Wallner Expac

What Wallner Expac does

Wallner Expac, Inc. is a US-based, 100% employee-owned (ESOP since February 2021) manufacturer of expanded metal and micromesh products founded in 1959 by Rudolf Wallner. The company operates three domestic manufacturing facilities in Ontario (California), Kennesaw (Georgia), and El Paso (Texas), and self-identifies as the world's largest manufacturer of expanded metals for HVAC filters and North America's largest manufacturer of light gauge expanded metal for filters. Its core technology is the Shear-Form process, which slits and stretches sheet metal in one operation to produce diamond-pattern geometries with no material waste, yielding a high strength-to-weight ratio and pattern uniformity; this base process underpins the patented X-Mesh product for HVAC filter media backing (introduced 1975, US Patent 8,696,781) and the MicroForm precision micromesh line launched in 2019 for microfiltration, advanced battery technologies, speaker grilles, and EMI/RFI shielding. The company also offers Perfex aesthetic expanded metal, over 60 standard and decorative patterns, four-way ceiling diffuser grilles (two US design patents), and in-house metal forming services including Wire EDM and CNC machining. Wallner Expac operates a B2B direct sales model with quote-based pricing, sells primarily to HVAC filter OEMs (its primary segment), and also serves architecture/construction, high-tech/electronics, and home improvement customers through industry trade shows (FiltXPO, AIA conventions, The Battery Show), trade publication thought leadership, and a direct sales and marketing team; it is ISO 9001 certified and maintains no outside venture or private equity backing.

Name

Wallner Expac

Legal name

Wallner Expac, Inc.

Website

https://expac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wallner Expac is a 100% employee-owned US manufacturer of expanded metal and micromesh products, operating plants in California, Georgia, and Texas, and is the world's largest producer of expanded metals for HVAC filters while also serving architecture, electronics, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Expanded Metal Manufacturing

NAICS

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3329)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders) (IMADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM)

Keywords

• Expanded metal manufacturing
• HVAC filter media backing
• Precision micromesh products
• Architectural metal panels
• Custom metal fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Ontario

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Expanded Metal Manufacturing and Sales: Wallner Expac generates revenue through the manufacture and direct sale of expanded metal products to B2B customers including filter manufacturers, architects, construction professionals, and industrial companies. Products include standard and decorative expanded metal patterns, X-Mesh® for HVAC filters, MicroForm® micromeshes, and custom fabrications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wallner Expac designs, engineers, and manufactures expanded metal products including patented X-Mesh® for HVAC filter media backing, precision MicroForm® micromeshes for high-tech applications, Perfex decorative patterns, and over 60 standard and decorative expanded metal patterns. The company serves filter manufacturers, architects, construction professionals, and industrial customers through three U.S. manufacturing plants, offering custom fabrication and on-site metal forming services including Wire EDM and CNC machining.

Product overview

Wallner Expac is a manufacturer of expanded metals and micromeshes serving filtration, architecture, and industrial applications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products including patented X-Mesh® for HVAC filters, MicroForm® micromeshes for precision applications, Perfex decorative patterns, and standard/decorative expanded metal patterns (60+ patterns total). Manufacturing services include on-site tooling, metal forming, and fabrication. The company operates three domestic manufacturing plants in California, Georgia, and Texas, and became 100% employee-owned in 2021 through an ESOP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• X-Mesh® Patented expanded metal specifically engineered for HVAC filter media backing for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Replaces expensive welded wire, increases structural stability, minimizes pleat spring back, maintains pleat uniformity, and provides consistent pleat height.
• MicroForm® Precision-engineered expanded metal micromeshes manufactured in a climate-controlled environment for microfiltration, advanced battery technologies, speaker grilles, EMI/RFI shielding, and other high-tech applications. LWDs range from 0.125" down to 0.050" with materials as thin as 0.002".
• Perfex Expanded metal with an innovative circular aesthetic finish that resembles perforated metal but retains all advantages of expanded metal. Ideal for use as diffuser grilles, vent mesh, ceiling and wall panels, machine guards, gates, fencing, and more.
• Decorative Expanded Metal Patterns Over 60 decorative expanded metal patterns including Apollo, Fiesta, Imperial, Greco, Mini Tahoe, Oasis, Pinnacle, Provincial, Perfex, and various Skip Mesh patterns. Customizable with options for flattening, painting, and powder coating.
• Standard Expanded Metal Patterns Standard diamond-shaped expanded metal patterns manufactured using Shear-Form® process. Over 60 patterns available for various industrial and architectural applications.
• Four-Way Ceiling Diffuser Grilles Patented four-way ceiling diffuser panels for HVAC air distribution. Available in decorative patterns (U.S. Patent No. D921174) and standard patterns (U.S. Patent No. D921175).
• Metal Forming Services On-site tooling facility offering metal forming services including engineering and design, flattening, stamping, surface grinding, Wire EDM, CNC machining, and more to support customer-specific requirements.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Niles Expanded Metals & Plastics: Direct competitor in expanded metal manufacturing serving HVAC, architectural, and industrial markets with similar product offerings including standard and decorative expanded metal patterns.
• Direct Metals Company: Direct peer in expanded metal products and accessories, overlapping with Wallner Expac on standard, flattened, and decorative expanded metal used in roofing, fencing, and architectural applications.
• Hendrick Manufacturing: Manufacturer of perforated and expanded metals for architectural, industrial, and filtration applications — closely comparable product portfolio and customer overlap with Wallner Expac.
• Amico (Alabama Metal Industries): Manufacturer of expanded metal grating, safety grating, and architectural metal products — comparable to Wallner Expac in product range and customer base across industrial and architectural end markets.
• Dexmet Corporation: Manufacturer of precision expanded metal foils and polymers serving filtration, energy storage, and EMI shielding — directly overlaps with Wallner Expac's MicroForm® micromesh product line for high-tech applications.
• GKD Metal Fabrics: Manufacturer of architectural metal mesh including expanded metal variants for facades, ceilings, and sunshades — directly competes with Wallner Expac in the architectural expanded metal segment.

Broad incumbents

• Ryerson: Major North American metals service center processor and distributor offering a broad portfolio of carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, and specialty metal products including expanded metal — adjacent competitor with much larger scale.
• Olympic Steel: Public metals service center and flat-rolled processor providing metal products to a wide industrial base — overlaps with Wallner Expac on downstream metal distribution to construction and industrial customers.
• McNichols Company: Larger metal products service center carrying expanded metal, perforated metal, wire mesh, and gratings across all U.S. regions — broader portfolio than Wallner Expac but overlaps significantly on expanded metal distribution.

Emerging players

• Universal Steel America: Metal service center providing expanded metal, bar grating, and structural metal products with growing North American footprint — competes with Wallner Expac on standard expanded metal distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wallner Expac