UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) plastic is the choice material for conveyors and packaging machinery. Its unique properties, ease of fabrication, and low-cost make it the optimal selection for this industry. Its ability to handle abrasion, impact, corrosive cleaning solutions, and wet environments enables UHMW to stand up to extensive wear and tear. Additionally, its dampening properties reduce conveyor noise and vibration. Made in large sheets for big or long parts, UHMW machines easily and can be extruded into complex profiles with thick or thin cross-sections. All these attributes make UHMW a great option for machine builders and maintenance personnel that are concerned with price, extending the life of initial installations, and repairs.
Slippery Plastic Smackdown!
Slideways frequently fields quote requests for parts made of Teflon™, the brand name for PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). Once learning more about the application, we usually determine a UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) part is needed. Teflon has a place in packaging machinery, but it is not the go-to material until some specific operating conditions are met.
Ultra-High Molecular Weight (UHMW) is the highest quality polyethylene (PE) available, engineered for extreme performance and a wide range of applications. Because UHMW plastics resist so many different kinds of abuse we use it for machining plastic components and chain guides destined for high-wear operations such as commercial and industrial conveyor systems.
Virtually every manufacturing and distribution operation utilizes conveyor systems to move parts and finished products from one location to another and from one process to the next. Regardless of the products being conveyed or the processes with which the conveyor system interacts, all conveyor systems have the same basic components: belts, rollers, guides, bearings, and drives, to name a few. These are the components that provide the power and motion that enable the conveyor system to function.
Improved productivity is the focus of every manufacturer as Lean manufacturing strategies continue to gain popularity. Companies are constantly looking to minimize downtime, maximize operational efficiencies, and reduce costs. What some manufacturers fail to understand, though, is that productivity can only be as good as your equipment.
Plastics have long been identified as some of the safest and most efficient materials for a variety of uses in the food industry. Plastic sprockets are a fundamental part of any food industry conveyor system and processing machinery because their physical properties including wear resistance, wide operating temperature ranges, and superior tensile strength offer a number of crucial benefits. Plastic sprockets combine light weight, durability, and easy cleaning to provide food handling equipment manufacturers with a durable, reliable, and versatile component for a variety of food preparation and transportation systems.
Plastic compounds come in a staggering array of formulations and materials for a wide range of industries, applications, and products. Selecting the right plastic material that offers excellent heat resistant properties is critical for any application in which thermal properties can be adversely affected by the environment.
Companies and processing plants looking for have come to rely upon Slideways for a wide range of plastic components including:
