Steel fabrication and bespoke metalwork, built to spec
DRST Trading is a working steel fabrication shop in Leighton Buzzard. Most weeks the workshop turns out a mix of contractor jobs, commercial fabrications, gates and railings for housing developments, bespoke metalwork for homeowners, and one-off repair work where the original is past replacing. Drawings, sketches, photos, conversations on site — whichever way the brief comes in, the job goes through the same coded welding process and gets quoted properly.
The brand line is "if it's made of metal, we can build it" — and it's broadly true. But for paid search, what most people are actually looking for is steel fabrication that's competent, local, and able to handle either a single bespoke piece or a production run.
What we fabricate
The full range you'd expect from a steel fabrication shop with coded welders and in-house finishing — sized, welded and finished to your spec.
- Frames & subframes
- Brackets & connections
- Gates (driveway & pedestrian)
- Railings
- Balustrades
- Handrails
- Machinery guards
- Plant frames & jigs
- Stainless prep tables & benches
- Architectural metalwork
- Steel repairs & reinforcements
- Custom one-off components
Project types we work on
What we'll work from
The faster we can see the job, the faster you get a quote. We'll work from whatever you've got:
- Engineering or architect's drawings
- A sketch on paper, napkin or screen
- Photos of the existing piece, location or reference
- Site measurements and dimensions
- The broken or damaged part to copy or repair
- A conversation, on the phone or on site
- Material preference if you've got one (we'll advise if not)
- Finish preference (raw, paint, galvanised, powder coat)
How the job runs
-
01.
Send the project details
Email Daniel, use the contact form, or call the workshop. Drawings, sketches, photos, dimensions — whatever you've got is enough to start.
-
02.
Clarify material, size and finish
We come back with any questions on metal type, sections, tolerances and finish — and a site visit if the job needs one.
-
03.
Written, itemised quote
A clear quote covering material, fabrication, finish, and delivery or installation. Inside 24 hours during the working week.
-
04.
Fabricate in the workshop
Cut, welded and assembled in our Leighton Buzzard workshop by coded welders. TIG for stainless and aluminium, MIG for production-speed mild steel, MMA for heavy section and site work.
-
05.
Finish to your spec
Raw mill, oxide paint, hot-dip galvanised, powder coat or wet spray to RAL — finishing arranged so you don't deal with a separate supplier.
-
06.
Delivery, collection or installation
Pick up from the workshop, palletised delivery to site, or full install by our team. Whichever way the job is set up.
Service area
Based in Leighton Buzzard, DRST Trading covers steel fabrication across Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Aylesbury, Bedford and Hemel Hempstead — plus the surrounding Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire region.
Greater London is covered for suitable commercial, structural and higher-value projects.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fabricate from a sketch or photo?
Yes. A surprising amount of bespoke fabrication starts from a sketch on paper or a photo of an existing piece. We'll come back with any questions on dimensions, material and finish before quoting, and arrange a site visit if the job needs measuring properly.
What metals do you work with?
Primarily mild steel, stainless (including food-grade 304 and 316), and aluminium. Hollow sections, plate, bar, sheet — we source through our steel broker partners so material availability isn't usually the bottleneck.
Do you offer site welding?
Yes. MMA (arc) welding is the standard for site work, and we run mobile welding for steel installation, repair and modification jobs across Bedfordshire and Greater London. For thinner-section or stainless work that needs TIG, we'd usually pull the piece back to the workshop.
Can you fabricate gates, railings and handrails?
Yes — these are some of the most common bespoke fabrication jobs through the workshop. Driveway and pedestrian gates, staircase balustrades, landing rails, external balcony rails, Juliet balconies. From a single bespoke run for a domestic property up to volume runs for a development site.
Can you make one-off steel parts?
Yes. One-off fabrication is a big part of what comes through the workshop — replacement parts, brackets to fit existing equipment, custom frames, repair pieces. Send a drawing, photo or the broken original and we'll quote it.
Do you work with commercial clients?
Yes. Commercial fabrication is a regular line of work — production runs of brackets and frames, machinery guards, plant-room steel, food-grade stainless equipment for kitchens and factories, and architectural metalwork for commercial fit-outs.
Do you provide delivery or installation?
Yes — both. You can collect from the workshop at Midway Depot, we can run finished work out to site, or our team can install on site (hanging gates, fixing balustrades, on-site welding). Whichever way the job is set up.
What finishes are available?
Raw mill finish, oxide paint, hot-dip galvanising for exterior longevity, wet spray for any RAL colour, or powder coat for hard-wearing colour on volume orders. Galvanise-and-powder-coat is available for the longest-lasting external finish. We'll suggest which makes sense for the job.
How long does fabrication usually take?
Smaller bespoke jobs typically one to three weeks from quote sign-off. Larger commercial fabrications and prototypes are quoted to a programme. We give you a firm date with the written quote and hold to it.
What information do you need to quote?
The minimum: a description of what you need, rough dimensions, and whether it's for collection, delivery or installation. Better: drawings or sketches, photos, material preference, finish preference, project location postcode and timeframe.