Sieves, sieve frames and filter components to drawing
An engineered sieve rarely consists of a piece of mesh alone. For it to keep working, screening surface, frame, tension, fixing, weld and surface finish all have to fit together.
stainlesstec makes customer-specific sieves, sieve frames and filter components in stainless steel to drawing and CAD data – as one-offs, replacement parts or recurring small batches.
Whether wire mesh, perforated plate or a combination of several elements: the function comes from the complete design. Depending on the application, a working sieve needs:
a stiff frame
precisely defined dimensions
a suitable screening or filter surface
even tension
clean fixing
suitable welded joints
defined surfaces
reinforcements or connection areas, where needed
What matters is not only what passes through the sieve, but whether the component as a whole keeps its shape and its function over time.
Sieve frames: stiffness for delicate screening surfaces
On many sieves the frame carries a substantial part of the mechanical function. It has to hold the screening surface securely, deform as little as possible while being tensioned, fit the machine, take the loads in service and allow repeatable assembly.
We make customer-specific sieve frames in stainless steel – round, rectangular or in a special geometry, from sheet sections, folded sections, welded frame structures or bespoke combinations.
Integrating wire mesh cleanly into the frame
With fine sieves in particular, the challenge lies in the joint between mesh and metal frame. The mesh has to be tensioned evenly, free of wrinkles, geometrically true and securely fixed – and the frame must not distort unnecessarily through tensioning or welding.
You can tell a good sieve by the way frame and mesh work as one component. With fine meshes, the workmanship often decides the eventual function more than the raw material does.
Perforated plate as a screening surface
Not every filter or screening duty needs wire mesh. Perforated plate comes into consideration where:
greater mechanical strength is required
defined hole diameters are needed
larger particles are being separated
the screening surface also carries load
a robust, readily cleanable design is called for
We produce hole patterns in our sheet metal department and then work them up into complete screening or filter components.
Many holes change a part
A sheet with thousands of openings behaves differently from a solid one. Punching, forming, welding and heat input all change its flatness. On large screening surfaces an additional straightening operation is therefore necessary.
An example from our own shop: a duplex drum in 5 mm plate was given a great many 4 mm holes – after which the surface had to be straightened flat and back within tolerance. Hole pattern and geometry have to be mastered together.
Strainer baskets and three-dimensional filter components
Filter components do not have to be flat. Depending on the process, we make:
strainer baskets
cylindrical filter elements
conical sieves
curved perforated plate components
frames with dished screening surfaces
three-dimensional filter inserts
bespoke special shapes
For this we combine cutting, forming, roll bending, welding and, where needed, straightening within one chain.
Filtering, separating, retaining
The particular duty defines the design. Typical functions are:
screening – separating particles by a defined size
filtering – retaining solids out of media
protecting – keeping foreign bodies out of machines, pipework or process stages
distributing – guiding media evenly across a surface
supporting – carrying screening or filter media mechanically
Which screening surface, perforation or mesh structure is needed for that is set by your process design. We take care of putting it into production.
Frame, screening surface and weld thought through together
Wherever several materials meet, interfaces arise. The points to consider are:
mesh tension
heat during welding
distortion of the frame
transitions between the thin screening surface and the heavier frame
sharp edges
cleanability
dressing of the welds
With fine wire meshes in particular, this takes craft experience – which is where our specialist welders and skilled staff come in.
Stainless steel for hygienic applications
In food, pharmaceutical and process plant, screening and filter components are usually made in stainless steel. There, requirements for corrosion resistance, cleanability, surface quality, weld execution and material segregation come into play as well.
We process stainless steel in our own segregated production area. That supports clean material handling and reduces foreign material entering during processing.
The surface is part of the function
On sieves and filters, deposits and product adhesion are a problem. What matters, therefore, is:
smooth frame surfaces
cleanly executed transitions
burr-free perforations
defined grinding patterns
readily accessible areas for cleaning
dressed welded joints
Which surface makes sense depends on the medium, the cleaning method and the application. On product-contact components it belongs in the drawing or the specification.
Accuracy of fit decides interchangeability
Many screening and filter components are wear or exchange parts. The first component then has to fit – and so does the next delivery, without rework.
Repeatable external dimensions, frame geometries, connection positions and fixing points are therefore especially important. With CAD-based production planning, we are a good fit for recurring small batches and replacement components too.
Replacements for existing sieves and filter components
Not every project starts with a new design. Often an existing part is needed again because:
the original supplier is no longer available
lead times are too long
an existing plant is to stay in service
a component has to be improved in design
a variant is needed for another machine
Where suitable drawings, CAD data or reliable measurements exist, an existing component can serve as the basis for a new build.
Typical applications
Food processing technology
Sieve frames, filter screens and perforated plate components for production, conveying and processing plant.
Protective screens, separating components and customer-specific filter elements – including process duties such as filtering, separating and distributing.
Review the design – analyse dimensions, frame, screening surface and installation situation
Make the frame – laser cutting, punching, bending and welding create the basic structure
Produce or prepare the screening surface – integrate perforated plate, mesh or other filter elements as specified
Tension and join – screening surface and frame become one working unit
Straighten and finish – complete geometry, surface and edges
Inspect – check dimensions, flatness and project-specific requirements
One-off, replacement part or small batch
Screening components are often replaced at regular intervals. Typical cases are one-off bespoke builds, spares for existing plant, recurring small batches and different sizes within one range.
This is exactly where the combination of flexible manufacturing and stored CAD and production data pays off. More under Small batches & bespoke builds.
What we need for your enquiry
drawing or STEP data
external dimensions
material
frame geometry
mesh type or hole pattern
mesh aperture or hole diameter
material thicknesses
the tension required, if specified
connection and fixing points
surface requirements
flatness requirements
product-contact areas
quantity
For replacement parts, existing drawings or a technically documented sample are a help.
Screening surface and frame have to work together. We make the complete component.
Sieve frame, perforated plate component, strainer basket or bespoke filter insert: send us the drawing and the technical requirements.
We will assess how frame, screening surface, welded joints and surface finish come together into a repeatable, working component.
Let’s talk about your project.
Send us your drawing or CAD data by email – together with material, batch size and your requirements. We will come back to you with a sound assessment.
