Materials · Industrial plastics
UHMW machining
Custom UHMW parts CNC machined to your drawing or sample: guides, wear strips, star wheels, scrapers and more. Machined in our Aurora, Illinois shop.
UHMW at a glance
- Full name
- Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene
- Also called
- UHMW-PE, UHMWPE
- Known for
- Abrasion and impact resistance, low friction
- In water
- Absorbs almost no water
- Grades
- Virgin, reprocessed, food-contact, detectable and more
Parts in UHMW
UHMW parts we machine
The parts we see most often in UHMW, and why it suits each job. We machine any UHMW part to your drawing or sample, listed here or not.
- UHMW guides photo
UHMW guides
Low friction and abrasion resistance for conveyor guides and wear strips.
- Star wheels photo
Star wheels
Takes container impact and washdown on filling and capping lines.
- Turn blocks photo
Turn blocks
Carries chain and containers around curves with low wear.
- Scrapers photo
Scrapers
Wears in against the surface it cleans instead of scoring it.
- Bumpers photo
Bumpers
Absorbs repeated knocks without cracking.
- Dividers photo
Dividers
A slick, durable face that keeps product moving in its lane.
- Rollers photo
Rollers
Light, quiet and unaffected by wet service.
- Sprockets photo
Sprockets
Runs quietly without lubrication on lighter-duty chain.
- Timing wheels photo
Timing wheels
Light and impact-resistant for spacing containers.
Need a different UHMW part? Send the drawing, or the old part, and we’ll quote it. Request a quote
Is UHMW right for the part?
Where UHMW works, and where another plastic may suit
General guidance on how UHMW behaves. If your drawing names UHMW, we machine to it. Compare UHMW and acetal
Where it works
- Abrasion
- Outwears most plastics, and many metals, in sliding and abrasive wear.
- Impact
- Very high impact strength, including in the cold.
- Low friction
- Slick and self-lubricating, so parts slide without grease.
- Wet service
- Absorbs almost no water, so it holds up in wet service and washdown.
- Chemicals
- Resists many acids, caustics and cleaning chemicals.
- Food lines
- Available in food-contact and metal-detectable grades.
Where another plastic may suit
| If the part needs | Often used instead |
|---|---|
| Stiffness under load UHMW is soft and flexible, and can deflect. | |
| Tight fits that stay put It expands readily with heat, so close fits can move. | |
| Steady load over time It creeps under constant load. | |
| Higher temperatures Its heat limit is modest next to high-performance plastics. |
Grades
UHMW grades
UHMW comes in several grades. Name the grade on your drawing, or tell us how the part runs and we’ll suggest one.
| Grade | Typically used for |
|---|---|
| Virgin UHMW | General wear parts. The most common choice. |
| Reprocessed UHMW | Lower-cost wear parts where color and purity don’t matter. |
| Food-contact grades | Parts that touch food. Compliance comes with the grade’s supplier documentation. |
| Metal-detectable | Food and pharmaceutical lines where stray fragments must be found. Detectable plastics |
| UV-stabilized | Parts used outdoors, in sunlight. |
| Anti-static | Where static build-up is a problem, such as with powders or electronics. |
| Lubricated and filled | Extra wear resistance or stiffness for demanding wear parts. |
Buyer questions
UHMW FAQs
Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.
All plastics we machineFood-contact grades of UHMW are widely used in food processing. Compliance comes with the specific grade and its supplier documentation, so tell us the requirement and we’ll suggest suitable grades.
Both are polyethylenes. UHMW has much longer molecular chains, which give it far better abrasion and impact resistance. HDPE is slightly stiffer and lower in cost, and works where wear is light.
Yes. Long guides and wear strips are some of the most common UHMW parts. Send the drawing and we’ll confirm the length with your quote.
Yes. We supply UHMW sheet and rod, cut to size when you need it, through our material supply service.