How U Channel Trim Moulding Completes Wire Mesh & Architectural Panels

A great roll formed steel U channel can do wonders for your project’s cost- and time effectiveness. That’s why we created MeshTrim.

MeshTrim is a product you won’t find anywhere else. Contractors typically rig a facsimile from a few pieces of sheet metal instead of seeking professional guidance, unaware of the option. The final result is typically unattractive and ends up being quite costly.

Commonly, our clients have requested MeshTrim for:

• Partial and outdoor visual barriers
• U channel glass frame/U channel window trim
• Stair railing infill panels
• Security wire screens
• Architectural screening products
• More!

 

Introducing MeshTrim: Roll Formed U Channel Trim Moulding

U channel trim is a tall, skinny, formed metal product.

Woven wire fabric and perforated metal are classy architectural design components -- however, they have one major issue. How do you finish the edges of these materials? Leave them bare to take the skin off the next unsuspecting passer-by?

No! The most logical solution is to add an attractive, cohesive feature: U channel metal edge trim.

Roll forming is the only viable way to consistently produce the skinny, extremely deep channels that MeshTrim features.

Dahlstrom’s MeshTrim family of channels can be used individually, or in nested sets to provide numerous options for covering the edges of wire fabric panels. Dahlstrom can produce these channels with a combination of web widths ranging from 0.1 inches to 1 inch, leg heights from 1 inch to 3.5 inches, and overall part lengths from 5 to 30 feet.

If you need more nitty-gritty details on MeshTrim right now, check out the free e-book below. Otherwise, keep reading!

How a Steel U Channel Tops Off Your Project

1. Money

And now that MeshTrim is a standard option, wire mesh framing is much easier and more affordable to produce. A U channel frame that covers the entire perimeter of your product can remove the need for costly fabrications.

Now that that’s established, you need a skinny steel U channel.

Unfortunately, the narrow openings and heavy gauges necessary for these applications make conventional brake press bending an unwieldy expensive process. While there are multistep solutions that allow a brake press to form more extreme shapes, those methods can be costly and often put the operator at risk of an accident.

The roll forming process pulls strips of steel from coils, meaning there is no material wasted chopping sheets to the proper size. This results in more product for your material investment.

Here’s another, more specific example of how metal U channel trim benefits you. U channels are used as trim for stair railings and elsewhere in commercial spaces. Whether it's an aluminum trim U channel or a stainless steel U channel trim, these components are longer-lasting than their plastic or wood counterparts, keeping you from throwing money away on replacements.

2. Time

Our standardized procedure significantly cuts the time it takes to place and fill your request. As with all of our projects, we aim to be as lean as possible to save time for our clients.

Let’s not forget the specific time-saving benefits of steel edge trim over weaker materials. Steel railings and applications are easier to maintain, freeing up more time for your pressing projects. And steel’s longevity means you won’t waste much time ordering new parts or fixing old ones.

The best part? No more rigging up framing from scrap metal.

How to See Roll FOrmed U Channel Trim for Yourself

If you’ve decided a MeshTrim steel U channel is just what your project needs, we’re ready to guide you through the process smoothly.

We offer:

• No-cost tooling for hundreds of U-channel size combinations. We already have the dies and the machine capacity. You need not worry about investing in custom tools.
• Make-to-order and managed inventory programs. You’ll know exactly when to get more product instead of having a bunch of stuff laying around. This way you spend your money more efficiently.
• Field quality defect PPM of less than 4,000. You’ll be burdened with fewer costly replacements.

Here are just some of the ways that works with MeshTrim:

• Tools are designed for quick dimensional changes within the same production run.
• We offer a lead time of three to five weeks.
• Our on-time delivery rate is 99%.

You can check out our MeshTrim offerings here, or grab the all-important spec sheet below:

(Editor's note: This article was originally published in June 2017 and was recently updated.)