Two state-of-the-art Local fabrication shops in Columbus. Faster Schedules. Predictable Results.
The Sauer Prefabrication Advantage.
Our Local Prefabrication facility features controlled-environment quality that accelerates your project timeline by up to 6 months.
Background
Since 1876, we've refined the art of mechanical fabrication. Today, our Columbus-based shops combine advanced technology with fifth-generation craftsmanship to deliver a competitive advantage: we bring critical assemblies to life months before field conditions allow, reducing installation time, improving quality control, and protecting your schedule from weather delays and site constraints.
Philosophy
We don't wait to see what can be prefabricated—we start every project by identifying what should be prefabricated. This proactive approach to shop fabrication protects schedules, elevates quality, and reduces field installation risk from day one.
Explore our Fab Shop
Outstanding Benefits
Schedule Protection
- Begin fabrication up to 6 months before field installation
- Parallel processing: shop work happens while site prep continues
- Reduced field installation time by 30-50%
- Weather-independent production
- Accelerated project completion
Quality & Safety
- Controlled environment fabrication
- 100% shop QA/QC before delivery
- Documented weld procedures and testing
- Reduced work-at-height and hot-work exposure
- Dedicated clean room for stainless and exotic metals
Cost Efficiency
- Single-source accountability: we fabricate AND install
- Reduced field labor hours
- Minimized material waste through precise shop cutting
- Lower risk of rework or field modifications
- Union crews ensure skilled installation
What We Prefabricate.
From large bore piping to complete bathroom batteries, our Columbus fabrication facilities handle the full spectrum of mechanical prefabrication—with the quality, precision, and schedule certainty that complex projects demand. Regardless of project size, we continuously evaluate opportunities to maximize prefabrication and minimize field labor.
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Large Bore Piping
Schedule 10 through XXH carbon steel pipe up to 60" diameter and 40' in length, complete with welded fittings, flanges, and supports ready for field installation.
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Pipe Racks
Structural steel racks with integrated piping, valves, hangers, and supports—assembled and tested as complete systems for rapid site installation.
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Equipment Skids
Custom-designed modular skids consolidating pumps, valves, piping, instrumentation, and controls into pre-assembled, factory-tested units.
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Hangers & Hanger Assemblies
Pre-fabricated hanger systems, trapeze assemblies, and seismic bracing, reducing field measurement errors and installation time.
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Bathroom Batteries
Complete prefabricated bathroom groups with integrated plumbing, carriers, and fixtures, reducing field coordination and installation time for multi-story buildings.
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Valve Stations
Pre-assembled and tested valve manifolds with instrumentation, ready for quick hookup and commissioning.
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Multitrade Assemblies
Coordination of multiple trades—piping, electrical, sheet metal, and controls—into single shop-assembled units at one location.
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Stainless Steel & Exotic Metal Systems
High-purity pharmaceutical, food processing, and cleanroom piping fabricated in our dedicated clean room with purge equipment for contamination-free welds.
Capability #1
Carbon Steel Pipe & Spool Fabrication
Our 40,000 SF automated carbon steel fabrication shop produces industrial piping systems, welded spools, and large bore piping for HVAC, process, and utilities applications. Equipped with the latest cutting, beveling, welding, and testing equipment, we fabricate assemblies up to 60" in diameter and 40' in length—meeting ASME B31.1, B31.3, and project-specific code requirements.
Services include:
- Large bore piping: Schedule 10 through XXH, up to 60" diameter
- Automated cutting, beveling, and fit-up
- Stick, MIG, TIG, and advanced welding processes
- Spool drawings and isometric coordination
- Hydrostatic and pneumatic testing
Applications include:
- Chilled water and condenser water systems
- Steam and condensate piping
- Industrial process piping
- Compressed air and gas distribution
- Equipment interconnections
Capability #2
Stainless Steel & Exotic Metals
Our dedicated 1,500 SF stainless steel fabrication facility includes a specialized clean room for high-purity systems. Working with purge equipment and contamination-free processes, our certified welders produce pharmaceutical-grade, food-processing, and cleanroom piping with full documentation and traceability.
Services include:
- 304, 304L, 316, 316L, and exotic metal alloys
- Orbital and manual TIG welding in clean room environment
- Dedicated purge bags for contamination-free welds
- Electropolishing and passivation
- High-purity tube bending and forming
Applications include:
- Pharmaceutical process piping
- Clean steam and WFI (Water for Injection) systems
- Food and beverage process lines
- Data center liquid cooling systems
- Laboratory gas and chemical distribution
Capability #3
Sheet Metal & Ductwork Fabrication
From light-gauge HVAC ductwork to heavy industrial exhaust systems, our sheet metal shop fabricates custom duct, fittings, and specialty metal assemblies to SMACNA standards. We self-perform cutting, forming, welding, and installation—giving you single-source accountability and eliminating subcontractor markups.
Services include:
- Rectangular and round ductwork (galvanized, stainless, aluminum)
- Custom duct fittings and transitions
- Kitchen exhaust and laboratory fume hood ductwork
- Industrial dust collection and process exhaust systems
- Louvers, dampers, and access panels
Applications include:
- Commercial HVAC distribution systems
- Laboratory and cleanroom HVAC
- Industrial ventilation and dust collection
- Kitchen and food service exhaust
- Equipment enclosures and weather covers
Capability #4
Modular Skids, Racks & Multitrade Assemblies
Our modular assembly capability consolidates multiple trades—piping, structural steel, valves, instrumentation, sheet metal, and controls—into pre-assembled, tested units at one location. This approach reduces field congestion, shortens installation schedules, and allows for earlier commissioning of critical systems.
Services include:
- Custom-designed skid and rack layouts
- Structural steel framing and supports
- Integrated piping, valves, and instrumentation
- Pre-wired control panels and sensor integration
- Factory acceptance testing (FAT)
Applications include:
- Data center cooling distribution units (CDUs)
- Process chemical feed and treatment skids
- Pump and valve control assemblies
- Compressed air and gas distribution racks
- Backup generator fuel and exhaust systems
Specialized Assemblies
- Equipment Skids: Pumps, tanks, and process equipment with all interconnecting piping and controls
- Pipe Racks: Multi-level structural racks with integrated piping systems and hanger assemblies
- Valve Stations: Pre-assembled valve manifolds with instrumentation ready for commissioning
- Bathroom Batteries: Complete prefabricated bathroom groups for multi-story buildings with integrated plumbing, carriers, and fixtures
- Mechanical Room Modules: Pre-assembled equipment rooms with piping, ductwork, and electrical
- Chiller/Boiler Plant Racks: Complete equipment distribution assemblies
The Sauer Prefabrication Process.
From Preconstruction to Installation: our prefabrication process begins at project inception—not as an afterthought. We integrate seamlessly with your project team from early design coordination through final commissioning, turning complex mechanical systems into shop-fabricated assemblies that protect your schedule and elevate quality.
Prefabrication Across Industries.
Our prefabrication expertise spans the most demanding industries in Central Ohio—from mission-critical data centers to life-saving healthcare facilities.
Data Centers
Mission-critical cooling systems with zero tolerance for delays. Our prefabricated chilled water distribution, glycol loops, and equipment racks accelerate installation while maintaining the redundancy and quality data centers demand. Large bore piping and modular CDU skids reduce field hours by 40-50%.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Pharmaceutical-grade piping, clean steam, medical gas, and lab utilities—fabricated in our dedicated clean room to cGMP standards with full traceability and documentation for regulatory compliance. Stainless steel process systems with orbital welds and passivation ensure contamination-free performance.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Process piping, equipment interconnections, and production line utilities. We deliver the precision, material certifications, and schedule certainty that keeps production facilities on track. Large bore piping, valve stations, and equipment skids minimize plant downtime during installations.
Higher Education & Institutional
Campus utility upgrades, lab renovations, and occupied-space mechanical retrofits. Our prefabrication minimizes disruption and compresses installation windows—including prefabricated bathroom batteries for residence halls and dormitories that reduce installation time and improve quality control.
Featured Projects.
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Delivered large-scale mechanical construction for a confidential 3,000,000 SF hybrid/electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility, including plant cooling infrastructure, refrigeration systems, and welded industrial piping.
- 21,000+ LF welded steel piping
- Accelerated 6×10 construction schedule
- Complex plant cooling infrastructure
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Delivered multi-phase mechanical construction for large-scale mission-critical data center facility, including advanced cooling systems, industrial piping infrastructure, and prefabricated MEP solutions under aggressive schedules.
- 140,000+ LF critical piping installed
- Advanced evaporative cooling systems
- Large-scale prefabricated MEP coordination
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Completed a design-build medical vacuum system upgrade for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Cancer and Critical Care Tower while maintaining uninterrupted hospital operations.
- Zero downtime during hospital operations
- Installed comprehensive medical gas systems
- Seamless integration with existing infrastructure
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Provided full Design Assist mechanical services for a 290,454 SF pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory facility, including central utility plants, high-purity process piping, and cGMP-compliant HVAC systems.
- Zero downtime during hospital operations
- Complex BIM system coordination
- Successful budget recovery solutions
Technical Specifications.
Carbon Steel Facility
- 40,000 SF automated fabrication space
- Large bore pipe assemblies up to 60" diameter × 40' length
- Overhead cranes for heavy assembly handling
- Welding processes: Stick, MIG, TIG, FCAW
- Code compliance: ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.9
- Testing: Hydrostatic, pneumatic, radiographic, ultrasonic
- Surface treatment: Sandblasting, coating, painting
- Covered fabrication area for weather-protected work
Stainless Steel Facility
- 1,500 SF dedicated stainless fabrication space
- Specialized clean room environment for high-purity work
- Dedicated purge bags and contamination-free welding equipment
- Orbital and manual TIG welding
- Materials: 304, 304L, 316, 316L, exotic alloys
- Electropolishing and passivation services
- Sanitary fittings and connections (tri-clamp, butt-weld)
- Argon purging, clean bagging, and end-capping
- cGMP-compliant processes and documentation
Prefabrication Specialties
- Multitrade assembly coordination
- Large bore piping systems
- Pipe racks with integrated systems
- Equipment skids and modular assemblies
- Hangers and hanger assemblies
- Valve stations and manifolds
- Bathroom batteries for multi-story construction
- Mechanical room modules
Union Affiliations & Certifications
- Union pipefitters, welders, and sheet metal workers
- OSHA-certified supervisors and craftspeople
- Zero OSHA citations (2023-2025)
- Zero fatalities across 1.9M+ hours worked
