Expanded Metal and Punching Line

1. Definition

An expanded metal and punching line covers equipment that either (a) expands sheet/coil into diamond / hexagonal mesh by simultaneous slit-and-stretch, or (b) performs dedicated hydraulic punching related to mesh / plate products. Internal packaging places this under a pre-punch / punch-line leaf with rich video evidence but no quotation-locked speed or power table.

It is process equipment adjacent to roll forming plants — not itself a complete roof / purlin roll-former datasheet.

2. Process families

Expanded metal (slit + stretch)

1. Decoil
2. Servo feed
3. Expanding machine (die slits and stretches — typically near-zero scrap vs perforated plate)
4. Flatten / level
5. Slit / cut-to-length or recoiler

Hydraulic punching (perforate / pattern)

1. Feed sheet or strip
2. Hydraulic punch press with pattern dies
3. Exit / stack or transfer to a downstream former

Confirm which family the inquiry means. “Punch line” as a folder name is not enough.

3. Applications

• Walkway / platform expanded mesh
• Fence, filter, and facade expanded sheets
• Pattern-punched plates that later feed other forming cells

4. Parameter status

5. Boundaries

• Not razor barbed-wire punch (security blade tape)
• Not dust-suppress / windbreak panel punch+corrugate packages
• Not in-line punch stands on a roof or purlin roll former (those live with the host mill)
• Not welded-wire mesh welders

6. Inquiry checklist

• Expand mesh vs perforated plate (or both)
• Material grade and thickness
• Mesh opening / strand drawing or hole pattern
• Coil vs sheet feed; flatten and recoiling needs
• Target output class

7. Buyer FAQ

Is expanded metal the same as perforated sheet?

No. Expanded metal slits and stretches one sheet into mesh with little scrap. Perforating punches out blanks and creates scrap skeletons.

Why no tonnage / speed table?

FAQ evidence blocks public numeric ratings despite many videos. Videos prove process existence; proposals lock capacity.

Pre-punch or post-punch leaf?

Catalog routing may sit on a pre-punch leaf; if engineering confirms a post-punch layout, the proposal leaf can change. Do not invent the layout from this page.

Can this replace a dust-panel line?

No. Dust panels need the aerodynamic corrugate + hole package as a finished wall product, not generic expanded mesh alone.