Direct Metals® Archives | Direct Metals Company https://www.directmetals.com/category/blog/direct-metals/ Specialty Metal & Fiberglass Products Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:42:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.5 Direct Metals® New Warehouse Expansion and What It Means For You https://www.directmetals.com/blog/direct-metals-new-warehouse-expansion-and-what-it-means-for-you/ Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:24:04 +0000 https://www.directmetals.com/?p=9652 Since 1996, Direct Metals® has served the specialty metal and fiberglass needs of customers throughout the United States. To keep up with high demand, we had two inventory warehouses in Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL. We are excited to announce that we have moved the Waukegan, IL warehouse to an even larger location in Pleasant Prairie, WI. What This Means Continue Reading

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]]> Since 1996, Direct Metals® has served the specialty metal and fiberglass needs of customers throughout the United States. To keep up with high demand, we had two inventory warehouses in Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL. We are excited to announce that we have moved the Waukegan, IL warehouse to an even larger location in Pleasant Prairie, WI.

What This Means for You

  • Fast and reliable shipping
  • Increased inventory selection of industrial metal and fiberglass products
  • Expanded metal processing and fabrication capabilities for your metal product orders including cutting, shearing, stamping, drilling, blanking, welding, sawing, punching, rolling and slitting,

New Direct Metals® Warehouse Features

Are you ready to place your 2023 specialty metal and fiberglass orders from one of the most trusted suppliers in the nation? Contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives that can help you determine the correct specialty metal or fiberglass for your application from stair treads to metal floor grating.

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]]> Why You Should Choose an ISO Certified Specialty Metal Provider https://www.directmetals.com/blog/why-you-should-choose-an-iso-certified-specialty-metal-provider/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:49:28 +0000 https://www.directmetals.com/?p=9183 When choosing a specialty metal supplier, there are many factors that should be considered. Most importantly, you should review if the supplier is ISO Certified. ISO 9001:2015 is a commitment that a company has to continuous improvement and is achieved through completing a rigorous registration process and in-depth external audit. ISO standards lay out the expectations and needs required for Continue Reading

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]]> When choosing a specialty metal supplier, there are many factors that should be considered. Most importantly, you should review if the supplier is ISO Certified. ISO 9001:2015 is a commitment that a company has to continuous improvement and is achieved through completing a rigorous registration process and in-depth external audit. ISO standards lay out the expectations and needs required for every specialty metal order. Direct Metals® is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified company that is well versed in the standards that need to be met and has the tools in place to guarantee quality, consistency, and safety. 

What is a ISO 9001:2015 Certification

ISO is an acronym for International Organization for Standardizations. It was established in Switzerland in 1947 by a host of technical committees focused on providing guidelines for a vast range of organizations in the manufacturing, processing, service, printing, and electronics industries. [1]

ISO

This organization develops the standards, and it does in order to certify businesses or organizations. Certification is handled third-party and tested annually.

9001

The number appearing after ISO classifies the standard. All standards within the ISO 9000 family refer to quality management. ISO 9001 is among ISO's best-known standards, and it defines the criteria for meeting a number of quality management principles. It helps businesses and organizations be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction.

2015

This refers to the version of the standard that's being met and is represented by the calendar year those standards were launched.

Advantages of Utilizing an ISO Certified Specialty Metal Provider

  • Reliable Business Practices – ISO 9001:2015 companies have a long-term business strategy in place, with employees that are trained on the ISO requirements and committed to helping your business with targeted, measurable solutions.
  • Consistent & Quality Products – ISO Certified companies must adhere to strict quality guidelines and processes that are repeatable and predictable to meet customers’ needs.
  • International Recognition – Companies that are ISO Certified have international recognition which shows they are a reputable company to source your specialty metals.

Direct Metals® is proud to have achieved consistent ISO 9001:2015 recertification for 2022. The ISO quality standards extend to our products, warehousing, fabrication, distribution, and customer service. Direct Metals® is ANAB Accredited and UKAS Quality Management Certified by the Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. Request your quote today for our bar grating, perforated metal, safety grating, expanded metal, fiberglass floor grating, steel wire mesh, slip resistant stair treads, and architectural metal.

 

Resources

  1. “Why Manufacturers Should Get ISO-Certified”

https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/shopmanagement/why-manufacturers-should-get-iso-certified

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]]> Corrosion Resistant Materials and Finishes That Weather the Elements https://www.directmetals.com/blog/corrosion-resistant-materials-and-finishes-that-weather-the-elements/ Tue, 31 May 2022 16:10:42 +0000 https://www.directmetals.com/?p=9163 When choosing an architectural metal supplier, it’s vital to choose one that offers a variety of corrosion resistant materials that can withstand the test of time and abrasive weather with water, snow, and salt. Direct Metals® offers corrosion resistant materials for their specialty metal products including aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and fiberglass grating that help customers save money and Continue Reading

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]]> When choosing an architectural metal supplier, it’s vital to choose one that offers a variety of corrosion resistant materials that can withstand the test of time and abrasive weather with water, snow, and salt. Direct Metals® offers corrosion resistant materials for their specialty metal products including aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and fiberglass grating that help customers save money and reduce maintenance efforts.

Aluminum

Aluminum is often chosen as the material of choice for outdoor projects, especially near saltwater environments, due to its corrosion resistance properties and high strength to weight ratio. Aluminum grating can be used for metal sunshades, walkways, or building facades. Aluminum wire mesh is popular for applications such as outdoor handrail infill panels since it can weather harsh outdoor conditions. We supplied aluminum expanded metal for the railings at the Fontainebleau Terrace in Panama City Beach that could stand up to high winds, salt air environments, and sand. For added protection and aesthetics, the material was powder coated turquoise blue.

Blue Powder Coated Aluminum Expanded Metal Panels for Building Railings

 

Stainless Steel

When it was first created by Harry Brearly in 1913 it was spoken of as the world’s first “rustless steel”.  [1] In addition to the corrosive resistance of stainless steel, it is an easily workable material that can be made into stainless steel mesh panels, stainless steel wire mesh screens, stainless steel floor grating, and stainless expanded metal. This material can be used for demanding engineering specifications like jet engine lubricant filters or for architectural uses like thee wire mesh outdoor deck panels below that we provided for this residential building in Cape San Blas, Florida.

Corrosion Resistant Wire Mesh Outdoor Deck Panels for Salt Air Environment

  

Galvanized Steel

For galvanized steel, a protective galvanized coating is adhered to protect the steel against rust and corrosion. Galvanized steel is among the most popular steel types because of its extended durability, having the strength and formability of steel plus the corrosion protection of the zinc-iron coating. The zinc protects the base metal by acting as a barrier to corrosive elements, and the sacrificial nature of the coating results in a long lasting and high quality steel product. [2] We provided hot dipped galvanized wire mesh fencing for a project in Des Plaines River, Illinois. This fencing could stand up to the environmental conditions as its purpose was to keep the carp in the river from reaching the Great Lakes during flood events. The Asian carp are an invasive species that could eradicate the native fish of the lakes.

Durable and Corrosion Resistant Hot Dipped Galvanized Wire Mesh Fencing

 

Fiberglass Grating

Fiberglass grating applications range from architectural sun screening and fiberglass flooring to standard walkways and stair treads. We have provided pultruded fiberglass grating for marine uses, such as boat ramps like the one below. This grating type is ideal since it is corrosion resistant, impact resistant, and skid resistant.

Corrosion Resistant Pultruded Fiberglass Grating Used in a Boat Ramp Application

 

Not sure which corrosive resistant material type will work best for your project? Request a quote online or call to speak with one of our specialty metal experts who can assist you!

Resources

  1. “7 Benefits of Stainless Steel”

https://www.srsgroup.co.nz/blog/7-benefits-of-stainless-steel/

  1. “Galvanized Steel Types, Uses, Benefits”

https://www.nationalmaterial.com/galvanized-steel-types-uses-benefits/

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