Precision Perforated Metal Manufacturing for Industrial Applications 

At Astro Metal Craft, perforated metal is a core manufacturing specialty. Our advanced CNC punching technology, experienced fabrication team, and deep understanding of perforated metal behavior allow us to produce high-quality components for demanding industrial applications. 

Unlike traditional perforators that focus solely on hole patterns, Astro provides a complete in-house solution that includes engineering support, CNC punching, forming, welding, assembly, and finishing. 

Many of our customers come to us when standard perforated sheet suppliers cannot meet their dimensional, tolerance, or fabrication requirements. Our team specializes in producing custom perforated components engineered for a specific application rather than supplying commodity perforated sheet stock. 

 

Advanced CNC Punching Capabilities 

Our perforating department is powered by two TRUMPF punching machines: The TruPunch 5000 and The TruMatic1000 (laser punch combo). This advanced technology allows us to efficiently produce both standard and highly customized perforated metal for industrial applications. 

Our punching capabilities include: 

• Material thicknesses from 24 gauge through 1/4″ 
• Sheet sizes up to 5′ x 12′ (longer parts through repositioning operations) 
• Stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, copper, and brass 
• Round, square, rectangular, slotted, and custom hole shapes 
• Regular and irregular perforation patterns 
• Cluster punching for high-volume production 
• Nibbling operations for complex geometries 
• Custom edge conditions and border configurations 

Because all punching operations are performed in-house, we maintain complete control over quality, scheduling, and production efficiency. 

Check out our Punch Machine Shop Talks to see our perforating operations in action

Shop Talk – TruPunch5000 with Cole

Shop Talk: The Engineering Secrets of Perforated Metal – Rules, R&D, and the Trumatic 1000

Designing with Manufacturing in Mind 

By designing with manufacturing in mind, we help customers avoid costly revisions and production delays later in the project life cycle. 

As perforation density increases, the material undergoes deformation, stress redistribution, and dimensional change. These factors must be anticipated and compensated for during programming and fabrication. 

Over decades of manufacturing perforated products, Astro has developed extensive expertise in: 

• Managing sheet growth caused by perforation patterns 
• Controlling material distortion and warpage 
• Optimizing punch sequencing 
• Maintaining critical flatness tolerances 
• Designing efficient cluster punch layouts 
• Developing tooling strategies for high-volume production 

Using advanced CAD modeling and SolidWorks design tools, our team develops fabrication strategies that ensure perforated components meet the dimensional and functional requirements of the job. 

This level of expertise is especially valuable for industrial projects where airflow, filtration performance, product flow, or structural integrity depend on accurate hole placement and consistency. 

   

Common Industrial Applications 

Our perforated metal products are used across numerous industries and applications, including: 

Filtration Systems: Perforated stainless steel and aluminum components used in water treatment, process filtration, and industrial filtration equipment. 

Food Processing Equipment: Dryer trays, screens, processing components, and material handling systems designed for demanding food manufacturing environments. 

Ventilation and Airflow Systems: Perforated panels engineered to balance airflow, protection, and structural requirements. 

Screening and Separation Equipment: Custom perforated screens used for sorting, separating, filtering, and material processing applications. 

Conveyor Systems: Perforated conveyor components and specialized material handling equipment. 

    

The Advantage of In-House Manufacturing 

By performing perforating operations in-house, Astro eliminates many of the challenges associated with outsourced perforated metal production. 

Benefits include: 

• Faster lead times 
• Improved quality control 
• Strong communication throughout production 
• Faster response to design revisions 
• Expertise in large scale and complex scopes 
• Collaborative design support 
• Specialize in stainless steel and aluminum fabrication 
• Dedicated project management 

After metal has been perforated, Astro is able to form, weld, insert hardware, assemble and finish projects in house. Our customers gain a single-source manufacturing partner capable of taking projects from concept to completion. 

Visit our socials to explore more about our perforating capabilities