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One Policy. Multiple Covers. Built for Metal Fabrication Risks.
What is a Combined Metal Fabrication Insurance Package?
A combined metal fabrication insurance package is a single policy that brings together the core covers most fabrication businesses need - typically public & products liability, employers’ liability, property cover, machinery breakdown, and business interruption - with optional extensions such as professional indemnity, goods in transit, contract works, tools, and cyber.
Fabrication businesses rarely face one risk at a time. A workshop incident can trigger a chain reaction: property damage causes downtime; downtime causes missed deliveries; missed deliveries trigger contractual disputes; and then liability exposures arise if a supplied part fails in service. A combined package helps ensure your cover is consistent, coordinated, and structured around your real operating model.
Insure24 arranges combined packages for structural steel, heavy fabrication, sheet metal, CNC machining, laser/plasma cutting, welding workshops, contract manufacturers, and multi-process engineering businesses across the UK.
CORE ELEMENTS OF A COMBINED PACKAGE
Combined cover can be more efficient than arranging each cover separately - and it often reduces coverage gaps, improves claims coordination, and supports a cleaner renewal process.
What’s Included in a Combined Metal Fabrication Insurance Package?
A strong combined package starts with the essentials and then adds the right extensions for your exact processes. Two fabrication businesses can have very different risk profiles: one may do structural steel erection with cranage; another may do OEM batch production with strict QA and traceability; another may be a small jobbing shop with a high customer throughput and frequent visitors.
Below is what a typical combined package may include. The final structure will depend on your activities, turnover, premises, and insurer appetite.
- Public Liability – For injury or property damage arising from your operations (including visitor risks and on-site work where applicable).
- Products Liability – For injury or property damage caused by parts you manufacture, supply or assemble, including items integrated into larger systems.
- Employers’ Liability – A core requirement for most businesses with staff, protecting against workplace injury and illness claims.
- Property / Material Damage – Buildings (if owned), tenant improvements, contents, tools, stock, jigs, fixtures and work in progress (wording dependent).
- Business Interruption – Protects gross profit and increased costs of working after insured damage causes disruption.
- Machinery Breakdown – Cover for sudden mechanical/electrical failure of critical equipment like CNC, press brakes, lasers/plasma, compressors and extraction systems.
- Money / Theft – Options for theft, loss of money, and certain security-related events (terms vary).
- Legal Expenses – Support for certain employment disputes and contract recovery issues (cover varies by provider).
Popular Extensions for Fabrication Businesses
Many metal fabrication businesses also require additional sections to reflect how they work and what customers expect:
Operations & Contract Extensions
- Professional Indemnity – For design/specification risks, tolerances, drawings, QA sign-off, and advice.
- Contract Works – For supply-and-fix, installation, erection, or off-site work in progress.
- Goods in Transit – For parts and materials while transported (own vehicles or couriers, subject to terms).
- Customer Goods / Bailee’s Risk – When you hold customer-owned materials, tools, or parts on your premises.
- Hired-In Plant – If you hire equipment to complete work or increase capacity.
Modern Risks & Operational Resilience
- Cyber & Data – For ransomware, email compromise, and data incidents that disrupt operations.
- Engineering Inspection – Where required for pressure systems or specific statutory inspection needs.
- Environmental / Pollution Liability – For certain fabrication processes involving chemicals, oils, paints and waste.
- Commercial Vehicle / Fleet – If you run vans, flatbeds or delivery vehicles.
- Directors & Officers – For management liability exposures (where appropriate).
Why a Combined Package is Often Better Than Separate Policies
Buying cover “piece by piece” can work - but fabrication risks often overlap. A combined package can reduce gaps and improve coordination across claims and renewals.
Reduced Coverage Gaps
Fabrication claims can involve multiple angles: a fire damages machinery, which causes downtime, which leads to missed contract delivery, which triggers a dispute or allegation. A combined policy is designed to align definitions, triggers, and policy sections - reducing the chance of grey areas.
- Aligned policy definitions across sections
- Better continuity between property and BI
- More consistent treatment of premises and operations
Smoother Claims Handling
When multiple covers interact, claims handling can become complex. A combined policy can reduce insurer disputes and streamline the process with one lead insurer and a single policy framework.
- Clearer coordination between property and BI losses
- Integrated approach to machinery breakdown and downtime
- More efficient documentation and policy management
Better Renewal & Compliance
OEMs and principal contractors often ask for certificates that show correct limits and cover types. A combined package reduces admin, makes certificates simpler, and helps ensure consistent renewal dates.
- One renewal date and one policy structure
- Certificates aligned to customer requirements
- Clearer visibility on total risk spend
Potential Cost Efficiency
In some cases, packaging can be more cost-effective than multiple separate policies. This isn’t always guaranteed, but combined policies can sometimes deliver improved value and reduce duplicated admin and fees.
- Reduced duplicated policy fees (where applicable)
- More coherent risk pricing for strong controls
- Better negotiation leverage at renewal
Who is a Combined Package For?
Combined metal fabrication insurance is suitable for a wide range of fabrication businesses - from small jobbing shops through to multi-site manufacturers supplying OEM contracts.
Typical Fabrication Trades
- Structural steel and heavy fabrication
- Sheet metal and presswork
- Laser / plasma / waterjet cutting
- Welding workshops (MIG/TIG, coded welding)
- CNC machining and turning
- Assembly and integration workshops
- Powder coating, blasting and finishing operations
Typical Sectors Served
- Construction and infrastructure supply chains
- Industrial machinery and equipment
- Automotive and commercial vehicle components
- Agricultural and plant equipment
- Energy, renewables and utilities
- Materials handling and storage systems
- Marine and specialist transport
“We needed liability, property, breakdown and BI aligned with OEM requirements. Insure24 put it into one combined policy and made renewals far easier.”
Director, UK Contract Fabrication BusinessHow to Get a Combined Metal Fabrication Insurance Package
We’ll help you build a package that aligns with your activities, contract profile, and premises - without unnecessary complexity. The aim is simple: cover that responds properly when something goes wrong, and documentation that meets customer and compliance requirements.
- 1. Tell us what you do – Activities, turnover split, processes, and any on-site work.
- 2. Confirm contract needs – OEM insurance requirements, limits, and key clauses.
- 3. Set sums insured correctly – Property values, BI gross profit, and equipment schedules.
- 4. Choose extensions – PI, transit, customer goods, contract works, cyber etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is a combined metal fabrication insurance policy?
It’s a single policy combining multiple covers commonly needed by metal fabrication businesses-typically public/products liability, employers’ liability, property, machinery breakdown and business interruption-with optional extensions like professional indemnity, goods in transit, contract works and cyber.
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Is combined insurance cheaper than separate policies?
Sometimes it can be, but the bigger benefit is often reduced gaps and smoother claims coordination. Pricing depends on your activities, claims history, premises, sums insured and the extensions you need.
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Does a combined package include business interruption cover?
BI is commonly included or added within a combined policy, but it should be set correctly. You normally choose an indemnity period and set a BI sum insured (often based on gross profit). For fabrication businesses, machinery lead times and specialist reinstatement can be key considerations.
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Can I add professional indemnity and contract works?
Yes. Many fabrication businesses add PI if they provide drawings, tolerances, specifications or advice. Contract works is also common for supply-and-fix or on-site installation. Availability and terms depend on the insurer and your contract profile.
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What information do you need to quote a combined package?
We typically need your activities and turnover split, premises details, sums insured (buildings/contents/stock), plant list (CNC/laser/press brakes etc.), business interruption figures (gross profit and indemnity period), claims history, and any customer insurance requirements or contract clauses.
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Does combined insurance cover tools and equipment off-site?
Cover can often be extended for tools and portable equipment away from your premises, subject to limits and conditions. If you do on-site work, installation, or maintenance, tell us where equipment is used and stored so the policy is structured correctly.
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Can a combined package meet OEM or principal contractor requirements?
Yes-combined policies can be structured to meet required liability limits and provide documentation that customers expect. If you send the insurance clauses or onboarding requirements, we can align the policy structure and certificates accordingly.