Stop Wasting Time on Low-Quality Leads That Don't Convert to Real Projects
Imagine cutting your lead qualification time by 70% while boosting qualified inquiries from contractors and builders who actually need your custom metalwork. No more chasing ghosts in the fab shop world.
Join 150+ businesses with consistent lead pipelines
The "Lead Drought" Problem
Cold Calling Dead Ends Amid Steel Price Swings and Supply Shortages
Skilled Welders and CNC Machinists Bogged Down by Unqualified RFQ Responses
Overlooking High-Value Bids for Custom Structural Steel and Piping Systems
Overreliance on Trade Show Leads That Fizzle Out
Difficulty Standing Out in Crowded Bidding for Custom Metal Fabrication Jobs
Winter Slumps Idling CNC Mills and Plasma Cutters During Off-Season Builds
Tailored Lead Generation Built for Your Shop Floor
We've engineered AI systems for fabrication shops just like yours, turning chaotic lead hunts into streamlined pipelines that feed your backlog with precision projects.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, off-the-shelf lead gen tools treat every business the same—like slapping a generic blueprint on a custom weldment. You're probably thinking, 'My shop needs leads from specific sectors, like HVAC contractors needing stainless fittings or builders sourcing structural beams.' That's why we build custom AI lead engines at AIQ Labs. We start by mapping your exact workflow: from quoting laser-cut parts to delivering assembled frames. Our system scrapes targeted sources—think construction bid boards, supplier directories, and engineering forums—for ideal profiles. Then, AI enriches data with project specs, timelines, and budget hints. It integrates straight into your CRM or shop management software, flagging hot leads that match your capabilities. No more one-size-fits-all limitations. This is flexible, built for you, ensuring every lead fits your unique fabrication needs like a perfectly milled joint.
What Makes Us Different:
Why This Fits Your Fabrication World
Precision Lead Matching
Precision Lead Matching: Our AI scores leads based on your shop's specialties—say, aluminum extrusions for commercial framing or stainless steel pipe fabrication for industrial plumbing—delivering 40% higher conversion rates on RFQs. You'll focus on winnable bids for structural components, not mismatches, keeping your revenue steady even during steel tariff hikes or lumber shortages.
Streamlined Shop Workflow
Streamlined Shop Workflow: Automate lead intake so your welders and estimators aren't pulled from the shop floor for every vague inquiry. We saw one mid-sized fab shop cut response times from days to hours on CAD drawing reviews, landing a $150K custom steel enclosure project for a warehouse expansion that would have slipped to a competitor. It's like having an extra project coordinator without the overtime costs.
ROI-Driven Scaling
ROI-Driven Scaling: Track every lead's path from initial contact to signed contract, measuring true value against your raw material costs like sheet metal and labor hours on MIG welding setups. Shops using our system report 25% faster project ramps from blueprint to production, turning seasonal lulls in commercial builds into full order books without hiring extra fabricators.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, we were swamped with leads from generic online forms—mostly small shops asking for low-volume titanium prototypes we don't handle. Their custom AI system now targets general contractors issuing RFPs for our precision CNC machining on steel beams for high-rise builds. Over the last six months, we've closed three deals totaling $220K, and our estimators now spend half their time on actual quoting instead of dead-end follow-ups."
Mike Harlan
Shop Foreman, Precision Fab Works (Specializing in Structural Steel Components)
"Trade shows were our go-to, but they're costly and yields drop off after the event. AIQ engineered a lead engine that scans regional builder forums and portals for RFPs on pre-engineered metal buildings and trusses. It synced perfectly with our ERP quoting software. Last quarter, we secured 15 new projects worth $450K, all pre-qualified with detailed specs—no more weeks of idle downtime chasing unresponsive callbacks."
Sarah Kline
Operations Director, Apex Metal Crafters (Custom Metal Building Fabricators)
"I was skeptical about AI lead gen for our boutique operation, but it transformed us. We focus on custom HVAC ductwork and sheet metal enclosures, and their tool surfaced leads from mechanical contractors posting bids for data center installs we hadn't tapped. We converted two major contracts in 75 days, adding $180K to our backlog and filling our plasma table schedule by 30% without onboarding new sheet metal workers."
Tom Reyes
Owner, Reyes Fabrication Co. (HVAC and Sheet Metal Specialists)
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Mapping
We dive into your shop's specifics—like your CNC capabilities and target clients in construction— to blueprint a lead system tailored to your workflow. Think of it as surveying the site before pouring the foundation.
AI Engine Build and Testing
Our engineers construct the custom AI, scraping and enriching data from industry sources. We test it against your past projects to ensure leads match real opportunities, iterating until it's spot-on.
Integration and Launch
We wire it into your existing tools, training your team on the dashboard. Leads start flowing, monitored for ROI, with ongoing tweaks—like adjusting for seasonal fabrication demands.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does your lead gen handle the specifics of custom fabrication projects?
We customize the AI to your shop's niche—whether it's aerospace-grade aluminum or heavy structural steel. It scrapes targeted sources like engineering forums and bid platforms, then enriches leads with details like part tolerances or assembly requirements. For example, if you specialize in laser-cut enclosures, the system flags inquiries from electronics manufacturers needing prototypes. This ensures leads align with your capabilities, reducing no-shows. We've seen shops like yours double their qualified pipeline in the first quarter by focusing on these tailored matches, all while integrating with your CAD software for quick feasibility checks. It's practical, ROI-focused, and built to fit your daily grind without overwhelming your team.
What's the timeline for seeing results in lead volume?
Typically, we launch a basic version in 4-6 weeks, with initial leads flowing within days of integration. Full customization, including AI training on your historical data, takes 8-12 weeks for optimal scoring. One fabrication client started getting 15-20 enriched leads monthly right away, converting 25% to bids. We monitor and tweak weekly, so you're not waiting months for payoff. Think of it like ramping up a new production line—quick setup for steady output. Our approach avoids the pitfalls of generic tools that promise fast but deliver junk; instead, it's field-tested for manufacturing realities, ensuring ROI from day one.
How do you ensure leads are qualified for our shop's workflow?
Our AI uses your input—like minimum order sizes, material expertise, and lead times—to score prospects. It analyzes behavior, such as RFP attachments or site visits to your portfolio, to predict fit. For instance, a lead from a contractor bidding on a warehouse fit-out gets high marks if it matches your sheet metal bending capacity. We integrate this into your ERP, auto-populating quote templates. Clients report 60% fewer unqualified inquiries, freeing welders for actual work. Here's the thing: we're not just collecting emails; we're building a pipeline that respects your shop floor constraints, with ongoing refinements based on what converts for you.
Can this integrate with our existing shop management software?
Absolutely. We specialize in two-way integrations with tools like JobBOSS, Epicor, or even custom ERPs common in fabrication. The AI feeds enriched leads directly into your system, triggering workflows like auto-quotes or inventory checks for materials. No more manual entry that eats into production time. A recent project for a metal shop linked it to their scheduling software, cutting lead-to-quote time by 50%. It's flexible—built for your exact needs, not forcing you into a new stack. We handle the heavy lifting, so your team stays focused on fabrication, not fiddling with data imports.
What makes your solution different from standard lead gen services?
Unlike cookie-cutter platforms that blast generic emails, we engineer custom AI for your fabrication world—scraping niche sources like ASTM standards boards or regional contractor networks. It's owned by you, not a subscription trap, with deep code that scales as your shop does. You're probably thinking about the chaos of disconnected tools; we unify it all into one asset. For ROI-driven shops, this means measurable wins: one client saw a 35% uptick in project bookings within four months, all tied to their specific workflows. We're builders, not assemblers—delivering production-ready systems that tackle real challenges like volatile bids and idle machines.
How do you measure success for lead generation in manufacturing?
We track concrete metrics tailored to fabrication: conversion rate from lead to signed contract, average project value, time from inquiry to PO, and ROI per lead source (e.g., cost vs. material revenue). Dashboards show this in real-time, like monitoring weld quality metrics. A shop we worked with aimed for $100K quarterly from new leads; we hit it by month three, with 80% from high-fit sources. It's not fluffy—every tweak is data-driven, ensuring your investment pays off in filled order books and reduced downtime. We review monthly, adjusting for market shifts like steel tariffs, so your pipeline stays robust.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.