Buyer’s Field Notes on Stainless Steel Expanded Metal Mesh
If you’re scanning the market for quality Stainless Steel Expanded Metal For Sale, I’ve spent enough time on factory floors and job sites to tell when a sheet will actually perform. And frankly, demand is rising—architects want bolder facades, OEMs want safer guards, and filtration engineers want stable, cleanable media.
Product snapshot and specs
Made in East Development Zone, Anping County (Hengshui, Hebei)—still the nerve center of wire mesh in China—this Stainless Steel Expanded Metal Mesh hits the practical sweet spot for cladding, machinery guards, and filtration frames. Below is a quick spec view (your real-world needs may vary, of course):
| Material | 304 / 316L / 430 stainless (ASTM A480 compliance) | Corrosion resistance: 316L ≈ highest |
| Pattern | Diamond / Hexagonal; Raised or Flattened | Open area ≈ 30–70% |
| Thickness | 0.5–8 mm | Load-bearing depends on strand width |
| Strand width | 1.5–25 mm | Tighter strands for guards, wider for cladding |
| Hole size | 3–100 mm | Choose per airflow/visibility |
| Sheet size | Width 1000–2000 mm; Length custom (≤10 m) | Flatness improves with post-flattening |
| Finish | Electropolishing (Ra ≤ 0.8 μm), bead blasting | Hygienic, architectural sheen |
Process, testing, and service life
Process is the classic slit-and-stretch. Coil → slitting → cold expansion → flattening (if specified) → trimming → finishing. Electropolishing knocks down burrs and delivers that Ra ≤ 0.8 μm. Typical QC references I’ve seen: ASTM F1267 for expanded metal geometry; ASTM A480/A240 for SS plate/sheet general requirements; surface checks, strand integrity, and dimensional tolerance. In salt-spray per ASTM B117, 316L samples often clear 500–1000 h; coastal service life is commonly 10–20 years with sensible maintenance—yes, rinse cycles help.
Where it’s being used right now
- Architectural cladding and sunscreens—ventilated, light-playing facades.
- Machinery guards—rigid, tamper-resistant, OSHA-friendly visibility.
- Filtration supports—stable, cleanable, won’t shed like some woven meshes.
- Walkways and cages—raised pattern helps with slip resistance.
Trend-wise, specifiers are leaning into 316L for coastal builds and food/bioprocess lines. Price? It fluctuates with nickel. Lead times are surprisingly decent on Stainless Steel Expanded Metal For Sale in standard patterns.
Vendor snapshot (what buyers compare)
| Factor | TOMAIFilter (Anping) | Local Fabricator | Import Broker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead time | ≈ 7–15 days | 3–6 weeks | 4–10 weeks |
| Certifications | ISO 9001; ASTM docs provided | Varies | Depends on factory |
| Custom patterns | Yes (diamond/hex; raised/flattened) | Limited | Limited |
| Price indicator | $$ | $$$ | $–$$ (but variable) |
| QC documentation | COC, dimensional, Ra reports | On request | Varies |
Customization and ordering tips
Specify grade (304 vs 316L), pattern, strand width, LWD/SWD, finish, and flatness. For Stainless Steel Expanded Metal For Sale going into façades, ask for electropolishing plus protective film. For guards, request raised mesh and edge framing. Palletization and corner guards matter more than people think.
Quick case notes
Food plant retrofit: 316L flattened hex mesh, Ra ≤ 0.8 μm. After 12 months of caustic washdowns, no pitting; operators reported 25% faster visual inspection due to uniform openings.
Coastal museum façade: 316L raised diamond, bead blasted. B117 testing to 720 h, no red rust; engineers modeled a 15-year maintenance cycle instead of 10—budget win.
Customer feedback? “Stays straight after installation,” one site manager told me. Another said, “Surprisingly cleanable compared with woven.” I’d agree.
Citations
- ASTM F1267 – Standard Specification for Expanded Metal.
- ASTM A480/A480M – General Requirements for Flat-Rolled Stainless Steel.
- ASTM A240/A240M – Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip.
- ASTM B117 – Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus.
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems Requirements.
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