Expanded metal filter support mesh
Expanded metal is slit and stretched from a single coil, so it has no joints, no loose wires and a uniform thickness. Thin gauges are laminated with the nonwoven and pleated together: the diamond strands bend at the pleat tip and keep that shape, holding pleat spacing under airflow and pulse cleaning.
Materials and finishes
Materials
Galvanized steel, aluminium, stainless steel, copper, nickel and titanium. Epoxy coating available on request.
Built for pleating lines
High-precision tooling for tight tolerances, uniform thickness for support with easy forming, a smooth clean surface that does not cut the media, and even openings for consistent airflow.
Available range
Thickness, strand width and opening can be combined to suit the application. Tell us the pleat height, media and pressure drop target and we propose the combination.
| Thickness | Strand width | Opening SWD x LWD | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.20 mm | 0.0078 in | 0.45 mm | 0.0177 in | 2 x 3 mm | 0.079 x 0.118 in |
| 0.30 mm | 0.0118 in | 0.50 mm | 0.0197 in | 3 x 6 mm | 0.118 x 0.236 in |
| 0.40 mm | 0.0157 in | 0.51 mm | 0.0201 in | 4 x 8 mm | 0.157 x 0.315 in |
| 0.50 mm | 0.0197 in | 0.53 mm | 0.0209 in | 5 x 10 mm | 0.197 x 0.394 in |
| 0.80 mm | 0.0315 in | 0.60 mm | 0.0236 in | 6 x 12 mm | 0.236 x 0.472 in |
| 1.00 mm | 0.0394 in | 0.70 mm | 0.0276 in | 7 x 14 mm | 0.276 x 0.551 in |
| 1.20 mm | 0.0472 in | 0.80 mm | 0.0315 in | 11 x 15 mm | 0.433 x 0.591 in |
| 1.50 mm | 0.0591 in | 1.00 mm | 0.0394 in | 18 x 31.5 mm | 0.709 x 1.240 in |
| 23 x 38.6 mm | 0.906 x 1.520 in | ||||
| Roll size | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 178-1,250 mm | 7-49 in |
| Length | 10-731 m | 33-2,400 ft |
SWD = short way of diamond, LWD = long way of diamond. Custom sizes available. CAD and laser cutting for custom shapes.
Typical combinations
Nominal values for common filter support combinations. Open area and weight are calculated from strand width, thickness and SWD; final values depend on the expansion setting and any flattening.
| Thickness x strand mm | SWD x LWD mm | Thickness x strand in | Open area | Steel kg/m² | Aluminium kg/m² | Steel lb/ft² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.20 x 0.45 | 2 x 3 | 0.0079 x 0.0177 | 55% | 0.71 | 0.24 | 0.145 |
| 0.30 x 0.50 | 3 x 6 | 0.0118 x 0.0197 | 67% | 0.79 | 0.27 | 0.161 |
| 0.40 x 0.60 | 4 x 8 | 0.0157 x 0.0236 | 70% | 0.94 | 0.32 | 0.193 |
| 0.50 x 0.70 | 5 x 10 | 0.0197 x 0.0276 | 72% | 1.10 | 0.38 | 0.225 |
| 0.50 x 0.80 | 6 x 12 | 0.0197 x 0.0315 | 73% | 1.05 | 0.36 | 0.214 |
| 0.80 x 1.00 | 7 x 14 | 0.0315 x 0.0394 | 71% | 1.79 | 0.62 | 0.367 |
| 1.00 x 1.00 | 11 x 15 | 0.0394 x 0.0394 | 82% | 1.43 | 0.49 | 0.292 |
| 1.20 x 1.00 | 18 x 31.5 | 0.0472 x 0.0394 | 89% | 1.05 | 0.36 | 0.214 |
| 1.50 x 1.00 | 23 x 38.6 | 0.0591 x 0.0394 | 91% | 1.02 | 0.35 | 0.210 |
Open area = 1 - 2 x strand width / SWD. Weight = 2 x strand width x thickness x density / SWD (steel 7.85, aluminium 2.70 g/cm³). Stainless steel is about 1% heavier than carbon steel.
Base material standards
| Material | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Galvanized steel | Hot-dip galvanized coil to ASTM A653 / EN 10346; zinc coating G30, G60 or G90 (Z90, Z180, Z275). G60 is the common choice for HVAC filters. |
| Aluminium | Alloy 1100, 3003 or 5052; lighter weight and naturally corrosion resistant |
| Stainless steel | 304 / 304L for general use, 316 / 316L for chlorides and wet service |
| Copper, nickel, titanium | Special applications, made to order |
| Epoxy coating | Optional powder coating over galvanized or aluminium base |
Tolerances
| Dimension | Typical tolerance |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Per the base coil standard (ASTM A924 / EN 10143 for coated steel) |
| SWD and LWD | ±10% of nominal, in line with EMMA 557 practice |
| Strand width | ±0.05 mm on thin filter gauges |
| Slit roll width | ±1 mm |
| Roll length | -0 / +2% |
Tighter tolerances can be agreed for your drawing.
Where it is used
- Pleated HVAC and engine air filters: downstream pleat support laminated with the media.
- Dust collector cartridges: pleat support and inner liners.
- Hydraulic and liquid filter elements: support layers on either side of the filter media.
Related support media
Frequently asked questions
What expanded metal thickness is used for pleated air filters?
Pleat support normally uses thin gauges of 0.20-0.50 mm with small diamonds such as 2 x 3, 3 x 6 or 4 x 8 mm. Heavier 0.80-1.50 mm gauges are used for cartridge cores and outer liners.
Galvanized steel or aluminium expanded metal for filters?
Galvanized steel (G60 is common in HVAC) gives the best strength for the price. Aluminium is lighter and naturally corrosion resistant. Stainless 304 or 316 is used for wet, washable or chemical service.
Can MAISHI match the expanded metal I buy today?
Yes. Send a sample or the SWD, LWD, strand width and thickness from your current supplier and we match the specification and quote.
What roll sizes are available?
Widths from 178 to 1,250 mm (7-49 in) and lengths from 10 to 731 m (33-2,400 ft), slit to your filter width.
Matching an existing expanded metal?
Send a sample or the SWD, LWD, strand and thickness from your current supplier. We match it and quote.