Within the family of expanded metal products, the most common type is the standard raised (or "regular") mesh, characterized by an uneven surface and angled diamond-shaped strands. While this type offers excellent slip resistance, it can easily scratch items in applications requiring frequent contact or the placement of flat objects. This is where flattened expanded metal-produced by passing the mesh through a heavy-duty cold rolling mill-becomes the superior choice.
To effectively utilize flattened expanded metal, consider the following practical details during the selection process:
First, understand the physical changes in thickness and strength caused by the flattening process.
Flattening is a physical rolling operation. As heavy-duty rollers press the angled metal strands flat, they also flatten and elongate the strands. This leads to a standard industry characteristic: the thickness of the flattened mesh is 10%–20% less than that of the original steel sheet. Although its overall bending rigidity is slightly lower than that of standard raised mesh, the surface becomes exceptionally smooth and free of protrusions. This flatness-which prevents snagging on hands or packaging-is essential for applications such as safety guards frequently touched by workers, supermarket shelving, and warehouse partitions where goods are pushed or pulled across the surface.
Second, avoid disputes with manufacturers regarding "original sheet thickness" versus "finished product thickness."
This is a technical detail that frequently leads to disagreements. If a drawing specifies a thickness of 3mm, you must clarify with the manufacturer: does this figure refer to the raw material thickness or the finished, flattened thickness? Expanding and flattening a 3mm sheet may result in a finished product that is only about 2.5mm thick. If the project has strict requirements for mounting slot dimensions or load-bearing capacities, the tolerance range for the "finished flattened thickness" must be explicitly defined in the technical specifications.