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.
UHMW is difficult to pick out in a pile of HDPE plastics, but it is a totally different thermoplastic.
Virtually every manufacturing and distribution operation uses 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.
A proprietary, new high-performance ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene compound incorporates solid lubricants to offer a lower coefficient of friction. This significantly improved chain and belt performance in a wide range of conveyors and other material processing systems.
Introducing BluLub: The High-Performance Dry Lubricant Polyethylene
Metal detectable ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene is an ideal solution for rugged, wear-resistant moving components used in food processing, bottling and canning, packaging, pharmaceutical manufacturing—any system in which it’s critical to detect and prevent potential contamination threats that pose serious liability risks.
In this article, we'll show you what they are and how they work, plus features that make them unique and the benefits of using them.
But first...
Demanding manufacturing processes faced with extreme environmental or stringent liability challenges need conveyor systems that can meet lofty standards of performance and reliability.
If you’re a discrete or process manufacturer operating in a tough production environment, high-performance plastic conveyor components can upgrade your conveyor systems to top efficiency.
If you need conveyor chain and belt tracks, Slideways has been the leader in heavy-duty, high-reliability material handling system components for over two decades.
You'll find it interesting to know that our conveyor chain and belt tracks are found anywhere reliable, heavy-duty, pong-wearing material handling systems are found. Some examples are bottling plants, food processing facilities, and major distributor centers.
