Uchinuki is satisfying wide-ranging needs as a manufacturer devoted to perforated metal field.

More than 50 perforated metal manufacturers in Japan

While perforated metals are used widely, for example in daily-use products, exteriors, plants, infrastructures and industries inside and outside Japan, the number of domestic perforated metal manufacturers are estimated at 50 or more. As I said previously, no industrial association only for the dealers of perforated metals exists, so it is difficult to grasp the detailed situation inside the industry.

However, the functions of perforated metals are hardly replaceable with those of other products, so their marketability is stable to some extent. The 50-odd manufacturers coexist peacefully while making efforts in the favorite fields of each. Even when hole shape and arrangement seem to be the same at a glance, a close look at them shows they are subtly different depending on their manufacturer. Certainly, industrial products are based on the same standard, so the same products of company A and company B are apparently the same, but slight differences between them are obvious in the eyes of professionals.

A variety of perforated metal hole shapes ranging from round to square

A perforated metal is manufactured by punching a plate-like or a sheet-like metal by using metal mold. The name of our company Uchinuki originates from "punching." The most common hole shape is round, like countless round holes made in a speaker cover. The next most common shapes are square hole, hexagonal hole, long hole and long round hole. A "maruju (round and cross)" pattern, in which round holes and cross holes are arranged regularly, is used depending of the application.

In addition to these basic hole shapes, there are many punching patterns different in hole diameter, two adjacent holes' center-to-center distance (pitch), the number of holes per unit area, arrangement, margins around perforated holes, etc. A perforated metal having staggered holes appears very different when it is rotated by 90˚. Metal plate margins around punched holes are also called edges, frame, etc. A perforated metal having margins is called framed metal. Framed metals are classified into those having margins at its four sides and those having margins partially such as in width direction only. A margin size is described as distance between edge hole end and metal end or between edge hole center and metal end.

Various materials used for perforated metals

As the term "punched metal" suggests, a punched metal is manufactured basically by press work on a metal. Typically, steel, coated steel, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze and titan are used as metals. In recent years, it has become possible to process also materials other than metals, such as PVC sheet and resin panel. Secondary processing is also possible when necessary.

Perforated metals are most commonly used two-dimensionally but sometimes combined with other materials to widen applicable locations and enhance functions. They are used in various scenes according to purposes such as ventilation, sound insulation, sound absorption and filtering.