Abstract: A manufacturing assembly and method produce a wire mesh including a plurality of longitudinal members and a monolithic transverse member secured to the plurality of longitudinal members. The monolithic transverse member includes a plurality of transverse portions that define a first cross-sectional shape, and further includes a plurality of longitudinal portions that define a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A rotary slitting blade for fabricating expanded metal products includes opposed end surfaces and an outer circumferential surface extending from one of the end surfaces to the other of the end surfaces. A plurality of notches are formed in each of the end surfaces. The notches include curved surfaces having convex curvatures that smoothly transition into one of the end surfaces and/or the outer circumferential surface. The rotary slitting blade improves the quality of a resulting expanded metal product by reducing or eliminating tears, cracks, and fractures in the expanded metal product.