Products

Common Types of Expanded Mesh

Standard Expanded Metals: Expanded metal as it comes off the machine. The strands and bonds are set at a uniform angle to the plane of the sheet. This adds strength and rigidity, allows air circulation, distributes the load on the metal to the supporting frames as well as making a skid resistant surface.  Standard expanded metal is abbreviated XM.

Flattened Expanded Metal: Manufactured by perforating the standard expanded sheet through a cold roll reducing mill parallel to the LWD. By flattening the sheet, the bonds and strands are turned down to produce a smooth and flat surface, reducing the overall thickness and elongating the diamond pattern (LWD).  Cross roll flattening is done by passing the expanded metal sheet through a cold roll reducing mill parallel to the SWD. The result is the same except the diamond pattern SWD is elongated.  Flattened expanded metal is abbreviated FXM.

Grating: Grating is a standard expanded metal pattern produced from heavier gauge low carbon steel plates. The strands and openings are considerably larger than the other meshes. Ideal for use whenever a strong durable and lightweight surface is required. Although used primarily for pedestrian traffic, grating can accommodate heavier loads when properly supported.

Decorative Patterns: Specially designed expanded metal for use in architectural and decorative applications.  These designs can be used to provide privacy and to control light and air while allowing visibility.  Sun screens, room dividers, and building facades are only a few of the possible design possibilities. Decorative expanded metal is available in carbon steel, aluminum and other alloys in a wide range of patterns and gauges. Most of these patterns are produced on a special order basis only.