DeWal doubles capacity for UHMW-PE film for rubber industry

Saunderstown, Rhode Island - Reacting to widespread demand in the belting, hose and rubber profile industries, DeWAL has doubled its UHMW-PE film capacity. Based in rural Saunderstown, Rhode Island in the North-East United States, DeWal Industries, Inc., claims to offer the rubber industry the widest and thinnest UHMW polyethylene in the world.

The company offers widths to 185.4 cm (73 inches) and thicknesses down to 0.0508 mm (0.002 inches), DeWAL says it produces the most accurate UHMW-PE film in the world, with tolerances as close as 0.00508 mm (0.0002 inches).

This expansion was sparked by the belting industry, which wanted to manufacture six-foot wide belts with a continuous layer of UHMW film bonded in place,” said Warren DiClemente, who runs DeWAL's UHMW operations. Then rubber profile and hose manufacturers found our UHMW was a perfect material for internal and external wear and friction applications throughout their products.”

Chris Brooks, Director of Sales & Marketing for DeWAL said it offers both cost and weight savings, because it can be made so thin. Stack-ups can be thinner, lighter and less expensive to produce,” he said. Because the UHMW and the EPDM are both polyethylene-based, no special treatment is required for processing. The two materials simply bond together during the normal rubber vulcanization process. Hoses that would wear out from abrasion are lasting considerably longer because they now have a thin layer of UHMW on the outside. The superior abrasion resistance of the UHMW has almost eliminated the need for high cost abrasion resistant rubber compounds.

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