Wire Cloth Media

The marketplace for performance wire cloth in the United States is $100 - 120 million. Epoxy coated carbon steel is not counted in this total. Because such a large percentage is imported, this value may vary depending upon exchange rates. The largest percentage of this wire consists of stainless steel, which range as low as $0.40/sf to over $60/sf.

However, the majority is priced in the $1-3/sf range. The majority of the wire cloth comes from the Far East, such as China South Korea and Japan to a lesser degree. Precision woven for high-end applications typically comes from Europe with Germany, France and Switzerland leading, although Asia is improving.

Wire Cloth is available in many popular alloys ranging to stainless steel, copper, nickel, titanium and Hastalloy. Each metal has many alloys, such as stainless steel. With slight variations of component metals, such as chrome, nickel and manganese, stainless steel filtration media will possess different physical and exhibit different performance properties. In turn, each alloy yields different cost and performance characteristics.

Applications for wire cloth include polymer filters for film extrusion and textile fiber spinning. Other applications, include leafs and septums for filter aid cake formation, support screens and pleated filter elements to the media itself, as well as in vibratory sifting and dewatering applications. In coalescers, PTFE coated wire cloth ensures no free-water carry-over. Metal is used widely in filter candles and back-pulse configurations in addition to belting and cartridges.

Other uses include strainers for process industry and general particulate removal in water purification in the pulp and paper, coal and coke, sewage treatment and sugar industry. Applications are extensive and far broader than described here.

Stainless Steel Belts	Textile & Film Screens

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