Blog
Manufacturing Technology Overview:
Processes, applications and decision support
LMV BLOG – Lauingen 2026-05-19
Which manufacturing process is suitable for which component? This question arises daily in industrial practice, and the answer is rarely straightforward. Selecting the right process determines quality, cost-effectiveness and lead time. At the same time, components are becoming more complex, tolerance requirements tighter, and materials more diverse.
This article provides a structured overview of the most important manufacturing processes in metalworking: what they deliver, where they are used, and how they can be combined effectively.
1. Key Facts at a Glance
Manufacturing processes can be divided into six main groups
Process selection depends on material, geometry, quantity and surface requirements
Many components go through multiple manufacturing stages, from primary shaping to surface finishing
- Combined process chains increase efficiency and reduce interfaces
- Modern manufacturing companies integrate processes such as laser technology, CNC machining and electroplating under one roof
2. What is manufacturing technology? Definition and classification
Manufacturing technology refers to all technical processes used to produce components and products from materials. The basic system is divided into six main groups:
- Primary shaping – producing a solid body from shapeless material (e.g. casting, sintering)
- Forming – changing shape while maintaining material cohesion (e.g. bending, rolling)
- Separating – changing shape by separating material (e.g. sawing, milling, laser cutting)
- Joining – connecting multiple components (e.g. welding, soldering)
- Coating – applying layers to surfaces (e.g. powder coating, electroplating)
- Changing material properties – targeted modification of material properties (e.g. hardening, quenching and tempering)
In industrial practice, a component often goes through several of these stages – from semi-finished product to fully finished end product.
3. Primary shaping: the starting point of component production
Primary shaping refers to producing a solid body from a shapeless starting material. Typical processes include casting, sintering or injection molding. In metalworking, casting in particular plays a role, for example in the production of housings, supports or machine parts with complex geometries that would otherwise be time-consuming to produce using other processes.
Primary-shaped components often serve as the starting material for subsequent processing steps such as machining or surface finishing.
4. Forming: bending, rolling, punching
Forming processes change the shape of a workpiece without removing material. Material cohesion is maintained. In metalworking, the following processes are among the most commonly used:
Bending
In bending, a workpiece—usually tube or sheet metal—is brought into a new shape through targeted application of force. Modern CNC-controlled bending machines enable tight radii and reproducible results, even for small batch sizes.
Typical applications: furniture frames, structural profiles, piping systems.
Punching
Punching combines cutting and forming in a single operation. It is particularly suitable for high volumes and consistent geometries. Cost-effectiveness increases significantly with batch size.
5. Separating: machining, laser technology and more
Separating processes are ubiquitous in metalworking. They include all processes in which material is removed or separated in a targeted manner.
Machining
Machining includes turning, milling, drilling and grinding. CNC machining enables high precision for complex geometries. Key factors for quality are cutting parameters, tool selection and the stability of the clamping setup.
Turning: rotationally symmetric components, high surface finish
Milling: free geometries, pockets, hole patterns
Drilling: precision holes, threads, through-holes
Grinding: finishing, tight tolerances, surface quality Ra < 0.4 µm
Tube laser cutting
Laser cutting of tubes and profiles has become established as particularly efficient in modern manufacturing. Complex notches, slots and joining geometries can be cut directly from the tube without additional tools—with high repeat accuracy and minimal rework time.
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6. Joining: welding as a key joining process
Joining technology connects individual parts into assemblies. Welding is the dominant process in metalworking.
Overview of relevant welding processes:
- MIG/MAG welding: universally applicable, easy to automate
- TIG welding: high seam quality, for thin sheet metal and stainless steel
- Spot welding: fast, cost-effective for series sheet-metal components
Weld seam quality depends on preparation, parameter selection and the specialist’s qualification. Standards-compliant welds to DIN EN ISO 5817 are mandatory in many industries.
7. Coating and surface finishing
Surface finishing is far more than appearance. It protects against corrosion, increases wear resistance and can specifically influence functional properties.
Powder Coating
In powder coating, electrostatically applied powder is cured in an oven. The result is an even, durable surface with high scratch and corrosion resistance. The process is suitable for aluminium and steel, is solvent-free and meets high environmental standards.
Electroplating / Chrome Plating
Electroplating processes such as chrome plating, nickel plating or zinc plating are used when special requirements for gloss, hardness or corrosion protection apply. Electrochemical deposition enables very thin, uniform layers with precisely defined properties.
Typical applications: design components, functional surfaces in mechanical engineering, sanitary and furniture industries.
8. Targeted modification of material properties: hardening and quenching and tempering
In practice, the sixth main group is often underestimated. Yet it plays a decisive role, especially for highly stressed components.
Heat-treatment processes such as hardening, tempering or quenching and tempering can be used to set mechanical properties such as hardness, toughness and strength in a targeted manner—without changing the component’s geometry. This is particularly relevant for tools, shafts, gears and other wear parts.
9. Process comparison at a glance
| Process | Strengths | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Bending | Material-friendly, fast | Tubes, profiles, frames |
| Punching | High volume, cost-effective | Series sheet-metal parts |
| Milling / turning | High precision, free geometries | Mechanical engineering components |
| Tube laser cutting | Flexible, no tooling costs | Tube joints, notches |
| Welding | Strong joint, versatile | Assemblies, structures |
| Powder coating | Durable, environmentally friendly | Surfaces with corrosion protection |
| Electroplating | Functional coating properties | Design parts, wear protection |
| Hardening / quenching and tempering | Targeted property modification | Tools, wear parts |
10. Manufacturing technology at LMV: process chains from a single source
In industrial practice, it is rarely useful to view manufacturing processes in isolation. A chair frame, for example, typically goes through several stations: tube laser cutting, bending, welding, grinding and finally powder coating or electroplating.
LMV Metalltechnik combines this process chain under one roof—from machining and forming processes through to surface finishing. This reduces transport distances, simplifies communication and significantly shortens throughput times.
Especially in the furniture and shopfitting industry, but also in general metal fabrication, customers benefit from having a partner who can handle one-off production as well as large series and who takes technical responsibility for the entire process chain.
11. Typical mistakes in process selection
Common planning errors arise when manufacturing processes are defined too early in the design process—without consultation with the manufacturer. This leads to:
- Unnecessarily tight tolerances that multiply the effort required
- Process changes during the project with cost and time impacts
- Underestimated effort for rework and quality inspections
- Failure to consider surface requirements in early design phases
Recommendation: involve the manufacturer early in the design process; design for manufacturing saves time and costs.
12. Checklist: process selection in metal fabrication
☑ Material and wall thickness defined?
☑ Quantity and batch size known?
☑ Tolerance requirements specified?
☑ Surface requirements (roughness, coating, corrosion protection) defined?
☑ Possible process chains aligned with the manufacturing partner?
☑ Standards and approval requirements considered?
13. Frequently asked questions about manufacturing technology
1. What is the difference between forming and separating?
In forming, material cohesion is maintained—the component is shaped without removing material. In separating, by contrast, material is removed in a targeted manner or the component is split. Bending is a typical forming process; milling is a typical separating process.
2. Which manufacturing processes are suitable for small series?
For small series and one-off production, particularly suitable options are flexible processes such as CNC milling, tube laser cutting and TIG welding. They do not require extensive tooling preparation and can be adapted quickly to new geometries.
3. What is the difference between powder coating and electroplating?
Powder coating is a dry process in which synthetic resin powder is applied electrostatically and cured. Electroplating is a wet-chemical process in which metal is deposited electrochemically. Powder coating primarily provides corrosion protection and appearance; electroplating additionally enables functional properties such as hardness or electrical conductivity.
4. What does contract manufacturing mean?
In contract manufacturing, a specialised service provider carries out one or more manufacturing steps for a client. The advantage: the client uses external capacity and expertise without having to maintain its own machinery—particularly useful for specialist processes such as electroplating or tube laser cutting.
5. Which process is best suited for highly stressed components?
That depends on the type of load. For wear, a combination of hardening and functional coating is recommended. For dynamic loads, weld quality and the choice of base material play a central role. Early coordination between design and manufacturing is essential.