. From roof curbs, skylights and flashings to canopies and louvers – these accessories are essential for maintaining proper airflow throughout the structure and keeping elements like dirt, rainwater, debris and insects at bay.

Louvres are formed from sheet metal and can be designed into most types of metal building. They are most commonly found on the walls of the building, providing ventilation openings. There are many different styles of louvres available and the most popular material used for these is copper. Copper is an environmentally friendly material and has a natural look that complements any building. It is also long-lasting and has a unique aesthetic that appeals to people of all tastes.

A metal louvre can be designed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the building and its purpose. They can be placed in the corners of a room to improve circulation, or they can be fitted into windows to allow more light to enter.

The main function of a metal louvre is to allow more air into the building, providing ventilation and preventing the build up of heat and moisture. The blades of a metal louvre can be opened and closed at will, making them more versatile than fixed or hinged windows.

There are several different ways that metal louvres can be manufactured and one of the most common is to use a punch press with a special top and bottom die. This method is quick and produces a clean result. However, a common mistake that designers make when creating louvers is not spacing them enough apart. The punch and die need a working envelope in order to form the feature, so if a louver is too close it will be crushed by the tool, ruining the finished part and damaging the tool.

Another way to manufacture a metal louvre is by using a press brake with standard tooling. This method is slower than the punch press but may be suitable for low quantity production or prototype runs where specialized louver tooling is not available. However, it is important to space the louvers far enough apart so that the tooling can easily reach each of them and bend the metal correctly.

Another option for fabricating a metal louver is by using expanded metal. This is a mesh-like sheet metal that can be cut and stretched to create varying designs. Expanded metal louvres are often found in buildings and provide a combination of ventilation, visibility and privacy. Kikukawa can provide a variety of options for expanding metal louvres, including raised expanded metal and perforations that can change the open-ratio and visibility.