Did your production line stop again last year due to a cracked rubber scraper or a worn bucket cup? Or perhaps a metal bushing failed before the quarter ended? In such cases, polyurethane consistently delivers a longer service life and resolves the problem of excessive downtime. This article examines how Ukraine’s largest industrial exhibition serves as a platform for finding optimal materials for wear assemblies, and how TIMOL polyurethane outperforms traditional solutions.
What Ukraine’s Largest Exhibition Is and Why It Matters for Engineers
Ukraine’s largest industrial exhibition is the meeting point for suppliers of modern materials, equipment, and technologies for industry. Visitors not only see products in operation but also compare their specifications, receive consultations, and select solutions for their specific assemblies.
For engineers and process technologists, such exhibitions are where you can visually evaluate the advantages of polyurethane parts over steel or rubber, learn about new types of sheets and plates, and order parts to size or drawing. People come here to solve a specific problem of excessive wear, select lining material at the right hardness, or test a new scraper on a mining conveyor.
Which Materials for Wear Parts Are Presented: A Brief Comparison
At exhibitions, a wide range of materials is always available, from classical rubber to modern cast polyurethane. In terms of abrasion, TIMOL polyurethane has a clear advantage over rubber and kaprolon, and also surpasses steel in noise damping and elasticity.
Polyurethane bushings, scrapers, wheels, and linings last several times longer than rubber equivalents, and the operating temperature range from -60 to +100 °C allows use across virtually all industries, from metallurgy to food processing. The comparison table below shows the key characteristics.
| Material | Abrasion DIN 53516 | Working temp., °C | Hardness | Tensile strength | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane (TIMOL) | 38-39 mm³ | -60…+100 | 85A-95A | 39-87 MPa | 1.05-1.25 g/cm³ |
| Rubber NBR | 80-150 mm³ | -30…+100 | 40A-90A | 10-25 MPa | 1.0-1.3 g/cm³ |
| Rubber SBR | 100-200 mm³ | -40…+80 | 40A-80A | 8-20 MPa | 0.94-1.1 g/cm³ |
| Rubber EPDM | 80-180 mm³ | -50…+120 | 30A-90A | 7-20 MPa | 0.86-1.1 g/cm³ |
| Natural rubber | 60-130 mm³ | -50…+70 | 30A-80A | 20-30 MPa | 0.92-1.0 g/cm³ |
| Kaprolon PA6 | 30-90 mm³ | -40…+100 | 75D-85D | 60-85 MPa | 1.13-1.15 g/cm³ |
| Structural steel | — | -40…+500 | 120-250 HB | 370-700 MPa | 7.7-7.9 g/cm³ |
| Hardox steel | — | -40…+250 | 370-540 HB | 1250-1600 MPa | 7.8-7.85 g/cm³ |
Polyurethane abrasion of 38-39 mm³ means minimal wear even in the most aggressive assemblies, while SBR or EPDM rubber can lose up to 200 mm³ in the same DIN 53516 test. Kaprolon is inferior to polyurethane in flexibility and impact resistance; steel loses out in weight and noise.
How TIMOL Polyurethane Solves the Problem of Rapid Part Wear
Replacing rubber or steel parts with polyurethane substantially reduces equipment downtime due to emergency wear. TIMOL elastomer resists abrasion, operates across a wide temperature range, and does not crumble under impact loads the way kaprolon or rigid plastics do.
Assemblies with polyurethane scrapers, bucket cups, or seals demonstrate significantly longer intervals between overhauls. In mining, for example, polyurethane screens and vibrating-screen parts last many times longer even under abrasive dust conditions. For comparison: rubber loses up to 200 mm³ of material, while polyurethane loses only 38-39 mm³ in the same period.
Polyurethane parts are also corrosion-free, require no lubrication, and mount easily onto steel or aluminium bases. This reduces service frequency and lowers maintenance costs.
Which Products to Focus on at the Exhibition: Applied Solutions
It is worth looking closely at positions such as bucket cups, wheels, rollers, screens, bushings, as well as scrapers and lining plates. All these products are manufactured using the free-pour casting process, ensuring accuracy and geometric repeatability. Polyurethane scrapers for belt conveyors and concrete mixers suit aggressive media, while seals and rings provide tightness in hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
It is important to note that polyurethane is available in a range of hardnesses (50 Shore A to 70 Shore D), so the optimal balance between flexibility and wear resistance can be found for each assembly. All products can be manufactured to drawing or customer sample.
Engineer’s advice: If an assembly operates under heavy abrasive load or in an environment with temperature fluctuations, select polyurethane with hardness 65-85 Shore A and thickness no less than 8-10 mm for lining. Before installation, thoroughly clean and degrease the substrate for proper adhesion. Choosing the right hardness and thickness is the key to maximum service life.
How to Select the Optimal Material: Technical and Economic Arguments
When selecting material for wear parts, the price per kilogram is not the only consideration: service life, ease of installation, noise level, and replacement frequency all matter. TIMOL polyurethane is 2-5 times more wear-resistant than rubber, 6-7 times lighter than steel, does not crumble like kaprolon, and requires no complex maintenance.
The economic case for switching to polyurethane is clear wherever minimum downtime and freedom from wear-related failures are priorities. Polyurethane parts are most commonly installed by mechanical fastening or adhesive bonding to metal. When ordered to drawing, the factory manufactures the part in exact conformity with assembly dimensions, convenient for upgrading older designs.
More on manufacturing technology and polyurethane properties in the reference information section.
Conclusion: How to Benefit from the Exhibition and Order Parts for Your Needs
Ukraine’s largest industrial exhibition is not only a showcase for new products; it is a real opportunity to find a solution for a specific technical problem. If you are looking for parts with maximum service life for mining, metallurgical, or food processing industries, contact TIMOL factory for a consultation and calculation of a part for your assembly. Parts can be ordered to drawing or samples obtained through the factory contacts, or browse the polyurethane products catalogue.