Low Impact Laser Welded Stainless Steel 1.4307 Beams for Privacy Screens
Hidex, a German start-up supplying partition systems, wanted to expand their product range with a stainless steel privacy screen that was visually clean and minimal but strong enough for long-term outdoor use. The structural mast of the screen had to be a slim custom beam in sandblasted stainless steel 1.4307, a non-standard section that no catalogue product could cover. Hidex came to Montanstahl to develop the profile from scratch, finding the right balance between appearance, structural performance, and cost.
Specifying a Slim Sandblasted Beam in Stainless Steel 1.4307
The initial request was for an 80 x 17 mm sandblasted beam with a 5 mm web and 9 mm flanges. A second inquiry refined the geometry to 80 x 13 mm with a 3 mm web and 10 mm flanges, delivered in 4 metre bars. The slim web was the most demanding aspect: very thin webs are prone to distortion after welding, which compromises the straightness of the finished bar. Montanstahl evaluated the geometry and proposed increasing the web thickness by 1 mm, to 4 mm, to guarantee the straightness required for a sandblasted architectural profile used in a visible, outdoor setting.
Low Impact Laser Welding and a Longer Bar to Reduce Waste
The beam was produced on Montanstahl’s low impact laser welding lines, which keep heat input to a minimum and make it possible to produce a slim, slender section without introducing distortion. The sandblasting was applied as a final finish to give the bar the matte, uniform texture suited to an outdoor architectural product. One further adjustment benefited the customer directly: the bars were delivered in 6 metre lengths rather than 4, reducing material waste and cutting the overall cost. The result was the successful launch of Hidex’s new V2A stainless steel partition system.
Application Context
This case sits in Montanstahl’s architecture, building and construction segment, where laser welded special profiles are chosen for visible structural elements that have to be as slim as possible while still doing their job. A privacy screen mast is a good example: the steel is in full view, so straightness, surface finish, and clean lines matter as much as strength and corrosion resistance. Custom stainless steel profiles like these are produced to the customer’s design and supplied worldwide for partition systems, facade elements, and other architectural applications.