Dome Technology’s fabrication shop breaks its own record for production

Dome Technology’s innovation is possible, in part, thanks to the fabrication shop located on campus headquarters. Every year the shop takes on more projects with more sophistication. Here are a few stats:

  • In 2021 the shop fabricated 855 tons of steel, up from 600 tons in 2020.
  • Stainless steel was a popular material last year; 410 stainless-steel hoppers were produced, plus plenty of stainless-steel piping.
  • The most noteworthy project was the tube gallery for American Crystal Sugar.
  • The fabrication team installed a new plasma table with a 3D head that allows for precision plate cutting and can process pipe up to 24 inches in diameter.

Also, “we installed a new water filtration/osmosis system on our plasma table, which allows the plasma to utilize pure water as a shielding gas and enables us to process stainless steel with smooth, precise cuts and without discoloration,” shop manager Kirby Sheldon said. “This process drastically reduces the amount of heat transfer to the stainless steel, greatly reducing the heat-affected zone.”