Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Pennine Industrial Equipment | Subject: Machined plastic components
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 08 August 2003
Plastics oust metal components
Metal pulleys, sprockets, guides and scrapers in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries could be a thing of the past thanks to the innovative efforts of a West Yorkshire based firm.
Metal pulleys, sprockets, guides and scrapers in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries could be a thing of the past thanks to the innovative efforts of a West Yorkshire based firm Pennine Industrial Equipment is offering a range of machined replacement parts in a choice of different plastics including UHMW-PE plastic, which are both FDA and USDA approved
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 18 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Available in a massive choice of 40 different colours including food industry blue, the company is launching a marketing campaign to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, where knowledge of the latest developments in plastics is still hazy.
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However, a number of forward thinking companies have already taken up the Pennine challenge and the plastic has been installed at a number of UK plants and the company is now hoping to build on this success.
Some of the numerous applications the plastic has been used for include deboning plugs for the poultry Industry, meat and fish chopping blocks, bakery conveyor guides, wear parts for the textile industry, components used in the drinks and cosmetic industries.
The company's Sales Manager, Graham Womersley says: "Developments in the plastic industry mean that we can now supply machined components in a wide range of material grades.
These include oil impregnated polyethylene material for high-speed functions, antistatic components for applications prone to static build-up and special low wear plastics for high impact uses".
Pennine offers a complete range of custom machined components, with a large number of orders being designed using its in-house CAD/CAM facilities to the customers precise requirements.
Typical materials include UHMW-PE, HMW-PE, nylons, PTFE, acetal, PVC and oil impregnated polyethylene.
Plastic additives are also a growth area and in addition to lubrication oil, glass can also be added during manufacture to create a more abrasive surface.
Pennine can also supply material and parts that are neutron impregnable when required.
As part of the marketing initiative, Pennine is targeting three main areas of industry to inform them about the plastics.
These comprise end-user type companies, OEMs and those involved in the repair, refurbishment and servicing of equipment.
Products offered by Pennine are available in either a semi or fully finished format depending on the application, using its extensive on-site milling machines.
Summarising, Womersley comments: "Innovations in plastics means that they have the strength and durability of steel, which when coupled with better wear makes them an excellent replacement for worn-out metal components".
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