As a premier stainless steel supplier in China, Foshan Sunray Steel Co.,Ltd has developed into a large integrated enterprise of stainless steel material’s design, processing and trading. Covering an area of 12000㎡ factory, We are the core agency of big mill of raw material with a professional exporting sales team, which the monthly volume of sales reach more than ten thousand tons.
We provide a full range of surface finish in decorative stainless steel, like 8K mirror, etched, embossed, brushed, lamination , etc. In many varieties, colors, patterns and designs, our products are widely used in buildings, decoration, kitchenware, and elevators. Through years of the business experience of these fields, we have the capabilities to suit your quality and price requirements.
As a premier stainless steel supplier in China, Foshan Sunray Steel Co.,Ltd has developed into a large integrated enterprise of stainless steel material’s design, processing and trading. Covering an area of 12000㎡ factory, We are the core agency of big mill of raw material with a professional exporting sales team, which the monthly volume of sales reach more than ten thousand tons.
We provide a full range of surface finish in decorative stainless steel, like 8K mirror, etched, embossed, brushed, lamination , etc. In many varieties, colors, patterns and designs, our products are widely used in buildings, decoration, kitchenware, and elevators. Through years of the business experience of these fields, we have the capabilities to suit your quality and price requirements.
_________ PVD COLOR STAINLESS STEEL SHEET _________
Surface Finish: PVD Color Finish
Grade: 201/304/304L/316/316L/430
Thickness: 0.3 - 3.0mm
Width: 1000/1219/1250/1500mm, customized size is welcomed
Length: 2000/2438/2500/3000/3048mm, customized size is welcomed
If you are looking for a product that will allow ventilation, drainage, or perhaps add a decorative touch, your three main choices are Expanded Sheet Metal, Perforated Sheet Metal, or Welded/Woven Wire Mesh. So which one do you choose and why? To answer this question you must first consider differences in the ways they’re manufactured, their characteristics, and their end-uses.
Manufacturing Process
Expanded metal sheet
Expanded metal sheet is made by first creating multiple slits in the sheet, and then stretching the sheet. The stretching creates a unique diamond pattern opening with one of the strands protruding at a slight angle. These raised strands can be flattened later in the process if desired. As you can see this process creates no waste (thus keeping down production costs) and it can add structural strength to the product.
Perforated metal sheet
Perforated metal sheet is a product that is made from sheet steel that has been fed through a machine that punches out round holes (or other designs). These holes can be straight rows or staggered to increase the amount of the openings. Typically the perimeter of the sheet has a boundary where holes are not punched; this adds stability to the sheet. The removed metal from the holes can be recycled but it also increases the cost of the product. The larger the hole size (or increased amount of holes), the greater scrap volume, and therefore costs can be increased.
Wire mesh (welded)
Welded wire mesh is a metal wire screen that is made from various alloys including steel, stainless steel, brass and copper. It is available in various sizes and shapes. Grids of parallel longitudinal wires are welded to cross wires at the required spacing, using electric fusion. The machines that are used to produce the mesh have precise dimensional control.
Wire mesh (woven)
Also available in steel, stainless steel, brass and copper, woven wire mesh is made as a cloth with wire threads woven at right angles. Wires which run lengthwise are known as warp wires, whilst those running perpendicular are weft wires. There are two common styles of weave: plain weave and twill weave. It can be made from various alloys including stainless steel, brass and copper. Wire cloth can be woven to create a variety of opening sizes and wire diameters.
Characteristics
Expanded metal sheet
One of the benefits from the manufacturing of expanded metal is that the sheet retains its structural integrity because it has not undergone the stress of having shapes punched in it (like perforated sheet), and the mesh-like pattern will not unravel (like woven mesh can do). Expanded metal has been stretched rather than punched, reducing scrap metal waste; making it cost-effective. The main considerations when using expanded metal will be the chosen thickness and strand dimensions (weight and structural design requirements). Expanded metal can be almost transparent (depending on the opening); it has mechanical properties and is an excellent conductor.
Perforated metal sheet
Perforated metal sheet comes in a virtually endless variety of sizes, gauges, hole shapes and material types. Hole diameters range from a few thousandths of an inch to more than 3 inches, punched in material as thin as foil or as thick as 1-inch steel plate. From lightweight decorative elements to load-bearing structural components, perforated metal offers unique opportunities to combine strength, functionality and beauty.
Wire mesh (welded)
The chance of improper bending of bars is reduced since bending machines bend the mat as a single unit. This provides the exact size of reinforcement where needed through variable bar size and spacing, thereby reduces steel waste. There can be a considerate savings because mesh is easy to handle and can be installed much faster. Typically you can purchase a welded mesh for less than a woven mesh.
Wire mesh (woven)
Wire mesh is adaptable to almost any application. It is extremely durable and very easily cleaned.
Typical end uses
Expanded metal sheet
Expanded metal sheet works well for steps, flooring in factories and on construction rigging, fences, wash stations, and security applications.
Perforated metal sheet
Perforated metal can be made into a multitude of products such as: screens, filters, baskets, trash cans, tubing, light fixtures, vents, audio speaker covers and patio furniture.
Wire mesh (welded)
Widely used in agricultural applications, industrial, transportation, horticultural and food procuring sectors. It is also used in mines, gardening, machine protection and other decorations.
Wire mesh (woven)
From sifting and screening machinery to conveyor and automotive belts, all the way to animal enclosures and architectural framework.
From the smallest zipper to the largest skyscraper, stainless steel is an essential part of modern life.
Stainless steel’s strength, resistance to corrosion and low maintenance make it the ideal material for a wide range of applications. It also has a long life cycle and is 100% recyclable.
There are over 150 grades of stainless steel, of which 15 are commonly used in everyday applications. Stainless steel is made in various forms including plates, bars, sheets and tubing for use in industrial and domestic settings.
A wide spectrum of industries rely on stainless steel including construction, automotive and more. For many applications it’s simply the most effective solution.
The most common uses of stainless steel
Stainless Steel accents on the Chrysler Building
Architecture and construction
Stainless steel first came to prominence in construction during the art-deco period. Famously, the upper portion of the Chrysler Building was constructed from stainless steel.
Due to its strength, flexibility and resistance to corrosion, stainless steel is now commonly used in modern construction. It is used in the exterior cladding for large high impact buildings and can be seen in the interiors too in the form of handrails, counter tops, backsplashes and more.
Stainless steel is easily welded, has an attractive finish and is low maintenance. Because of this, it is featured prominently in high-profile modern architecture including the Eurostar Terminal in London’s Waterloo Station, the Helix Bridge in Singapore, and the One World Trade Center in New York.
The trend towards sustainable building also favors stainless steel, which is often comprised of 90% recycled metal. Stainless steel in a polished or grain finish can help bring natural light into the building, thus reducing energy consumption.
Automotive and transportation
Stainless steel was first used in the automotive industry in the 1930s by the Ford Motor Company to make various concept cars.
Today, the use of stainless steel in the automotive industry is increasing. It is traditionally used in car exhaust systems, trim and grills, but new emission reduction standards and environmental concerns are driving manufacturers to favor stainless steel in structural components too.
Stainless steel is used in all forms of transportation including ship containers, road tankers and refuse vehicles. It is excellent for the transportation of chemicals, liquids and food products. Its high strength allows for thinner containers, saving fuel costs, while its corrosion resistance reduces cleaning and maintenance costs.
Medical
Stainless steel is ideal for hygienic environments as it’s easily sterilized and resistant to corrosion. It is used in the construction of surgical and dental instruments, kidney dishes and operating tables, as well as other medical equipment such as cannulas, steam sterilizers and MRI scanners.
Surgical implants use stainless steel, as well as replacement joints such as artificial hips. Stainless steel pins and plates are used to fix broken bones in place.
Energy and heavy industries
The chemical, oil and gas industries operate in demanding environments involving high heat and highly toxic substances. Special grades of stainless steel have been developed for use in these industries which feature enhanced resistance to corrosion over a wider range of temperatures. High-grade stainless steel is vital in the construction of storage tanks, valves, pipes, and other components.
Super duplex steel is often used due to its high strength. It can be produced in large sheets which minimizes welding and maximizes structural integrity. Its higher strength also reduces the need for extra structural support and foundations, reducing construction costs.
Stainless steel is essential for off-shore oil rigs. Crude oil is extremely corrosive and modern rigs are constructed from high alloyed steel which is tough and lightweight.
Renewable energy technologies including solar, geothermal, hydro and wind power also use stainless steel components as it is able to withstand the rigors of highly corrosive sea water environments.
Food and catering
Stainless steel is used in the kitchen accessories, cutlery and cookware. Less ductile grades of steel are used to make knife blades with sharp edges. More ductile grades of steel are used for items that have to be molded into shape such as cookers, grills, sinks and saucepans. Stainless steel is also used as a finish for refrigerators, freezers, countertops and dishwashers.
Stainless steel is ideal for food production and storage as it does not affect the flavor of the food. Stainless steel’s corrosion resistance is important as some foods, like orange juice, can be acidic. Also stainless steel is easily cleaned which helps keep undesirable germs at bay.
Stainless steel is also important in ice cream production as it allows strong anti-bacteriological cleaning products to be used.
Perforated metal is a form of sheet metal which has been punched or stamped with a machine to create a pattern of holes. It is also known as perforated sheet, perforated plate, or perforated screen and is commonly made from stainless steel, cold rolled steel, aluminum and more.
Perforated metal was first developed around 150 years ago for the mining industry as a means of filtering coal. Initially, the perforation process was inefficient; involving laborers manually punching individual holes into a metal sheet. Over time, the process has improved through the use of machinery utilizing punching needles arranged in specific patterns.
How Is Perforated Metal Made?
The manufacturing process for perforating metal starts with sheet metal. Sheet metal is thin and flat, and can be cut and bent into different shapes. In North America, the thickness of the sheet metal is specified in gauges; the larger the gauge number, the thinner the metal. In the rest of the world, sheet metal thickness is simply measured in millimeters.
The most common method of perforating metal uses a rotary pinned perforation roller. This is a large cylinder with sharp, pointed needles on the outside to punch holes into the metal. As the sheet metal is run across the perforation roller, it rotates, continuously punching holes in the passing sheet. The needles on the roller, which can produce a wide variety of hole sizes, are sometimes heated to simultaneously melt the metal which forms a reinforced ring around the perforation.
Another common method is “die and punch” perforating. During this process, a sheet with needles is repeatedly pressed onto the passing metal which punches holes into the sheet. The pieces remaining from the punching are then sheared off and the surface is smoothed. The die and punch method is very efficient and can perforate a large surface of sheet very quickly.
The most advanced method available is laser perforation. This process is very sophisticated and precise, but also the most expensive. Laser perforation produces results similar to rotary pinned perforation with hot needles, but maintains a higher level of consistency and control over the hole sizes and pattern.
Applications
Perforated metals are very popular in contemporary architecture as they lend themselves to creative and unique designs. They also have a number of practical benefits:
Sun protection and climate control: Perforated metal sheets are excellent at providing rooms with air flow and shade, often used as sun protection screens in rooms that require ventilation. Although they appear to be a design element, their permeable nature allows the free movement of air, resulting in substantial energy savings on heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Noise reduction: Perforated metal sheets are often used for noise reduction walls and roof systems. In noisy environments, they can limit the adverse effects of noise on workers’ health.
Balustrade screening panels: Perforated metal sheets are used in panels for balconies, stairways, and balustrades screens. They offer weather resistant protection coupled with an attractive design.
Other industries that utilize perforated metals are:
Food and beverage: Used for drain dryers, wine vats, fish farms, sorting machines, fruit & vegetable presses and baking trays.
Chemical and energy: Used for filters, gas purifiers, mine cages, coal washing, battery separator plates and centrifuges.
Automotive: Used for oil filters, radiator grilles, running boards, engine ventilation and motorcycle silencers.
Material development: Used for blast furnace screens, textile printers and felt mills, cement slurry screens and glass reinforcement.
