“Custom” and “fast” rarely appear in the same ceiling specification. Custom metalwork has a reputation for long lead times — months of tooling, sampling, approval, and re-approval before a panel reaches site. VEIL is made-to-order. It is also built in days and shipped in weeks. This post explains how that lead time is achievable and what it means for your project programme.
What does “built in days” actually mean?
VEIL’s build lead time is measured in days from the point the DXF enters the factory. The DXF is generated in VEIL Studio by the specifier — it goes directly to the laser cutter with no intermediate redrawing step. The laser cutter reads the file and cuts the panels. Powder coating follows. Acoustic backing or backlighting is integrated if specified. Crating for transit.
The day count starts when the file arrives. It does not include tooling, because laser cutting requires no tooling. It does not include sample approval, because the DXF output from VEIL Studio is the production file — what you see in the preview is what gets cut.
What does “shipped in weeks” mean for a project programme?
From design confirmation to panels on site is measured in weeks, not months. For projects working to standard commercial construction programmes, this means VEIL can be specified at the stage when ceiling decisions are typically being made — not months before, to accommodate a custom manufacturing cycle.
Panels are crated for transit and shipped to site. No specialist delivery requirements. The crating protects the powder-coated finish and the panel edges. Panels arrive ready to drop into the grid.
How does VEIL’s lead time compare to conventional custom metalwork?
Conventional custom perforated metalwork with a bespoke pattern typically involves: briefing, pattern drawing, approval, tooling or CNC setup, first-off sample, sample approval, full production run. Each step has its own lead time. Total programme from brief to delivery is commonly 12–20 weeks.
VEIL compresses this to: design in VEIL Studio (minutes), DXF to factory (same day), manufacture (days), ship (weeks). The total programme is a fraction of the conventional custom metalwork cycle — without any compromise on the customisation. Custom. Made-to-order. Made in days. The simple part is yours.
