Frequently asked questions

Perforating is a punching operation, which allows you to punch a large number of holes in one stroke. There are usually more than one row of holes punched in an organized or staggered manner. This is called a perforating pattern. All of the holes punched in sheet metal are called a perforation or perforated metal.
Additional reference, Wikipedia.

Expanded metal is a metal sheet which is partly cut and stretched along its width. The regular pattern, often a diamond shape, by this operation is called expanded mesh.
Additional reference, Wikipedia.

The application of both products are very similar. Here is an overview of the different possibilities and surely it does not cover all:

• Filtration: sieves, metal filters, metal filter elements, metal screens
• Architectural solutions: wall cladding, facades, balustrade, decorative panel
• Noise reduction: noise barriers applied along highways or railroads, noise reduction cabinets, ceiling panels
• Suspended ceilings: used in office spaces or public areas, used as decorative elements
• Home appliances: microwave screen, dishwasher filter, washing machine drums

3D punching is what we call punching the top surface and the two side walls of a truck chassis rail also known as a long member, U-profile or C-channel. These truck chassis rail can have a constant section, meaning straight walls (also called flanges) along the entire length. Or a variable section, meaning one or both flanges can be non parallel or irregularly shaped.

A punch-nibbling machine or turret press is best suited to do a large variety of punching operations regardless the shape in metal sheet. Sheet size and thickness is limited.
A perforating press is specially build to punch a repetitive hole pattern accurately and fast in a metal sheet or coil. There is no limitation in sheet size and thickness can go upto 25mm.

Perforated metal are holes punched in a metal sheet or coil which also generates scrap material. Expanded metal is a cutting operation allowing the material to be stretched along its width. This operation does not generate scrap. Expanded metal will always be across the entire width of your sheet, while perforation can be randomly applied.

A perforating press can be configured to work in 3 different set-ups: (a) coil-to-coil, (b) coil-to-sheet, (c) sheet-to-sheet.

An expanded metal press can be configured to work in 2 different set-ups: (a) coil-to-coil & (b) sheet-to-sheet. The expanded metal press can also do a cut to length operation in addition to expanding your product. Hence a coil to sheet operation is a standard feature and does not require any special set-up or option.

The conventional press punching method requires a tool with a prefixed hole pattern and a big hydraulic press, sometimes upto 5000Ton. This process is perfectly suited for continues production of a single product type. Soenens' punching method allows for a flexible & fast action punching press with selectable tooling. Thus allowing for a mixed production process in synchronisation with a build to order assembly process most prefered by the commercial vehicle or truck manufacturers.

There are different methods of manufacturing a truck chassis rail or long member. The most commonly used are:
(a) Press forming: a pre-cut blank is inserted into a large hydraulic press. the long member or U-beam is then die formed into its final shape.
(b) Roll forming: a coil is unwinded into a roll forming line or profiling line.The final shape is steadily obtained by feeding the coil material through a number of forming rolls. Finally the chassis rail is cut to length.
Additional reference, Wikipedia: roll forming, stamping press (press forming)

Slitting is cutting or dividing material across it length axes in a continuous process. The number of lengthwise cuts or slits can vary from a single slit up to a large numbers of slits across the width of the metal sheet or coil.
Additional reference, Wikipedia.

Within our field of expertise, we work with manufacturers of industrial transformers for low, medium and high voltage transformers. Within this field of expertise, a transformer core consists of a large number of individual sheets or laminations as we call them. These laminations are cut from coil and are made from grain oriented silicon steel or transformer steel. The coils are first slitted to the correct width and in a secondary process accurately cut to length to define the shape of the lamination. These laminations are also stacked to allow easy assembly of the transformer core.
Additional reference, Wikipedia.

Within the bedding industry you have mattresses and toppers. The perforating system we developed is applicable within the production of toppers. Toppers perforation is a inline operation where the press is integrated into a continuous latex production line. An offline latex perforation can be considered as well.
Additional reference, Wikipedia.