The fabrication sector is an essential part of modern manufacturing and construction and plays a critical role in producing high-quality components and products for various industries. In this demanding and constantly evolving industry, it is important to have access to materials that can meet the precise requirements of fabrication and meet the high standards of finished products.
This is where Specialty Metals come in, offering unique properties and performance advantages over conventional metals. With their high strength, ductility, and resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, Specialty Metals are ideal for the fabrication of precision components, intricate structures, and specialized products. They play a crucial role in the production of everything from medical equipment to aerospace components, helping to improve the efficiency, quality, and reliability of fabricated products.
The general techniques used in both structural and ornamental metal fabrication include welding, forming, bending, stamping, cutting, punching, and finishing. Wire Mesh, Perforated and Expanded Metal, Bar Grating, and other Specialty Metal types are formed and finished within metal fabrication shops. Whether it is for decoration or forming structures, this value-added process is so crucial for the numerous industries that metal fabricators serve.
Fabricators benefit from materials like Specialty Metals because they are necessary for processes that lead to the assembly of various types of machines, structures, and other parts. In the fabrication segment, Hole Products offer numerous benefits to the industry. These products are known for their versatility, functionality, and durability, which makes them ideal for various applications and industries.
Sheet products like Perforated Metal, Expanded Metal, and Wire Mesh, for example, can be customized to meet specific requirements such as ventilation, drainage, and filtration, providing improved functionality compared to solid metal sheets. Similarly, Bar Grating can be used to reinforce other materials and provide added strength, stability, and durability. Hole Products also offer increased design flexibility, with a wide range of design options, including different patterns, sizes, and shapes, that allow for the creation of unique and aesthetically pleasing products.
Additionally, Hole Products can help reduce the weight of finished products, making them more efficient and easier to handle, which is particularly important in industries such as aerospace and transportation. Furthermore, Hole Products can be made from recycled materials, making them a more sustainable option compared to other materials.
When customers are looking for a unique project design, they contact fabrication companies who have the ability to customize Perforated Metal. Fabricators have the ability to roll, cut, and weld Perforated Metal to give it the custom shape and size that is requested by the customer. There are multiple materials, sizes, and types of Perforated Metal.
Expanded Metal is one of the more versatile and economical Specialty Metals when it relates to fabrication. It has many functional advantages and is fabricated for all types of projects and industries. Whether the expanded metal is flattened or raised, fabricators can provide customized shearing, notching, welding, and other services. Expanded Metal is also commonly used for ornamental metal fabrication through the assembly of gates and fencing, building openings, lightweight walkways on bridges, and many more.
Wire Mesh is commonly used in fabrication to provide support or to add some style to a project. When Wire Mesh is fabricated, it is welded or woven. It can be cut into different shapes and sizes, depending on the project at hand. Wire Mesh is also flexible enough to be bent and formed in ways that best fit structures like infill panels and screens. Specialized Wire Mesh products are fabricated to create the ideal mesh size, mesh count, and the type of mesh weave.
Fabricators often use Bar Grating and other types of Plank or Safety Grating to fabricate structures. Similar to the other Specialty Metals, grating can be cut, welded, and more. Gratings offer the most strength, safety, and reliability over long periods of time. All kinds of walkways and platforms can be assembled by fabricators, including mezzanine floors and stair treads.
Are you interested in other McNICHOLS® Hole Products and Accessories? Shop and explore our extensive inventory of Specialty Metals and Fiberglass Products.