Welded Versus Press-Lock Heavy-Duty Grating

Industrial facilities need steel grating for venting, maintenance access, and drainage, but that grating must be able to withstand environmental challenges, such as heavy loads from machinery and mobile equipment, vibration, humidity, and chemical exposure.

Because every industrial facility is different, steel grating can be customized to meet specific application requirements and is available in two primary designs: welded and press-lock. Neither option is better than the other.

Welded

Welded grating is named such because the bearing bars and cross bars are welded together, which improves the grating’s rigidity and ensures load transfer happens through the welded joint.

Benefits

• High Load Capacity: Welded grating is much better for rolling loads. With a welded design, the bars are fused and act as one continuous structure, allowing it to handle heavier, dynamic loads.
• Easier to Repair: Damaged joints can be re-welded on-site with minimal downtime.
• Exceptional Vibrational Resistance: The bars are fused and will resist loosening over time, even when exposed to extreme vibrations from machinery.
• Longer Lifespan: Welded steel grating lasts longer under rolling loads, impact, and vibration, and it can also be galvanized to improve corrosion resistance.

Common Applications

• Industrial flooring
• Loading docks or ramps
• Structural platforms

Best For

Any application prioritizing strength and long-term durability.

Press-Lock

In press-lock designs, the cross bars are crimped into a notch in the bearing bars under high pressure to create a tight bond instead of being welded. The result is a grating with a much smoother, cleaner surface, but with reduced rolling load capacity.

Benefits

• Smooth Surface: The cross bars are crimped to the bearing bars and don’t feature visible weld nodes.
• Holds Coatings Better: Press-lock grating can be easier to coat/finish more uniformly because it doesn’t feature heat-affected zones like welds.
• Corrosion Resistance: Because press-lock grating is easier to coat, galvanized finishes will last longer in corrosive marine or chemical settings.

Common Applications

• Pedestrian platforms or areas with lighter foot traffic
• Trench and drain covers
• Stair treads
• Decorative grating

Best For

Any application where appearance and surface finish are high priority, or for highly corrosive environments.

Have Questions? Contact Laurel

Laurel Custom Grating specializes in manufacturing heavy-duty, welded carbon steel grating for industrial applications. Our products are made in the United States, can be customized to meet application requirements, and can be finished with paint or galvanized coatings. Visit our website to learn more about our products, or contact us today to request a quote.