Machinery designed for precision, flexibility and clean finishes in lightweight frames, architectural furniture and bespoke metalwork.
Fabricators in the furniture and light manufacturing sectors work with a wide mix of tubular profiles, flat sheet components and decorative metal elements. The emphasis is often on aesthetic quality, repeatability and tight tolerances, especially for stainless steel, aluminium and lighter-gauge materials.
This page explores the unique requirements of furniture and light fabrication, along with the machinery combinations that best support accurate, efficient and reliable production.
Challenges in Furniture & Light Fabrication
Workshops in this sector frequently deal with:
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achieving clean, visible joints on lightweight tube
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maintaining high aesthetic standards on stainless and aluminium
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producing small-batch or custom furniture designs efficiently
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bending tube consistently without distortion or flattening
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cutting profiles and materials with minimal burrs or finishing
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handling a mixture of decorative and structural elements
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processing thin-wall materials without damaging the finish
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ensuring repeatability when manufacturing sets or matching assemblies
- avoiding contamination of stainless steel from mild steel
Quality, precision and repeatability are essential, especially for visible or decorative components.
Profiles & Materials Commonly Used in Furniture Manufacturing
Fabricators typically work with:
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stainless steel and mild-steel tube
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aluminium tube and extrusion
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thin-wall profiles
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decorative box section
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flat sheet for panels and supports
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round, oval and custom tube shapes
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lightweight brackets and fittings
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curved or rolled structural elements
Furniture projects often combine tube frames with sheet or plate components, requiring a versatile machinery lineup.
How Modern Machinery Supports Hybrid Tube & Sheet Workflows
Flatbed Fibre Lasers
Flatbed lasers support:
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brackets
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panels and decorative plates
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structural or architectural sheet components
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precision-cut features
They deliver clean edges and consistent quality on thin material.
Tube & Section Lasers
Tube lasers are ideal for producing precise, clean joints for:
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furniture frames
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chair and table structures
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tubular components requiring accurate mitres
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slots, joint features and alignment tabs
They minimise finishing time and deliver excellent fit-up.
Press Brakes
Press brakes are essential for forming:
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brackets
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folded sheet components
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lightweight frames
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furniture support structures
CNC control ensures consistency across matching assemblies.
Tube Benders
A critical machine for this sector. Tube benders enable:
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smooth, consistent bends in stainless and aluminium
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chair and table frames
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curved decorative features
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repeatable production of matching components
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low-distortion forming on thin-wall tube
They are indispensable for any workshop producing tubular furniture.
Section Rollers
Section rolls support the production of:
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curved frames
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circular furniture elements
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arched structures
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rolled tube and box section
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decorative rings and arcs
They allow controlled, repeatable curves that elevate the quality of furniture designs.
Circular Saws & Aluminium Saws
Fast, clean cutting of tube and extrusion is critical in furniture manufacturing. Circular saws offer:
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burr-free cuts
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square, repeatable edges
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fast cut cycles
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suitability for stainless, mild steel and aluminium
Dedicated aluminium circular saws provide high-speed, chip-free cutting of extrusion and thin-wall profiles, ideal for lightweight frames and architectural aluminium components.
Bandsaws
Bandsaws provide versatile preparation cutting for tube and section:
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simple straight cuts
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material preparation for tube laser or fabrication
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accurate cutting of thicker profiles not suited to laser processing
They remain cost-effective and reliable for day-to-day production.
Laser Welding
Laser welding is increasingly used for:
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visible weld seams on stainless furniture
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low-distortion joints
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thin-wall tube assemblies
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decorative or architectural components
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precision welded frames
It produces extremely clean joints with minimal finishing.
Customer Case Studies
Hear from some of our customers about how our machinery has helped them.
Mogul Mechanical Engineering – One-Stop Shop
Mogul Mechanical Engineering Ltd is a fabrication business, based in Cwmbran. They prove a variety of steel erection services, fabricating guarding, platforms, ladders etc, as well as more complicated fabrications. This often includes site work too.
We spoke to Ben Harris, Director, about the various pieces of machinery and service they’ve been supplied by Selmach.
MMK Engineering – Bringing Profiling In-House
MMK Engineering Ltd, based in Devon, work across the full spectrum of engineering, from designing small components to assembling entire end-use products and machinery. We spoke to Rob Jeffrey, Design Engineer, about the assortment of machinery they’ve received from us, including their Ajan CNC Plasma, Morgan Rushworth XL Fibre Laser, SBR Rolls, HSGS Guillotine and HFP H-Frame Press. Machinery brought in to enhance their in-house capabilities and save money and resources. “They are on the price, they are on the back up, it’s fantastic. Yeah. I’d recommend Selmach to anyone.”
6IX Process Design Ltd uprate their machinery with Selmach
6IX Process Design Ltd, based in Somerset, are manufactures of stainless steel tanks, vessels and processing systems for the brewing and dairy industries. We spoke to Sam Cabell, Managing Director about their recent machinery acquisitions, including a set of Morgan Rushworth DPBH-4 2550/280 Plate Rolls, a Bianco 420 MS Bandsaw, a Meyer SR32 Pillar Drill and an Almi AL100 Tube Notcher (Linisher), upgrading old, tired and 2nd hand machinery for a set of new.
“Yes I would recommend your machinery, and yes I have, already!”
Clarus save on outsourcing costs with the RVD fibre laser
Based in London and Fort Worth in the US, Clarus produces glassboards for many well-known brands, corporations, and commercial interior and furniture firms, to healthcare providers and education institutions. We spoke to Clarus about their experience with the RVD laser cutter.
Recommended Machinery for Furniture & Light Fabrication
Below are the machines best suited to this industry, grouped by type for easy navigation.
Example Components in Furniture & Light Fabrication
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chair frames
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table bases
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decorative tubular structures
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frames with curved or rolled elements
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lightweight brackets
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stainless and aluminium furniture
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enclosures and small sheet components
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architectural furniture elements
These components demonstrate the mix of tube, sheet and curved forms typical in this sector.
Typical Workflow for Furniture & Light Fabrication
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Cutting – circular saw, aluminium saw, tube laser or flatbed laser
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Bending & Forming – tube bender, press brake, section roll, sheet roll
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Drilling & Preparation – pillar drills, tapping, finishing
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Welding – MIG/TIG or laser welding for visible seams
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Finishing – polishing, deburring, brushing
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Assembly – final frame or furniture build
This workflow supports both custom pieces and repeat production runs.
Why Choose Selmach for Furniture & Light Fabrication Machinery?
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Machinery suited to thin-wall tube, aluminium and decorative materials
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Solutions focused on precision, surface quality and repeatability
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UK-wide installation, training and maintenance support
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Decades of experience with workshop layouts and light fabrication workflows
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Guidance based on your components, drawings and production goals
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A full range of cutting, bending, rolling and finishing machines for lightweight fabrication
Speak to a Specialist
Tell us about your components and materials — our team can recommend the ideal machinery for your furniture or light fabrication workflow.