Heavy Large-Format Fabrication Capacity in Ontario
Heavy large-format fabrication capacity at WeFab in Leamington, Ontario, lets oversized assemblies be built in one piece, so projects get fewer field splices on site.
Our facility is designed to support large-scale fabrication from start to finish. An 88,000 lb overhead bridge crane, backed by 10 workstation jib cranes, provides the lifting capacity needed to safely fabricate, rotate, and move oversized structural assemblies throughout production.
With 26-foot tube processing and 14-foot forming beds, we have the capacity to manufacture large-format components for commercial and industrial projects while maintaining efficiency, precision, and quality. By combining specialized equipment with experienced fabrication teams, we help customers complete complex projects with confidence.
Our Lifting and Handling Capacity
WeFab lifts, turns, and loads heavy steel with an 88,000 lb overhead bridge crane (the largest crane in the shop and the one that loads trucks), supported by 10 workstation jib cranes rated at 1,500 lb each and two JCBs in the staging yard.
The overhead bridge crane positions large members for fit-up, turns assemblies for welding, and places finished pieces on the trailer. It also serves the largest door in the building, so a completed assembly travels from weld bay to truck without changing hands.
At the workstations, the jib cranes handle plates, gussets, and sub-assemblies, which keeps the main crane free for the heavy picks that set the pace of a large project.
This capacity suits large structural assemblies for data centre, warehouse, power and utility, and heavy-industry builds, pieces that would otherwise ship loose and be joined in the field. See Custom Assemblies.
Heavy Large-Format Fabrication Capacity: Specifications
The WeFab main fabrication bay measures 80 ft wide by 300 ft long with 29 ft clear under hook, split into weld bays per project. One-piece assemblies run to 40 tons, and finished pieces leave through a 13 ft wide by 16 ft tall door served by the main crane.
| Capability | Specification |
|---|---|
| Main overhead bridge crane | 88,000 lb (largest crane; the only truck-loading crane) |
| Workstation jib cranes | 10, rated 1,500 lb each |
| Main fabrication bay | 80 ft wide × 300 ft long, split into weld bays per project |
| Clear under hook (main bay) | 29 ft |
| One-piece assembly weight | Up to 40 tons |
| Largest door (served by main crane) | 13 ft wide × 16 ft tall |
| Staging yard | 70,000 sq ft, loaded with 2 JCBs |
| Facility | 208,000 sq ft under roof, Leamington, Ontario |
| Welding certification | CWB W47.1 Division 2 (Company Code DENDE1, held by parent company SEF) |
Clear under hook: the vertical distance from the shop floor to the crane hook at its highest position. It sets how tall an assembly can be lifted, turned, and positioned inside the building, so it governs which large-format pieces can be built in one piece.
Field splice: a bolted or welded connection made on site to join members that were shipped in sections. Every splice avoided in the shop removes a site connection, inspection point, and crane pick from the erection schedule.
How a Large-Format Assembly Moves Through the Shop
Large-format work at WeFab is planned around the door, the crane, and the truck from the first drawing review. Sizing each assembly to the 13 ft × 16 ft door and the 88,000 lb crane early keeps it buildable in one piece and shippable without rework.
Step 1: Size the assembly against shop and shipping limits
Drafting checks the drawings against the crane rating, door opening, and trailer, and decides where one-piece construction makes sense and where a planned splice is better.
Step 2: Assign a weld bay
The main bay is divided into weld bays sized to the project, giving a large assembly a dedicated footprint under the main crane.
Step 3: Fit-up and weld
Jib cranes feed parts while the overhead crane positions and turns the main members. Welding runs under CWB W47.1 Division 2.
Step 4: Stage and load
Finished assemblies move through the main door to the staging yard, and the overhead crane places them on the trailer.
Why Project Teams Choose WeFab for Heavy and Large-Format Work
WeFab combines heavy lifting, a large covered bay, and welding certification on one site (as South Essex Fabricating since 1994, rebranded WeFab in 2026), so oversized assemblies are cut, welded, inspected, and loaded without a second shop touching them.
- 88,000 lb overhead bridge crane that handles both fabrication picks and truck load-out
- 29 ft clear under hook across an 80 ft × 300 ft main bay
- 10 workstation jib cranes at 1,500 lb each for parts and sub-assemblies
- CWB W47.1 Division 2 welding with 60+ qualified weld procedures and an on-staff CSA W178.2 Certified Welding Inspector
- $10M general liability, $30M umbrella, $30M bonding through Hub International
- Clear scope: galvanizing and powder coating are subcontracted, and NDT is arranged through third parties when the specification calls for it
Delivery of Oversized Loads: Ontario First, US Projects by Arrangement
WeFab delivers heavy and oversized assemblies across Ontario on its own fleet of 4 tractors with flatbed and step-deck trailers. Our core service area is Windsor-Essex, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and the Greater Toronto Area, direct from our Leamington shop, with Ontario oversize-load permits handled in-house and US deliveries arranged through a customs broker.
No freight brokers sit between shop and site, so load timing stays with the people who built the piece. See Logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the heaviest piece WeFab can lift and load?
WeFab’s largest crane is an 88,000 lb overhead bridge crane, and it is the crane that loads trucks. One-piece assemblies run to 40 tons, with ten 1,500 lb workstation jib cranes handling smaller parts and sub-assemblies at the weld stations.
How big can a one-piece assembly be?
Assemblies are built in an 80 ft by 300 ft main bay with 29 ft clear under hook, and they leave the building through a 13 ft wide by 16 ft tall door served by the main crane. That door sets the practical cross-section for one-piece shipments.
Why build large assemblies in one piece instead of splicing on site?
Each field splice adds a site connection, an inspection point, and extra crane time during erection. Building an assembly in one piece under shop conditions moves that work into a controlled shop weld bay under SEF’s CWB W47.1 Division 2 certification, so the site crew sets the piece instead of assembling it.
Does WeFab deliver oversized loads itself?
Yes. WeFab runs an owned fleet of 4 tractors with flatbed and step-deck trailers, uses no freight brokers, and handles Ontario oversize-load permits in-house. US deliveries are arranged through a customs broker relationship on a per-project basis, not a scheduled cross-border lane.
Request a Heavy Fabrication Quote
Send drawings, a 3D model, or the overall dimensions and weight of the assembly to the WeFab estimating team. We confirm whether it fits the crane, bay, and door as one piece, or where a planned splice makes sense, before pricing, so projects needing heavy large-format fabrication capacity in Ontario get an answer from the people who will build and load it.
Call 548-919-0125 or email sales@wefab.ca to start a project.
Related capabilities: Structural steel fabrication · Custom assemblies · Logistics
