Rigidity and cut stability. Every intersection is welded, so the panel holds its geometry under load and can be cut to any shape without the wires unravelling or the aperture distorting. That makes it suitable for guarding, enclosures and structural infill, where woven mesh would need framing on every edge.

Where the coating is when the welds are made. Mesh welded from pre-galvanised wire has bare, unprotected metal at every weld nut, which is where corrosion starts. Mesh hot-dip galvanised after welding is coated over the welds and the cut ends, giving substantially longer outdoor life at a higher price.

Considerably coarser than woven mesh, because every intersection has to be physically welded, which sets a practical limit on how close the wires can be and how thin they can be. Fine filtration and sieving apertures are outside its range - those applications require woven cloth.

It is the standard construction for security work. Small-aperture welded mesh in heavy wire resists cutting and prevents a hand or tool reaching through, and because the panel is rigid it cannot be pushed aside. Attack-resistant grades are tested and rated against defined tool sets and durations.

By aperture, wire diameter, material and finish, plus panel or roll size. Aperture and wire diameter together determine strength, rigidity and what can pass through; for guarding applications the aperture must also satisfy the safety distance requirements for reaching through to a hazard, which are set by machinery safety standards.

Heavy welded mesh in a defined grid used to reinforce concrete slabs, walls and screeds, supplied in standard sheet sizes and designated by wire diameter and pitch. It is a structural product specified by an engineer, and it is distinct from the lighter welded mesh used for guarding and enclosures.

They can be bent and pressed, but the welds are the weak point in forming - a tight bend across a line of welds can shear them. Bending is normally arranged to fall between rows of welds where possible, and heavily formed components are often welded from pre-cut and pre-bent sections instead.