Harwood Rubber Products Overview
Explore Harwood Rubber Products in our latest video! Dive into our range of services, see how our custom solutions are designed for your specific needs, and discover our dedication to precision and customer collaboration. Watch now to see how we can make a difference in your operations.
Full Video Transcript:
“Since 1965, Harwood Rubber Products has been at the forefront of manufacturing high-quality industrial rubber rollers and a variety of custom coated and molded rubber products.
Our services include a variety of repair processes including roller recovering and regrinding to keep your operations running smoothly. Where repairs aren’t possible, we’re able to completely replace your roller.
Our capable team serves over 20 different industries and always recommends the right rubber material for each customer’s specific application. We even formulate custom rubber compounds when necessary.
To minimize your down time, we work quickly and efficiently, offering both pickup and delivery services as needed.
With 60 years of expertise, we ensure every product performs reliably, focusing on quality, consistency and durability.
While some may compromise, our pursuit to earn and keep your confidence drives our every interaction. Contact us today to experience service that keeps your business moving seamlessly.”
The Evolution of Rubber Roller Coatings: From Natural Rubber to Synthetic Polymers
Rubber rollers are popular in various industries, serving critical functions in manufacturing, printing, packaging, and more. Over time, the materials used for coating these rollers have evolved significantly, driven by technological advancements and the need for improved performance. In this article, we’ll delve into the fascinating journey of rubber roller coatings, tracing their evolution from natural rubber to the wide array of synthetic polymers available today.
- Natural Rubber: The Early Days Natural rubber, derived from the latex sap of rubber trees, was the primary material used for coating industrial rollers in the early days of manufacturing. While natural rubber exhibited decent resilience and elasticity, it had limitations such as susceptibility to abrasion, chemical degradation, and temperature extremes. Despite these drawbacks, natural rubber rollers were widely used due to the limited availability of alternative materials.
- The Advent of Synthetic Polymers The mid-20th century marked a significant turning point with the introduction of synthetic polymers. These man-made materials offered superior properties compared to natural rubber, paving the way for a revolution in rubber roller coatings. One of the earliest synthetic polymers used for roller coatings was neoprene, renowned for its excellent resistance to abrasion, oils, and chemicals. Neoprene-coated rollers quickly gained popularity in various industrial applications, offering enhanced durability and longevity.
- Silicones: Precision and Performance Silicones emerged as another game-changer in the realm of rubber roller coatings. These synthetic polymers exhibit remarkable heat resistance, low friction, and non-stick properties, making them ideal for specialized applications such as high-temperature printing and food processing. Silicones also boast exceptional release characteristics, preventing adhesion of sticky substances to the roller surface and ensuring smooth operation across diverse manufacturing processes.
- Polyurethanes: Versatility Redefined Polyurethane coatings have become synonymous with versatility and performance in the realm of industrial rubber rollers. With their exceptional wear resistance, tear strength, and resilience, polyurethane-coated rollers excel in demanding environments where abrasion and impact are prevalent. Moreover, polyurethanes offer customization options in terms of hardness, durometer, and surface finish, allowing manufacturers to tailor roller coatings according to specific application requirements.
The evolution of rubber roller coatings from natural rubber to synthetic polymers represents a journey of innovation and advancement. Each milestone in material development has brought forth coatings with superior properties, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher efficiency, precision, and reliability in their operations. As industries continue to evolve, so too will the materials used for rubber roller coatings, driving further enhancements in performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Harwood Rubber Products is proud to stay in the forefront of rubber roller material performance; doing so has been a part of our DNA for 60 years. Our expert staff has developed countless custom compounds to match our customers’ unique applications. The below material chart gives a general overview of the types of materials we’ve used in the past but is not an exhaustive list. It is always worth a discussion with one of our team members to learn more about your unique application and how we can meet your needs with our offerings.
Contact us today to see how Harwood Rubber Products can help!
How Proper Rubber Roller Repair Reduces Equipment Downtime
There’s no shortage of ways to describe the treatment of rubber rollers to help ensure optimal performance. Whether you think in terms of reconditioning, regrinding, recovering, recoating, or repairing, the key takeaway is you rely on the rollers in your equipment running smoothly to keep your business moving, and sometimes they need a little attention. To keep your rollers in good shape, you need high quality rollers to begin with and reliable routine maintenance.
It goes without saying why you’d want to invest in high quality rollers for your equipment. But perhaps less obvious, or easier to forget, is the routine maintenance. The last thing you want to do is let maintenance slip and find yourself in a situation with unforeseen, frustrating delays or costly downtime because a worn or broken roller is stopping your production line.
Worn or Broken Rollers Are Costly
We’re not just talking about the cost to repair or replace worn or broken rollers either, though that in and of itself can be quite the expense. Often, the bigger cost comes with the unexpected downtime resulting from a worn or broken rubber roller. To put it simply, without proper functioning rubber rollers, your equipment can’t run. And when your equipment can’t run, neither can your production line. All it takes is one failing roller to bring operations to a halt. The ripple effects can be catastrophic if you aren’t able to address the situation swiftly.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. The good news is, there are reputable companies, like Harwood Rubber Products, that can help you avoid these disastrous outcomes.
Extend the Life of Your Rubber Rollers with Harwood Rubber Products
No matter what you call it – roller reconditioning, regrinding, recovering, recoating, or repairing – Harwood Rubber Products can help. These treatments help refurbish rollers to like-new condition, and where repairs aren’t possible, our team can replace your rollers to restore your operations, minimizing those annoying and costly delays.
The primary benefits of working with Harwood Rubber Products for your roller servicing needs are:
- Same-day regrinding service: This offering minimizes downtime to get you back up and running as quickly as we can.
- Custom rubber formulations and roller designs: No matter what your unique application is, our team of experts can produce exactly what you need.
- Unrivaled customer service: Our team responds quickly and gets the job done right the first time.
- Pickup and delivery services: We offer both because we know everyone’s needs will look a little different. We’re equipped to get your rollers to you in the most efficient way possible because we’re just as invested in minimizing your business’s downtime as you are.
These are the benefits that keep our customers coming back to us time and time again. For 60 years, we’ve been proud to partner with customers across more than 20 different industries servicing all their rubber roller needs. When you choose Harwood, you choose a long-term partner who cares just as much about the success of your business as you do. Let us show you the difference – contact us today to learn more about our offerings!