Expanded metal is an innovative technique that creates light-weight, flexible structures that provide strength while allowing for the free movement of light and air. By stretching steel or aluminum, metal processing manufacturers create shapes with even more strength than the original sheets, which are perfect for a variety of applications. Below is an explanation of how expanded metal is made and what it’s used for, so you can make the most of this innovative product.

What Is Expanded Metal?

To create the material, metal processing technicians use specialized machines to convert solid sheets into a mesh. These machines make small cuts in the sheet and simultaneously stretch the material, creating a uniform pattern of shapes. For most applications, the machine  produces diamond-shaped gaps in the metal, but hexagons and a wide variety of other configurations are also possible. The resulting mesh can have gaps up to one-inch wide, or it may be extremely fine, depending on the application for which it’s intended.

What Are Its Uses?

Expanded metal allows for the movement of light and air, making it an ideal material for industrial applications. These strong, lightweight metal meshes are often used to create suspended walkways in factories, construction scaffolding, and outdoor sunscreens. Architects and designers also get this material from metal processing companies for decorative grates made of expanded metal for air vents, privacy screens, and exterior building claddings. Expanded metal gratings are especially useful for protecting components inside industrial equipment without impeding the movement of air, which is necessary for cooling.

From expanded metal to structural steel, American Metal Supply Co. offers an incredible selection of high-quality products to builders and machine shops throughout Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY. As one of the region’s leading distributors, they also offer a broad selection of metal processing services, allowing them to meet the needs of almost any project. Visit their brand-new website to learn more about their products, and call (502) 634-4321(KY)  or 513-396-6600 (OH) to request a quote today.