Manufacturing Perforated Metal
Manufacturing Perforated Metal
Thinking Metal, Thinking Perforation? Think Graepels.
Graepels specialise in creating precision-perforated metal sheets tailored to your exact specifications, ensuring perfect results every time.
Graepels collaborates with you on everything from small orders and batch orders to large projects.
What is Perforated Metal?
Perforated Metal also known as perforated plate or mesh, (not to be confused with woven wire mesh), is sheet metal where the material has been pushed through to make a ‘hole’ into the sheet mechanically using perforated machinery.
Materials used to manufacture perforated metal sheets include Corten (weathering steel), stainless steel, hot or cold rolled steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze and rubber or special plastics.
Graepels classifies its perforated metal into five categories:
- Standard Perforated Metal
- Decorative Perforated Metal
- Picture Perf
- Alpha Perf
- Tailormade/Bespoke
Perforating Considerations
- Material
- Material Grade
- Material Thickness
- Perforation Size
- Sheet Size
- Perforation Pattern
- Perforation Shape/Type (Louvered, flush, round, square, hex, bespoke, pressed perforation, embossed/debossed etc.)
- Pitch
- % Open Area
- Margins (Unperforated/Solid Area/Blank)
- Fabrication
- Finishing & Surface Treatments
Perforating Machinery Capabilities
Graepels manufacture perforated high performing, quality products manufactured from sheet metal. From small orders to batch orders, larger scale projects and tailor-made solutions.
Our various machines, tooling and Engineers ensure Graepels ability to offer a range of perforation types, shapes, material thicknesses and grades.
Small Sectional Tooling: high precision and flexibility in perforating smaller sections of metal sheets. This type of tooling is ideal for custom patterns, intricate designs, and smaller production runs.
Large Sectional Tooling: Large sectional tooling bridges the gap between small sectional and full-width tooling, offering a balance of flexibility and efficiency for medium-sized projects. Machinery with large sectional tooling capabilities can handle larger sections of metal sheets.
Full Width Tooling: Full width tooling is designed for high-volume production runs, covering the entire width of metal sheets in a single pass.
High precision manufacturing ensures that our team assesses the project needs from the materials, to application, and perforation requirements to finishing, we are with you every step of the way.
Perforating Quality
Graepels are committed to delivering quality. Over the decades Graepels have dedicated their efforts to manufacturing only the highest quality products, investing money in our people, machinery, and tooling to provide consistent high end, quality products leading the way for Industry standards.
Graepels are ISO quality accredited, EN10.90 CE certified, standards recognised throughout the industry, we are UKAS quality management certified and comply with all BS standards.
From Paper to Pallet, the Perforating Process
Initial Enquiry
Supplying as much detailed information allows us to best guide you on your options.
Enquiry/Consultation
Graepels discuss the requirements in detail based on the customers’ specifications and needs, including product application, perforated (hole) sizes and or pattern, sheet size, folds or fabrication work, material grade and thickness and so on.
Customers at this stage generally submit detailed specifications including CAD drawings, technical sketches, or any other design documentation.
Review and Confirmation
Our technical or engineering team review the specifications to ensure accuracy.
We may provide feedback or suggest modifications to improve manufacturability or performance.
Once finalised, you will receive a detailed quote including cost, lead time, and terms.
Production Process
Design and Engineering: Our team creates detailed production drawings and tooling requirements based on your specifications.
Any necessary custom tooling is designed and fabricated.
Drawings are Programmed ready for manufacturing.
Production & Manufacturing
Perforating: Our machinery is used to perforate holes into metal sheets.
Fabrication: Additional processes such as deburring, cutting, welding, bending, and forming are performed as specified.
Finishing: Coating, painting, or anodizing are contracted out to meet your aesthetic and functional needs, enhancing appearance and durability.
Quality & Dispatch
The finished products are checked and carefully packaged to prevent damage during transit. Packaging methods are chosen based on the size, weight, and nature of the perforated metal products. And as per customer requests. Graepels arranges shipping according to the agreed terms.