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Contact Information
Phone:
(713) 649-5310
(800) 200-3047
Fax:
(713) 649-5305
Mailing Address
Marco Specialty Steel, Inc.
P.O. Box 750518
Houston, Texas 77275
Physical Address
Marco Specialty Steel, Inc.
9140 Tavenor Ln
Houston, Texas 77075 |
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Expanded Metal is made from sheets of solid metal that are slit and stretched with each stroke of the upper die, forming a raised diamond pattern. This pattern is called regular or standard. The pattern varies by the gauge and type of material and the size of the diamond. The sheets can also be flattened by rollers for an optional style by passing them through a cold, roll reducing mill.
The lightweight properties and open area percentages of Expanded Metal allow it to be easily formed for a variety of energy saving applications such as light diffusers, screens, grilles and filters. When you add it's quality of strength to this list, you also make it popular for panel security enclosures, guards, fixtures and more.
Expanded Metal also can be manufactured in heavy gauges for applications such as walkways, ramps and catwalks of all types. Frequently, the heavier gratings and catwalks are used in industrial plants for flooring and stair treads.
MarCo Specialty Steel is a leading supplier of expanded metal and expanded metal grating. Our centrally located warehouse maintains a wide range of expanded metal products in a variety of material grades, styles, and meshes.
Our inventory is constantly evolving and expanding everyday to meet the changing needs of our customers around the country and around the world. Contact one of our experienced sales staff to discuss how we can work together to meet your needs.
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Expanded Metal Information:
(click on to Hyperlinks below) |
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Definitions: - Diamond or Opening
- This is the description of the open area formed by strands and bonds. Normally the open area is diamond shaped.
- Bond
- The point where adjacent strands intersect. The bond is always twice the width of the strand.
- SWD or SWO
- Short way of diamond, or short way of opening is the dimension measured across the sheet in a direction parallel to the smallest dimension of the diamond.
- LWD or LWO
- Long way of diamond or long way of opening is the dimension measured across the sheet in a direction parallel to the largest dimension of the diamond.
- Mesh
- This is the nominal distance from the mid-point of one bond to the mid-point of the next bond measured across the SWD. Mesh is expressed in inches.
- Opening Size
- The area enclosed by bonds and strands.
- Overall Thickness
- This is the finished thickness and often determines the selection of framing members.
- Percent of Open Area
- These important relative percentages are used by designers to calculate the degree with which light or air can pass through a piece of expanded metal.
- Pitch
- The measurement from a point on one diamond to the same point on an adjacent diamond.
- Strand
- The single metal strip which forms the border of the diamond, or opening. Strand width is the amount of material advanced for expanding as differentiated from strand thickness which is the thickness of metal from which the expanded metal is produced.
- Style
- The gauge or thickness of metal from which expanded metal is made. Usually, but not always, this conforms to manufacturer's standard gauges. Style is expressed by a number. Grating style is expressed in pounds per square foot.
- Formability
- Each piece should be able to take a 90 degree bend with a 1/4 inch inside radius in either direction, without fracture.
- Leveling
- All expanded metal products except grating are leveled after having been expanded.
- Out of Square
- Expanded metal sheets are generally not perfectly square when finished. Sheets must be re-squared by shearing on all sides for perfect squareness. Reshearing at the mill is not usually done since most sheets are sheared to size by the customer.
- Camber
- Bow in sheet. It is measured by placing a straight edge along the concave side of the sheet parallel to LWD, touching both ends of the sheet. The maximum distance between the edge of the expanded metal and the straight edge is the camber. A sheet may be within tolerance and still have camber.
- Regular Expanded Metal
- Sheet simultaneously slit and stretched into a grid, non-raveling open mesh. It is readily available in carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.
- Flattened Expanded Metal
- Manufactured by processing regular expanded metal in a rolling mill. This rolling reduces the thickness of the sheet and provides a smooth flat surface.
- Expanded Metal Grating
- Sheet or plate expanded into a structural open grating ideal for catwalk and platform application.
- Decorative Expanded Metal
- Manufactured with unique shaped openings which posses great appeal for architects and designers.
- Stair Treads
- Expanded metal grating stair treads are fabricated using 4# grating, angles and bars. They are shipped ready for installation on the job.
- Finishing
- Limited finishes can be accomplished at manufacturing plants. This includes hot dip galvanizing and pre-galvanizing.
- Sheet Size
- While expanded metal can be manufactured in many varying sheet sizes, practical limitations are such that it is wise to select sheet sizes shown by catalog.
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Please review the following Ordering Information:
Consider:
- Application or use of product
- Physical requirements
A. percent of open area B. environment C. loading
Please Specify:
- Material: carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel 316 or 304, etc.
- Item No.: typically expanded metal or grating is specified like the following examples:
(1/2 #18 F 4' SWD x 8' LWD Carbon Steel)
1/2 = short way of diamond dimension
#18 = gauge
"F" = flattened ("S" would indicate standard)
4' SWD x 8' LWD = size of sheet width x length
Carbon Steel = material
(ie. 4.0# Catwalk 10' SWD x 2' LWD Carbon Steel)
4.0# = wt/per sq. foot of catwalk or grating
10' SWD x 2' LWD = size of sheet width x length
- Quantity: number of pieces - full size or cut pieces required.
- Shearing: bond or random . Please note tolerances.
- Finish: hot-dipped galvanized, special, if any
- Special Fabrication: circle shearing, cut outs, etc., if any
- Accessories: U-Edging (state part no.)
- Stair Tread (state style and size)
- Terminology & Shearing
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Call your Expanded Metal specialist today! 1-800-200-3047
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