Why Use Expanded Metal?

If you need to use a meshed metal, say to build new fences, walkways or cages, then you need to choose between a perforated or expanded product.

 

If you need to use a meshed metal, say to build new fences, walkways or cages, then you need to choose between a perforated or expanded product. While perforated metal has its advantages, an please visit our website for more details! may be a better fit for your needs.

 

What Is Expanded Metal?

Expanded metal is a type of mesh metal sheeting. During the manufacturing process, a regular sheet of malleable metal goes into an expanding machine. This machine stretches the metal to make it thinner. It also simultaneously makes slit cuts in the sheet.

As the metal expands, the cuts stretch out and open up. This creates a uniform mesh design. The slits turn into holes in the sheet as the metal thins out.

Depending on your application and preference, you can use this process to create different shapes of mesh. While diamond cuts are perhaps the most common option here, you can also use shapes like circles, ovals, squares, and hexagons, for example.

Why Use Expanded Metal?

While both perforated and expanded metal sheets create a kind of mesh metal product, their finished products don't do exactly the same job. They have different capabilities.

If you take an expansion route, then you'll see the following advantages.

 

Lightweight strength

An expanded metal sheet is relatively lightweight. During the expansion process, the sheet becomes thinner; it loses some of its relative weight. However, this doesn't mean that you sacrifice its strength.

An expanded metal sheet is strong and sturdy. It is manufactured in one piece, so it doesn't lose any integrity. Unlike woven meshes or sheets that have connecting joints, you don't have any weak areas.

You also don't remove any metal from the sheet as you would if you perforated holes in it. If you design and angle your sheet sizes and cuts carefully, then you can create products that are strong enough to use as walkways and grates.

Less waste

If you use perforated metal sheets, then you punch holes in the sheet to create its mesh effect. This increases wastage. You don't have a use for these punched-out holes.

If you expand a sheet, you don't remove any of it. There is no wastage when you make expansion cuts.

 

Lower costs

If you reduce wastage, then you also reduce your manufacturing costs. This is especially important if you're working with a more expensive type of metal.

If you use expanded metal, then you use up every bit of the sheets. You don't lose any of the metal during the perforation process.

Your base material costs will also be lower. If you aren't wasting any of the material during the manufacturing process, then you can use less of it. The expansion process significantly increases the size of your sheets. One sheet can be stretched out to create a much larger area. Your metal goes further.

 

More design flexibility

It's often easier to mold expanded metal to a specific application and design. For example, if you want to let through maximum light and air, then you can use larger cuts to make larger gaps.

This isn't always possible with perforated sheets. You might weaken a sheet if your perforations are too big and don't have enough holding metal around them.

You also have more flexibility with the angle of your cuts. For example, if you want to make a non-slip walkway, then you can create angles that give grip. If you want a smoother surface, say when you're making a basket or a filter screen, then you put the sheets through a flattening process to get rid of rough areas.

If you're interested in learning more about expanded metals, contact us. We can help you find the right pre-cut or made-to-order supplies for any project, big or small.