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Perforated Square hole on building

The Modernization of Perforated Metal

The production of perforated metal products, which is sheet metal that features holes or slots produced by punching or pressing, has been an essential manufacturing and fabrication process since the mid-19th century. That’s when the mining industry employed a primitive version of the technique to produce screens used for filtration.

Notable Advancements in the Perforated Metal Process

The perforated metal process has come a long way since the formative years of the Industrial Revolution. These days, it is possible to generate a wide variety of perforated metal products faster and more efficiently than ever. The enhancements are the result of the development of several fabrication techniques and equipment over the years, including:

  • Perforation rollers: Perhaps the most common perforated metal process employed today is the use of specially designed rollers equipped with pins or needles. The protrusions are made from materials such as steel, aluminum or even plastic. Manufacturers can fabricate the rollers in customized configurations for specific applications. The pins or needles can be applied while cold or heated to produce the desired result. A hot needle will create a reinforced ring around the perforation for additional strength and stability.
  • Die and punch perforation: The die and punch perforated metal process is often the best choice when working with thicker metals. This technique entails pressing a sheet of needles against the metal surface, causing them to penetrate the material. The process produces chads that are shaved off after pressing to create a smooth surface. Fabricators shape the die and punch to the desired configuration, resulting in a highly precise finished product. The quality of die and punch perforation typically equals that of the rolling process.
  • Laser perforation: The advent of laser-based technology has led to the development of a laser perforated metal process. Many users prefer this technique over more traditional mechanical perforation methods due to its faster speed, increased precision and improved hole size consistency. On the downside, laser perforation is often more expensive than other processes, as it typically requires the purchase of specially designed roll slitting machines. Besides being cost-prohibitive for some companies, this equipment is more complex and involves additional operator training.

Marco Handles All Types of Perforated Metal Projects

Marco Specialty Steel has the facilities, equipment and expertise to perform the latest, most advanced perforated metal processes for our U.S. customer base. With more than 25 years of perforated metal fabrication experience, you can trust us to deliver high-quality perforated metal products that will exceed your expectations. We’re known for our fast project completion times and our ability to meet the tightest deadlines — while keeping within budget parameters.

Contact us for more information about our perforated metal process and get a no-obligation project quote today.