Plastic Products for Manufacturing Applications
Products for Productivity, Uptime, & Reliability
About Manufacturing Industry Plastics
There are many benefits to using performance plastics in manufacturing environments. Maintenance, repairs, and operations can make up a significant portion of a company’s spending. Replacing metal parts with longer-lasting plastic parts can decrease those costs, while increasing mean time between repairs (MTBR) and producing less waste. Plastic parts can also extend the life of mating metal parts, such as steel cables, due to their superior wear resistance. Most performance plastics offer excellent chemical and corrosion resistance, which means they won’t rust or corrode even if subjected to frequent cleanings. Many plastics require little or no external lubrication, resulting in cost and time savings.
Increase Productivity & Decrease Costs with Strong & Reliable Plastic Solutions
Because plastic parts are significantly lighter than those made from traditional alternatives like metal and glass, they help equipment run faster while consuming less fuel, allowing you to increase your manufacturing output while decreasing costs and shrinking your carbon footprint. Plastic-on-metal mated parts are much quieter than metal-on-metal parts, which improves the working environment on the manufacturing floor. Performance plastics have also been engineered to solve common manufacturing challenges and to comply with regulatory requirements and industry specific needs and specifications. Most plastics used in manufacturing are also recyclable.
Polymershapes Offers Specialized Products to Optimize Your Manufacturing Output
Polymershapes has a team of material experts ready to discuss how performance plastics can make your manufacturing operation more efficient and benefit your customers as well. We stock a wide selection of the plastics most commonly used in manufacturing, including acetal, nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), and polycarbonate (PC). We also offer many specialized products from industry leaders such as Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC, and SIMONA and can even offer fabrication support. Contact us today to discuss how Polymershapes can support your manufacturing growth and efficiency.
Polymershapes Offers Specialized Products to Optimize Your Manufacturing Output
Polymershapes has a team of material experts ready to discuss how performance plastics can make your manufacturing operation more efficient and benefit your customers as well. We stock a wide selection of the plastics most commonly used in manufacturing, including acetal, nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), and polycarbonate (PC). We also offer many specialized products from industry leaders such as Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC, and SIMONA and can even offer fabrication support. Contact us today to discuss how Polymershapes can support your manufacturing growth and efficiency.
Features & Benefits
High Wear Resistance
•Lightweight
•Self-lubricating
•Noise Reduction
•Corrosion Resistant
•Impact Resistant
•Easy to Machine
•Compliant Materials
•Electrically Insulated
High Wear Resistance
Withstands abrasion and repeated use, leading to longer part life and reduced downtime.
Lightweight
Increases equipment output and lowers energy consumption.
Self-lubricating
Eliminates the need for grease or oil, reducing mess and maintenance.
Noise Reduction
Operates more quietly than metal, improving the work environment.
Corrosion Resistant
Resists damage from moisture, chemicals, and cleaning agents.
Impact Resistant
Maintains structural integrity under load and during mechanical stress.
Easy to Machine
Simplifies manufacturing processes, saving time and labor.
Compliant Materials
Available in grades that meet FDA, USDA, and other industry standards.
Electrically Insulated
Protects sensitive equipment by resisting electrical conductivity.
Applications
Bearings & Bushings
Plastics bearings are lightweight yet strong, corrosion and chemical resistant, and quieter than metals. Acetal and nylon are cost-effective choices for most bushing applications, while polyetheretherketone (PEEK) can hold up under extreme wear or high temperatures.
Dunnage
The automotive industry commonly uses HDPE and corrugated polypropylene as dunnage because they are cost-effective materials available in custom sizes with protective, abrasion resistant surfaces. Recycled grades are available to support sustainability. HDPE is easy to recycle at the end of its lifecycle.
Electrical Housings & Enclosures
Certain plastics have insulating properties that can safely protect electrical components. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a flame-retardant plastic used in many electrical applications. For more heavy-duty enclosures, polycarbonate offers increased impact resistance and virtually unbreakable strength.
Gaskets & Seals
Acetal has good wear properties and the stiffness and strength needed for many simple seals, while PEEK is best for applications that encounter high temperatures or extreme chemicals.
Machine Guards & Safety Shields
See-through machine guards made of LEXAN™ 9034 polycarbonate can improve safety on the manufacturing floor by creating safety barriers that prevent operators from touching dangerous machinery without hindering their visibility. Polycarbonate is optically clear and virtually unbreakable. It’s also flame retardant and temperature resistant. This makes it perfect for all types of safety shields, including PPO like face shields.
Pulleys & Sheaves
Nylon and acetal are significantly lighter than metal and don’t require as much lubrication when used in pulley applications, which leads to long-lasting, quieter performance. Plastic pulleys can even increase the lifespan of steel cables. For rope sheaves, cast nylon is an excellent choice because it performs well in high tension applications.
Rollers
Both nylon and UHMW-PE are excellent choices for conveyor rollers which are lighter than their metal alternatives and offer superior corrosion resistance.
Sprockets & Gears
The narrow teeth on sprockets and gears must remain intact, even under constant pressure, to prevent machine failure. To improve your MTBR, choose acetal or nylon, which offer incredible dimensional stability even under pressure or heat.
Star Wheels
When selecting a plastic for your star wheels, UHMW-PE offers low friction and excellent wear properties, while acetal or nylon offer additional stiffness and strength.
Structural Parts
HDPE is a cost-effective solution for structural parts that offers good impact and abrasion resistance. UHMW-PE is often used when higher performance and wear properties are needed. For structural applications that demand extreme performance or involve high temperatures, polyetherimide (PEI) provides strength and dimensional stability.
Tooling & Prototyping
Depending on a part’s purpose, several plastics may be used for tooling and prototyping. Polycarbonate is common for see-through parts because of its strength and impact resistance. If a part might encounter chemicals, polypropylene’s chemical and corrosion resistance makes it the preferred polymer. For bearing and wear parts, nylon’s strong mechanical properties make it an excellent choice. HDU board is often a popular option for tooling and tool making applications for its excellent machining properties, and dimensional stability.
Wear Pads & Strips
For long-lasting wear pads and strips, UHMW-PE’s excellent abrasion resistance and low coefficient of friction will help increase your MTBR.
Products for Manufacturing Applications
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