tube in-house. This ensures dimensional accuracy and repeatable quality across assemblies.

Welding

Welding is at the core of what we do. Our fabricators are highly skilled in TIG, producing strong, clean, and consistent fully purged welds suitable for stainless steel pipework systems.

Inspection and preparation

Completed pipework assemblies are checked to ensure they meet drawing requirements and are ready for delivery to site, with NDT carried out by an external NDT company, should this be requested by the client, prior to any works commencing.

What we don’t do – and why that matters

To avoid any confusion, Abbey Pipework does not carry out:

• • Tube or pipe bending

• • Rolling or pressing

• • Press brake forming

• • Sheet metal fabrication

• • Laser cutting

By specialising solely in prefabricated welded pipework, we maintain a clear focus on quality, accuracy, and consistency within our area of expertise.

How our fabricators work

Our pipework fabricators work from technical drawings, CAD designs, and spool drawings, ensuring each assembly is manufactured exactly as specified.

They combine:

• • Strong attention to detail

• • A thorough understanding of stainless steel pipework

• • High-level welding skill

All fabrication is carried out in our workshop environment, allowing us to maintain strict quality control throughout the process.

Industries that use stainless steel pipework

Prefabricated stainless steel pipework is widely used across many sectors, including:

• • Commercial buildings

• • Public and infrastructure projects

• • Industrial and manufacturing environments

• • Specialist facilities requiring corrosion-resistant pipe systems

You can learn more about where stainless steel is used in our dedicated blog on stainless steel applications.

Stainless steel grades we work with

We fabricate pipework using the following stainless steel grades:

• • Stainless Steel 304 – widely used for general-purpose pipework

• • Stainless Steel 316 – offers enhanced corrosion resistance, particularly in more demanding environments

These grades are commonly specified for pipework due to their durability, hygiene, and long service life.

The importance of welding in pipework fabrication

Welding is a critical part of stainless steel pipework fabrication. High-quality welds ensure:

• • Structural integrity

• • Pressure resistance

• • Long-term reliability

Stainless steel welding requires careful control to avoid distortion, preserve corrosion resistance, and achieve a clean finish—particularly important in pipework systems.

So, what does a stainless steel pipework fabricator do?

A stainless steel pipework fabricator manufactures prefabricated welded pipe assemblies from stainless steel tube and fittings, working accurately from drawings to produce components ready for installation.

At Abbey Pipework, our role is clear and focused:
to deliver high-quality prefabricated stainless steel pipework in grades 304 and 316, manufactured in our workshop with precision and care.

Q&A

What does Abbey Pipework do?

Short answer:
We specialise in the prefabrication of welded stainless steel pipework using bought-in tube and fittings, cut to length and assembled in our workshop.

Do you bend or form stainless steel pipe?

Short answer:
No. We use pre-manufactured fittings and do not carry out pipe bending, rolling, or press brake forming.

What stainless steel grades do you work with?

Short answer:
We fabricate pipework using stainless steel 304 and 316.

Do you offer CAD or spool drawings?

Short answer:
Yes. We can work from client-supplied drawings and also provide CAD and spool drawings where required.