5 Things to Know Before Buying Expanded Metal Mesh Manufacturer

When buying expanded metal, there are some significant considerations that impact the durability, success and cost-effectiveness of projects, understanding key factors can undoubtedly result in expanded metal selection that fits your needs for industrial platforms, architectural purposes or fencing.

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Let's find out more about expanded metal sheet buying tips to help you make the right decision

1. Specifying Your Application Needs

Before selecting your materials you should know where and how they will be used, How to choose expanded mesh simply begins with understanding the needs completely, are they will be used for flooring, ventilation, fencing, or cladding, each application has its own features and characteristics like thickness, mesh size, and finish.

For example:

• Walkways or platforms require strong yet slip-resistant mesh with solidity.
• Architectural panels mainly need lightweight material associated with decorative patterns or intricacy.
• Fencing requires mesh with tight openings to ensure security purposes are met.

2. Choose the Right Material: Steel vs. Aluminum

Expanded metal selection is critical, steel vs aluminum expanded metal:

• Steel expanded metal enjoys a high level of strength, making it ideal for heavy-load purposes in industrial applications.
• Aluminum expanded metal is renowned for being rust-resistant and lightweight, making it a preferred choice for decorative structural applications. Moreover, it is a corrosion-resistant expanded mesh.

3. Consider Customization

Custom-sized expanded metal can provide many solutions when standard sheets may not fit your exact needs. Customization allows you to match dimensions according to your project needs without applying much cutting or wasting materials, it can save time during installation, especially in architectural or design applications, and hence you get a cleaner finish wet suitable.

4. Seek variations in the Mesh Pattern and Thickness

Functionality and appearance are highly determined by mesh pattern and thickness; for example, larger openings are better for ventilation or filtration, while thicker and tighter mesh is more suitable for structural uses to support the capacity of loads.

When you're buying expanded metal, consider the specifications below as they directly impact weight, strength, and flow.

• Strand width thickness
• Metal Thickness
• LWD (long way of the diamond)
• SWD (short way of the diamond)

5. Look for Corrosion Resistance

When it comes to coastal, humid, or chemical-heavy areas it is essential to switch to Corrosion resistant expanded mesh as it is the best option for Outdoor and industrial applications which usually demand durability and solidity, in this case steel is provided with protective coatings (like galvanized) or aluminum to extend the lifespan of the projects and to reduce the cost of maintenance overtime.

6. Assess the Cost and Value

Expanded metal price can vary greatly depending on many factors such as mesh pattern material, size, and finishes, It is not recommended to opt for cheap materials as they can corrode over time, leading to higher long-term expenses.

Prioritize value: corrosion-resistant expanded mesh with high-quality or custom-sized expanded metal can have a higher upfront cost, but in the end, it can deliver great performance at the same time, reducing the cost of maintenance.

Finally, choose a trustworthy metal provider who really understands your needs and offers guidance with expertise; they will help you understand how to choose expanded mesh with many custom-made offers, and they can offer the best expanded metal price quotes.

Conclusion

At ANB Metal, we understand that selecting the right expanded metal is about making a balance among material strength, durability, application needs, and cost. Our team provides you with the right planning and advice. Buying expanded metal has become an important aspect of adding lasting value to your project.

Download our mesh measuring guide.

Understanding the precise measurements required for different types of expanded metal is essential for selecting the right mesh pattern. In this article, we provide a comprehensive guide on how to accurately measure and specify expanded metal. 

Raised or flattened mesh, what is the difference?

When measuring expanded metal mesh, the first thing to consider is whether the mesh is raised or flattened. Each type has its own set of terminologies for measurement.

Expanded metal starts in a raised form due to the unique ‘slit and stretch’ manufacturing process, which creates angular strands inclined from the plane of the sheet.

Raised mesh is notable for its angular appearance, which not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also provides practical benefits: it offers grip underfoot, directs air, liquid, and light, and serves as a key when used as a substrate.

Common applications for raised mesh include walkway ramps, security fencing, interior and exterior decorative building cladding, and laths for render and plaster.

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A secondary process often flattens the raised mesh using heavy rolls, resulting in a completely two-dimensional sheet where all strands lie in the same plane. Flattened mesh is preferred when a smooth finish is desired.

Common applications for flattened mesh include security partition meshes, conical air filters, and machine guards.

How to Measure a Raised Mesh?

Key terminology for raised mesh is Longway Pitch (LWP), Shortway Pitch (SWP), Strand Width (SWDT) and Strand Thickness (STK).

LWP: Measured horizontally from either knuckle to knuckle or centre to centre, is derived from the size of tooling used within the production process.

SWP: Measured vertically from either knuckle to knuckle or centre to centre, is manifested through the overall expansion applied during manufacture.

SWDT: A measurement of the width of the resulting angular strand created during manufacture.

STK: A measurement of starting raw material thickness. Contrary to belief, the expanding process does not directly alter material thickness. Strand Thickness should not be confused with the overall height or depth of expanded metal. Typically, mesh height can be as much as 1-2 times the measurement of SWDT.

How to Measure a Flattened Mesh

Key terminology for flattened mesh is Longway Aperture (LWA), Shortway Aperture (SWA), Strand Width (SWDT) and Strand Thickness (STK).

LWA: Measured horizontally from one internal aperture point to the next.

SWA: Measured vertically from one internal aperture point to the next.

SWDT: The width of the angular strand created during manufacturing.

STK: The thickness of the raw material before processing.

The expanding process does not alter the material thickness, but the flattening process does. You can expect a 10-20% reduction in material thickness after flattening.

After flattening, the mesh becomes completely two-dimensional. Therefore, the overall height measurement of the mesh will be similar to the starting material thickness, with an additional 10-20% reduction.

How do I specify sheet size and orientation?

Expanded metal mesh exhibits different mechanical and aesthetic properties depending on the sheet's orientation.

When specifying sheet dimensions, it is important to consider the orientation of the diamonds in relation to the sheet size. The terms used to describe this orientation are Longway Mesh (LWM) and Shortway Mesh (SWM).

For example, when raised mesh is used as a walkway ramp platform, the surface grip is strongest when the diamonds run left-to-right underfoot. Conversely, in the security fencing industry, expanded metal fencing panels are commonly mounted with the diamonds pointing upwards. This creates narrower openings and makes it more difficult to climb and scale the fence.

The illustration below shows how a mm (LWM) x mm (SWM) differs from a mm (LWM) x mm (SWM), despite having the same overall dimensions.

In conclusion, this article has provided a comprehensive guide on measuring and specifying expanded metal, covering both raised and flattened mesh types. It delves into the unique characteristics and applications of each, highlighting key measurements.

These measurements are essential for selecting the right mesh pattern for various purposes, from walkway ramps and security fencing to decorative cladding and industrial applications.

By understanding these metrics and considering the orientation of the mesh, readers can confidently choose expanded metal that best suits their specific needs. For visual clarity, refer to the accompanying illustration to understand the differences in mesh orientation.

View an example of our F flattened steel mesh at a horizontal orientation here and view the same mesh at a vertical orientation here.  You can also view our raised steel mesh at a horizontal orientation here and at a vertical orientation here.

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