Materials such as nylon, acetal, high density polyethylene (HDPE), PTFE (Teflon), polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and polyurethane are chosen for specific conditions. These conditions include chemical resistance, wear resistance, load bearing, capacity, ease of machining, working temperature, electrical insulation, sliding properties and cost.
These engineering plastics have replaced many traditional materials such as steel, timber and bronze in applications where weight reduction, material corrosion, rotting of timber and replacement costs are influencing factors.
Allplastics Engineering can provide solutions to most challenges faced in industries such as packaging machinery, materials handling, mining and safety compliance.
Products to suit numerous applications
One product that Allplastics Engineering offers for a versatile solution to manufacturing needs is ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This material is ideal for manufacturing wear-resistant parts and components for use in diverse industries. UHMWPE offers wear resistant and sliding properties that make it an ideal choice for many industries such as material handling, food, mining, transport and marine among others.
Allplastics Engineering also offers a specialised service, fabricating components for industry from UHMWPE using their in-house precision computer numerical control (CNC) routing facilities. The company recently manufactured a large 60mm thick component for the mining industry on its CNC router, later welding the large components to produce the final design.
Known for excellent toughness and good sliding properties, UHMWPE is a lightweight material offering resistance to diluted acids, cleaning agents and numerous solvents. The material also provides benefits such as good abrasion resistance, superior electrical insulation, and low water absorption.
The material is ideal for creating chemical apparatus, chopping boards, conveyor parts, cryogenic parts, food processing equipment, liners, and wear strips. UHMWPE sheets are available in 2000x1000mm and 3000x1000mm sizes, a thickness range of 5-100mm, and a choice of natural, black and green colours.
Custom made clear machine guards
Giving customers a range of products to suit their needs also means giving them the best options when it comes to safety. Allplastics Engineering emphasises that employee safety is paramount in the workplace.
Allplastics Engineering can provide, cut, fabricate and CNC route a range of clear polycarbonate brands including Lexan, Makrolon, Palram, Safeguard. These are applicable to a variety of industries such as food and beverage, material handling, mining, packaging and pharmaceuticals where operators need to see through the guards, but should not risk their fingers and hands. The clear polycarbonate materials are also valuable on assembly lines where workplace health and safety regulations require processes or machinery to be guarded for the safety of workers.
Polycarbonate is 250 times the strength of normal glass and half the weight of if it. Available from 1mm to 12.7mm thick, polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable and covered by a warranty from the manufacturer. This makes it the preferred choice of engineers when designing guards for machinery.
In applications where the guards are constantly being cleaned and are subjected to constant wear, Allplastics Engineering provides Mar resistant grade polycarbonate, which has a special coating on both sides of the clear polycarbonate to minimise guards and barriers being easily damaged or marked. Brands such as Lexan MR10 and Makrolon AR2 are available in thicknesses ranging from 3mm to 12.7mm.
For situations such as curved lathe guards or surrounds Allplastics Engineering can supply thin gauge polycarbonate, which can be cold bent and secured by a frame. In addition to clear polycarbonate guards, the company can also fabricate opal polycarbonate where visibility is more important than clarity or yellow high-density polyethylene for even higher visibility.
Allplastics Engineering is a QAS International ISO 9001:2015 registered company.