There are several metal formats that involve various patterns being stamped or rolled onto metal, and a good example here is called diamond plate. Commonly used in several industrial areas, diamond plate can be made from a few different common metal types.

At Wasatch Steel, we have a huge variety of custom steel available for a variety of projects, including diamond plate needs. This blog will detail everything you need to know about diamond plate, from what it means and how it’s made to the common applications it’s generally used for.

Diamond Plate Basics and Uses

Diamond plate may also go by the name tread plate or checkered plate – each of these refer to the metal plate with a raised diamond pattern that’s created during manufacturing. Diamond plate can be made using both hot-rolled and stainless steel, and may also be created with aluminum in some cases.

Diamond plate has a wide array of uses, often seen in warehouses and loading docks. It’s known to be an excellent surface for walking safety, resisting slips and falls due to the added texture of the raised pattern.

Diamond Plate Creation

The process of creating diamond plate is pretty straightforward. It begins the same way as a standard metal plate or sheet production process, only at the point where the material is being put through rollers to help achieve the desired thickness, an extra step is included: The final set of rollers has a pattern that embosses the diamond shape onto the metal.

Now, how this pattern is embossed can vary slightly. For steel applications, hot-rolling will usually be used to bring the steel up to a high temperature before running it through smooth rollers. For aluminum, the design will be “stamped” onto the surface above the plate. There may be a few other less-used processes with stainless steel, but the hot-rolling process is highly economical and allows diamond plate to be sold affordably.

Common Diamond Plate Applications

Most of the common applications for diamond plate, as we referred to above, involve safety and precautionary areas. Some of the major areas you’ll see this in include:

• Stairs, walkways or other high-traffic areas: Especially in industrial areas where equipment or other loads will often be carried across surfaces, diamond plate is often used to reduce slip risks. One highly common use here is on outdoor fire exits, where moisture can make surfaces slick.
• Trailers and trucks: Those who regularly haul materials or perform similar tasks using a truck or trailer will know how valuable diamond plate can be on truck and trailer beds. It can also be used as an accent on bumpers.
• Aesthetics: In other cases, diamond plate will be used as a visual accent or finish in architectural elements or designs due to its unique appearance.

For more on diamond plate, or to learn about any of our steel services, speak to the staff at Wasatch Steel today.