The commercial metal forming industry has developed many unique metal forming processes for various applications across many industries. However, few formed metals are more versatile and widely used than sheet metal, wire mesh, and perforated metal. However, sheet metal is less than ideal for use cases that require airflow and drainage. On the other hand, wire mesh and perforated metal are unusable for situations that require high tensile strength and structural integrity. Expanded metal has emerged as an alternative to sheet metal and wire mesh. It combines many of the best features of both sheet metal, wire mesh, and perforated metal. This unique metal form has rapidly grown in popularity and now sees significant use in heavy machinery and construction. If sheet metal, wire mesh, and perforated metal have been causing headaches for you or your clients, perhaps you should consider expanded metal for your use case. Here are two reasons why you should use expanded metal in your next project.

Expanded Metal Has Better Drainage Than the Alternatives

Expanded metal is manufactured using a specialized knife. Despite being called a knife, it does not cut the metal. The knife presses a single sheet of metal into a diamond shape. The use of a single sheet of metal in the manufacturing process results in finished expanded metal having less surface area than wire mesh for drained materials to get slowed down by or caught on when passing through the mesh. This feature enables efficient airflow and drainage of materials for mesh filtration applications. On the other hand, wire mesh is made of multiple sheets of metal, and sheet metal is a solid sheet that doesn't facilitate filtration. Due to being made of a single sheet of metal, perforated metal is the only comparable drainage alternative to expanded metal. However, factoring in costs, it becomes clear that expanded metal is the best choice for airflow and drainage applications.

Expanded Metal Has Greater Strength Than the Alternatives

At first sight, sheet metal may seem like it would be the strongest choice, but expanded metal is stronger than both sheet metal and wire mesh. While strong, sheet metal is ultimately thin. The thinness of sheet metal means that it lacks load-bearing properties and makes it especially vulnerable to perforation, a constant risk when working with heavy machinery and in construction. Because it is made of multiple wires woven together rather than a single solid sheet, wire mesh lacks tensile strength and structural integrity. Sheet metal has holes punched into it during the manufacturing process, producing perforated metal. Unfortunately, this process compromises the structural integrity of the metal. By pressing a single sheet of metal into a compressed mesh shape, expanded metal gains increased tensile strength and structural integrity, making it the most durable option.

Conclusion

If you need a flexible and durable metal for your projects, expanded metal forming may be the right choice for you. Contact a commercial forming company in your area to learn more.