If you are thinking about upgrading your conveyor system, you have a wide range of choices for belts, drive systems, and you can choose PVC or metal rollers. Both materials have their good points, but which one is best? Here is important information from your roller specialists at Conveyor Systems & Engineering to aid your decision.
Metal
When it comes to metal, you can choose steel or stainless steel. Steel is very strong, durable, and long-lasting. If corrosion is an issue, you can choose galvanized metal rollers for conveyor systems. However, in some cases, you may want to go with stainless steel, especially if you have sanitation standards to consider.
Steel is a good choice if your conveyor system gets put through a lot of stress or needs to move heavy materials. Steel does not bend or fracture under weight and is a good choice for systems where friction is an issue. In some cases, plastic may crack or get affected by heat from friction.
PVC
PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride. It is an excellent choice for places where corrosion is an issue. For instance, PVC is impervious to moisture and can withstand the wettest of conditions. It cannot rust or corrode. On the other hand, stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion, but with PVC you get corrosion protection with these added benefits:
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Lightweight – much lighter than steel. If weight is important PVC is the better choice.
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Cost-effective – stainless steel is expensive to produce.
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Non-corrosive
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Machining – PVC is easy to machine. Stainless steel is sometimes difficult to work with as it can work harden.
Which is the Better Choice?
Plastic and metal rollers offer many benefits to the industry today. Talk to your roller supplier about your specific needs. They provide expert advice based on years of experience. They also offer custom rollers for special applications.
