March 2021

Wire mesh, whether welded or woven, is a versatile and broadly useful material for many distinct industrial applications.

When it comes to wire mesh, durability is a powerful benefit. A wide range of stock is offered in various materials and many different roll and sheet sizes, with nonstandard sheets available by custom order. The flexibility in type means there's likely a stock wire mesh already on hand to help address your business's needs. If there isn't, the expert team at Locker is ready, willing and able to support your goals.

Wondering if there's a useful application of wire mesh that you may have overlooked for your business, or simply want to find out more about this versatile material? Keep reading to learn about wire mesh's many applications.

Bushfire mesh

Lightning, seasonal changes in weather and more factors combine to create conditions that start and support the spread of bushfires, Geoscience Australia explained. These fires are part of the natural environment, which means protective efforts are often focused on limiting the risk to people and assets that could potentially be harmed by the blaze and its many side effects, such as excess smoke.

Bushfire mesh is an important part of a complete strategy for minimising the effects of these fires on buildings and their occupants, as well as any valuable resources inside. Bushfire mesh, made of stainless steel and built to specifications set by Standards Australia, substantially improves fire safety by preventing burning embers from entering through windows and doors. At the same time, this material allows air to circulate, reducing the risk caused by hot spots.

Formed mesh, machinery and guarding mesh

Wire mesh doesn't have to remain in a flat orientation to provide value. This versatile material can also be formed into a variety of shapes with broad applications in terms of protecting assets and preventing potentially dangerous interactions between staff or customers and equipment.

Formed wire mesh can help stop accidental contact with moving parts inside a piece of equipment as workers pass by or complete their duties in a given location. Industrial machines are powerful, and mesh can serve as an effective deterrent. It protects both people and equipment from unintentional and potentially serious consequences.

Of course, stock flat mesh has plenty of roles to play in keeping people safe as well. In many instances, a simple cage or screen can be all that's necessary to provide adequate protection. Whether it's formed into a specific shape or supplied as a standard sheet, wire mesh is an effective safety tool.

Bird aviary mesh

Aviaries are valuable tools for bird breeders, pet owners and casual hobbyists alike. These structures allow birds to have substantial exposure to the natural environment while enjoying a high degree of protection. The basic properties of wire mesh, namely a strong yet open structure, make it possible to keep birds safe without having to house them in a fully enclosed building.

Professionals and those simply wanting to look out for their pets often turn to wire mesh as a reliable and durable solution for aviaries. Because wire mesh comes in so many different varieties, including custom options, it's easy to select the best types of mesh for the aviaries your company plans to make. And the underlying simplicity of mesh means it's that much easier for the customer to assemble aviaries as well.

Wire mesh can serve as an effective safety measure in industrial environments.

Vermin and rodent mesh

Pests can cause all sorts of negative outcomes, from damaging crops or gardens to attacking pets, livestock and even family members. Keeping vermin, rodents and other types of natural pests out of a specific area is another application in which metal mesh excels. By producing wire mesh in line with specifications designed to restrict and discourage access by pests, we can offer your business a solution that's ready for your staff or your customers to install.

Security mesh

Limiting access is the key to effective security. A solution that prevents both unauthorised entry and egress goes a long way toward meeting basic operational goals and building a sense of stability and safety.

Wire mesh can be used as external and internal fencing in a variety of contexts, from speciallsed applications like machine guarding to general uses like defining areas as off limits to members of the general public. It can also be applied for similar purposes in commercial and industrial buildings, defining spaces and limiting access between them.

No matter the specific use case, wire mesh offers some powerful advantages in terms of security. The open yet sturdy nature of the mesh provides protection while maintaining visibility, thereby improving situational awareness. That same structure facilitates air circulation as well, helping to regulate temperature without making a sacrifice in terms of safety.

A supplier you can count on

Locker offers standard and custom wire mesh in many different formats. These broad stock and custom options allow your organisation to select the specific mesh that's best for its needs, whether that means selling aviaries to bird breeders and hobbyists or increasing security within a factory or warehouse. Our team of experts can help guide you through the entire process, from answering questions and selecting the most relevant type of mesh to ensuring an accurate order and speedy delivery. To learn more, get in touch with us today.

Security is a foundational concern for each and every construction project and for the building or structure that exists upon successful completion. Limiting access is important in applications from office buildings to malls and mixed-use facilities.

Certain types of buildings and properties, like farms and prisons, have heightened and unique security needs, whether to keep detainees inside or prevent wild animals from accessing crops and livestock. And even car parks and similar structures must keep people inside from falling from a dangerous height.

Expanded mesh is a versatile solution for many needs related to security, offering a powerful combination of cost-effectiveness, durability and overall success in its intended uses. Let's take a closer look at what expanded mesh is, and how it can be a powerful and reliable addition to a variety of projects where security is a priority.

How is expanded mesh made?

Expanded mesh starts with a piece of base material, such as steel or aluminium. The manufacturing process cuts and stretches the single sheet  until the cuts open up to form a shape similar to a diamond or lattice pattern. However, each sheet of expanded metal remains connected,  a crucial difference from woven wire and similar products.

The structure of expanded metal mesh makes it stronger, lighter and more rigid than it was as an unprocessed sheet of base material, offering significant advantages in construction, security and many other applications. And, because it maintains its integrity as a single piece of metal, it maintains its strength as well.

Foundational qualities of expanded metal mesh

Expanded metal mesh can be fabricated to meet a variety of needs. While security is a common application, many others exist. Super-rib mesh, for example, is used to strengthen construction materials, supporting safe and sturdy buildings.

The singular nature of each expanded metal mesh panel is worth noting in this context as well. We have already discussed the strength and durability advantages of this product, and there's another one to keep in mind: There's no risk of the mesh fraying or unravelling. Because each panel is made from a single sheet of base material, it eliminates the possibility of becoming unwoven or easily accessible due to fraying.

Selecting a specific type of metal with desirable qualities to use as expanded mesh, such as the corrosion resistance offered by aluminium, adds even more benefits.

Expanded mesh can help deter burning embers from entering a home.

Expanded mesh as an effective security barrier

Durability and strength are key qualities for security applications in general. When it comes to physical barriers to prevent entry or egress, expanded metal mesh can easily fit the bill. There are man different applications, including:

Prison and corrections security

Keeping convicted offenders within the limits of a prison or correctional facility is a paramount need, and the basic function the building is designed to fulfil. While many different measures must be carefully coordinated to achieve a high level of security, expanded mesh can play a key role in defining the perimeter of a facility. Its resiliency makes it an effective deterrent both to those attempting to enter the facility without authorisation and inmates attempting to leave before their sentences end.

Locker has developed an expanded mesh product in conjunction with the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services for this specific purpose. It is now used across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Car park enclosures

Car parks must be enclosed to align with relevant building and safety regulations, and to keep people accessing and using them safe. Expanded mesh is exceptionally reliable in this context. As each panel is a single sheet of metal, concerns related to this protective element unravelling or becoming frayed and therefore creating a source of danger are effectively mitigated. While careful installation is still required, this strategy for protecting people inside of car parks is a useful one. And expanded mesh is similarly effective at preventing access to the facility outside of designated areas, offering additional benefits.

Windows and doors: Security mesh

Correctional institutions, car parks and other large structures require large-scale security solutions. When it comes to individual doors and windows, the size of the security measure decreases, but it is no less important. Locker has developed a range of metal mesh that capably addresses these needs, with products including:

• DVA: This traditional style of metal mesh offers two key benefits: Preventing insects from accessing the interior of a building and providing one-way vision, where those inside can see out, but anyone outside of the home can't see in.
• Super RV: Part of the DVA range, this expanded mesh offers the same advantages as DVA while also meeting regulatory requirements to be classified as security mesh. Because it meets Australian standards for knife sheer and impact, it can be effectively and compliantly used in open-frame security doors.
• SMAB: A perforated security mesh, SMAB prevents the entry of small embers into a building. Its small perforations allow for a high degree of visibility while indoors, and align with bushfire codes.

Expanded mesh for your next project, from a reliable partner

Locker is proud to offer a deep range of expanded mesh manufactured at our facility in Australia to our clients, covering many potential security and related industrial needs. To learn more about how we can efficiently support your needs, get in touch with our team of experts today.