Innovation in architectural fabrication

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Cutting-edge metal fabrication technology is reshaping the architectural industry, blending precision and automation to meet modern challenges. 

MetalForming LLC is revolutionizing the architectural metal industry by combining precision, innovation and advanced technology. In this MetalTalk, recorded live from MetalForming’s headquarters in Peachtree City, Georgia, host Heidi J. Ellsworth is joined by MetalForming leaders Stephen Gosk, Martin König, David Prokop and Chad Rowe, who discuss the company’s evolution and contributions to metal fabrication over the past 25 years. 

MetalForming was founded by Geoff Stone with a mission to bring cutting-edge metal folding technology to the U.S. market, which was largely unfamiliar with this type of machinery at the time. According to Stephen, the company’s president, MetalForming initially introduced two primary European lines — Jorns and Schechtl — that would redefine metal fabrication standards in the United States. “Geoff Stone, the founder of the organization, really set out to introduce technology and innovation to solve the issues in the architectural fabrication space. And he did that by bringing in metal folding technology,” Stephen explains. 

Chad, now the business development manager at MetalForming, looked back on his early career with the company, which began as a service technician working on high-precision folders under Fasti, a company that has since merged with the Schroeder Group. He shared early experiences with Schechtl and Jorns machines, “We traveled out to the West Coast. I spent a whole week with this German Schechtl technician and about the total of his English was, "Yes," and, "No." So it was a great trip,” Chad recollected. Over his 25 years, Rowe has observed the industry’s evolution, including innovations like graphic programming on Schechtl machines and sketch-and-draw features from Jorns. A key moment in MetalForming’s growth, Rowe noted, came when Jorns provided machines on a trial basis, leading to a lasting partnership that has supported the company's success in the long folding market. 

David expressed the critical impact of technological advancements, particularly automation. He noted, "The biggest thing right now that's really being driven by the market is more automation." Prokop stated the challenges faced by the industry, pointing out that "there's a labor issue out there... you're not suddenly going to get a generation of kids that wake up and say, I want to go bend metal.'" Automated machines, therefore, present a necessary solution, addressing both the labor shortages and the demand for efficiency in the evolving industry. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the Webinar to learn more about MetalForming's pioneering role and explore their state-of-the-art technology!