Good connections start
before the workshop.

At MAH Steel, we are steel fabricators designing and manufacturing steel connections from our Gravesend steel factory using advanced CNC machinery. Our steel connection design service takes your drawings and load information and develops them into clear, buildable connection details for projects across London, Kent and the South East.

Our engineers design a full range of connections, including cranked beams, splice connections, haunches, fin plates, and end plates, working from the loading provided by the structural engineer. Because the same team handles design and structural steel fabrication, the details are drawn with the workshop and the site in mind.

For the drawings and models around these connections, see steel CAD services and 3D steel modelling.

Drawings and load information
Plates, bolts and welds
Approval before fabrication
Made at our Gravesend factory

The right detail.
For the right connection.

Practical connection solutions are shaped by the loads, the steelwork arrangement and the way each part will be made and installed. Illustrative diagrams, not fabrication drawings.

Illustration of a fin plate connection: one steel beam bolted to a plate that is welded to the web of a second beam

Fin plates and simple connections

Beam-to-beam and beam-to-column connections detailed around the loads, plates, fixings and access set by the structural engineer.

Used for joining beams to columns and to other beams

Illustration of the end of a sloping steel beam with a haunch beneath it, a stiffener plate in the web and a bolted end plate

End plates, haunches and frame connections

More demanding junctions need particular attention to member forces, geometry and approval, so end plates and haunches are detailed for the frame they belong to.

Used for frame junctions between beams and columns

Illustration of two lengths of steel column joined end to end with bolted splice plates on the flange and the web

Splice connections

Joining lengths of beam or column with plates and bolts, so each piece can be handled, delivered and installed in the space available.

Used for steel made in lengths that can be installed

Illustration of a steel beam with a bend part-way along its length, a plate at each end, and a mitred joint where the two lengths meet

Cranked beams and bespoke details

Cranked beams, preparing plates and resolving unusual interfaces so fabricated pieces can be handled and assembled on site.

Used for beams that change direction, and one-off interfaces

Designed for site.
Made in the workshop.

Each connection is a set of plates, bolts and welds that the workshop has to make and the site has to assemble.

Illustration of the same steel plate fixed to a column in two ways: welded on the left and bolted on the right

Designed for site, not just theory

We don't just design for theory, we design for site. Our engineers specify the right connection types, bolt grades, weld sizes, and geometry to suit real loads and installation conditions, keeping things efficient and straightforward on site.

Design and fabrication in one team

Because we handle both design and fabrication, there's no need to coordinate with multiple parties. Send us your drawings and load information, and the drawings are approved by you and your engineer before fabrication starts.

Welded or bolted

Plates, bolts and welds are chosen for the connection, then drawn so the workshop can cut, drill and weld the steelwork ready for assembly. Our guide to welded vs bolted steel connections explains how the two compare.

Straightforward on site

Properly designed connections help transfer loads correctly between beams, columns and other components, while also supporting efficient fabrication and straightforward on-site assembly.

From connection design.
To steel on site.

Connection details sit between drawings, fabrication and erection, each with its own page.

Lengths of structural steel racked in the MAH Steel workshop hall

Structural steel fabricationBeams, frames and connections prepared to approved drawings.

A 3D structural steel model laid over a general arrangement drawing sheet

3D steel modellingDrawings and modelling to coordinate fabrication and connections.

A 3D model of a steel frame with platforms and ladders

Steel CAD servicesFabrication drawings that define every plate and connection point.

Steel beams on workshop stands with welded end plates, drilled bolt holes and chalked part marks

Steel connectionsThe connection types MAH fabricates, from spacer beams to splice plates.

Two workers guiding a steel beam lowered by a crane in front of a brick house with a new opening

Steel erectionErection and installation support where agreed.

Explore all MAH services

From drawings to approved detail.

One clear process keeps the engineer's information, the drawing office and the workshop aligned before any steel is cut.

Review the information

We review the structural drawings and load requirements for the project.

Develop the detail

Connection arrangements, plates, bolt positions and welds are drawn with fabrication methods and installation conditions in mind.

Agree and approve

We prepare the drawings, and you and your engineer approve them before fabrication starts.

Fabricate to the drawings

The steel is cut, drilled and fabricated to the approved drawings at our Gravesend factory, ready for delivery and installation.

Connection details on real MAH projects.

Published MAH projects whose own case studies describe connection design, splice details or connection details agreed before the steel was fabricated.

Hundred of Hoo Academy, Kent

Steel fabrication for Hundred of Hoo academy

MAH took on the steel connection design from the loading provided by the engineer, then sent the detailed drawings to the engineers…

View project

North London

2 structural splices in North London

Two structural splices and shelving plates designed and fabricated: the positions, measurements and connection details were sketched up…

View project

London

Precision engineered spliced beam for a London basement project

A beam spliced into three sections to suit a restricted basement, with the connection and splice details checked against the approved…

View project

See all MAH Steel projects

Steel connection design questions and answers.

This section covers key information about our steel connection design services, including how connection details are engineered, analysed, and integrated into wider structural frameworks. It addresses common topics such as design methodology, fabrication considerations, installation interfaces, and overall structural performance, helping you understand how robust and efficient connection designs are developed for steel projects.

What is the process for steel connection design?

Steel connection design begins by reviewing the structural drawings and load requirements for the project. Our team then designs the necessary connections to ensure each steel element can be safely and efficiently joined, taking into account fabrication methods, installation conditions, and structural performance requirements.

Why is steel connection design important in structural steelwork?

Steel connection design is essential to ensure that all structural elements work together safely and effectively. Properly designed connections help transfer loads correctly between beams, columns, and other components, while also supporting efficient fabrication and straightforward on-site assembly.

How does steel connection design integrate with fabrication and detailing?

Steel connection design is closely linked with both fabrication and detailing stages. Once connections are designed, they are incorporated into detailed drawings and 3D models, allowing the workshop to fabricate components accurately and ensuring everything fits correctly during installation on site.

What do you need to start connection design?

Send us your drawings and load information. For fabrication and delivery, MAH requires structural engineer General Arrangement (GA) drawings with measurements so that no key dimensions or details have to be assumed. Designs must be approved by the appropriate engineers before fabrication.

Who approves the connection details?

The required drawing approval needs to be completed before fabrication starts. This allows the customer, builder, architect and structural engineer, as applicable, to confirm that the proposed steelwork matches the project requirements.

See all our FAQs

Have a connection detail to resolve?

From residential steel beams to large commercial packages, our team can provide reliable pricing and advice. Send us your drawings and load information and we'll discuss the practical next steps.

Get a quote Or call 01322 276948

Steel connection design for London and Kent.

Good connections start
before the workshop.