Straight rollers are a simple, yet effective, component of many conveyor systems, and they are typically subjected to a lot of wear and tear. As such, facilities need drive rollers they can count on to hold up over continual use and in tough environments. In some instances, not a lot of thought is given to these humble workhorses, which is why many facilities opt for inferior rollers made with cheap materials. This will end up costing more in the long run, though, as constant refurbishment and replacement will drain funds. Many companies avoid this problem by choosing polyurethane for their material handling and conveyor needs. Polyurethane is designed to withstand anything it faces, and this is in part because it can be customized greatly during the casting process.
How can polyurethane be used to overcome any challenges when creating straight rollers?
Loaders, conveyors, and pulleys will put a lot of pressure on drive components, so they need to be made from dependable, rugged material. Polyurethane is superior to metal and plastic in this regard, for several reasons. Some of them include:
- Better abrasion and impact resistance.
If controlling and transporting heavy loads is critical, then it’s important that the material exhibits resistance to physical damage. Metal has a tendency to crumple when struck, and develop scratches when rubbed against. Plastic has the same problem. Polyurethane is resilient enough to bounce back when struck and rejects abrasion.
- Excellent versatility in imparted physical properties.
Metals can’t be thoroughly customized when they are cast, and plastics are only slightly more flexible in this regard. Polyurethane, however, can be made from a huge collection of resins, curatives and additives, so it can be designed to be soft, hard, rigid or pliable. This allows MUI to match straight rollers to each client’s specific application. For example, vibration reduction is a major concern when operating conveyors, as vibration can damage conveyed material. Polyurethane can help reduce vibration if it is designed with a high bounce rate and high degree of hardness.
- An ability to withstand any environment.
Metals will rust and corrode, and plastics have problems when placed in colder environments. Polyurethane can handle any environment with ease, however, and will not rust or corrode. It comes with resistance to both low and high temperatures, and is so resistant to water that it is often used in underwater systems. Polyurethane rejects mold and mildew growth as well, so it functions superbly in humid settings. These are important considerations when placing material handlers in rugged environments.
- Economic production processes.
Compared to metal and plastic, polyurethane is less expensive to produce and takes less time to make. Also an important consideration as facilities often need enough straight rollers to outfit an entire material handling system, or at least large portions of it.
Polyurethane has proven to be the ultimate solution in material handling, and MUI can shape it to any specification or preference.