The logging and paper processing industries have been around for centuries and show no signs of slowing down. Thanks to constant innovation, these industries have established effective operations to help increase productivity and reduce inefficiencies in their fields. It’s no secret that the equipment needed to operate in these areas require materials that can withstand harsh environments, and thanks to advancements in performance plastics, our products are up to the task. As logging and paper processing continues to evolve, performance plastics will keep providing them with the reliability they need to operate their heavy duty industrial or mechanical applications.
Benefits of Performance Plastics
Traditionally, many logging and paper processing sites relied on metallic materials and parts to run their machines and equipment. However, performance plastics have shown over time why they should be chosen as the successor for metal parts moving forward. Engineered plastics are proven to last longer, perform better, and even decrease down time and maintenance costs when compared to metal. In addition, these plastics are known for their exceptional stiffness, strength, durability, lubricity, and low moisture resistance.
These characteristics are just a few reasons why performance plastics should be considered for the logging and paper processing industry. Although change can sometimes be difficult, the next time you experience an issue with your existing metallic parts, we encourage you to consider trying mechanical plastic alternatives. Furthermore, our industrial market specialists are always ready to help customers find the best solutions for their application needs.
Common Products
There are numerous performance plastic options to use in logging and paper processing applications, and it’s important to consider the unique benefits of each material. Some of our more common products for these industries include:
Acetal
Acetal combines stiffness and strength with durability and lubricity to provide a thinner, lighter, and more flexible design than leading market products. Acetal is easily manufactured for a variety of industrial applications, and its physical properties remain constant in every environment, resulting in an ideally suited and stable product for close tolerance mechanical parts and electrical insulators.
UHMW
UHMW is a versatile material with superior impact-resistance, chemical resistance, and durability. It’s extremely high molecular weight ranges from 3.1 million to 100 million grams per mole, making it extremely resistant to abrasion and moisture absorption. In addition, virgin UHMW is FDA and USDA compliant and very easy to machine.
Nylon
Nylon is one of the most common general-purpose products in the engineering plastics family. Nylon’s toughness, resistance to wear and tensile strength make it ideal for a wide variety of machined parts. It is available in nylon 6/6 rod and sheet in a natural light tan color. The most common size range for extruded nylon 6/6 is .125″ – 4.0″ diameter rod, and .125″ – 4.0″ thick sheet.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a transparent material that is often used for protection thanks to its impact resistance, dielectric properties, flame-retardance, and insulation characteristics. Polycarbonate is 30 times stronger than acrylic, and over 200 times stronger and six times lighter than glass. Polycarbonate sheet is also a superior insulator to glass, and installation can result in lower energy costs.
Common Applications
- Conveyor Systems
- Outrigger Pads
- Bearings and Bushings
- Seals and Gaskets
- Star Wheels
- Thrust Washers
- Valve Seats
- Machine Guards
- Wire Harness Fixtures
Contact Us
At Piedmont Plastics, we offer a wide variety of performance plastic materials, solutions, and accessories for your applications. Contact us to inquire about our various solutions or call us today to speak with a plastics expert!