---
title: "Polyurethane Lining for Elevator Equipment: A Complete Guide for Engineers"
description: "Discover everything about polyurethane lining for elevators: properties, advantages, comparisons with rubber and steel, installation, and ordering from TIMOL."
lang: "en"
date: "2026-11-08"
canonical_url: "https://timol.com.ua/en/statti/vse-pro-poliuretanove-futeruvannya-elevatornoho-obladnannya"
---
# Polyurethane Lining for Elevator Equipment: A Complete Guide for Engineers

Every chief mechanic is familiar with the situation when the lining of elevator buckets or chutes wears out within a few months, leading to downtime and losses. Switching to polyurethane lining significantly extends the protection lifespan and reduces failures. This article explains why polyurethane is optimal for elevator equipment, its properties, how to select the correct hardness, organize installation, and what to consider when ordering custom designs.

## What is Polyurethane Lining for Elevator Equipment?
Polyurethane lining is a protective coating or inserts made from cast polyurethane, installed in areas of intense abrasive and impact wear in elevator components. It is commonly used in bucket elevators, chutes, trays, scrapers, wheels, and rollers, as well as in gravity flow equipment. Thanks to free casting technology, polyurethane parts can replicate the complex geometry of any components, from straight plates to inserts with mounting holes and stiffeners.

Lining protects metal and plastic surfaces from abrasion, chipping, and corrosion caused by grain, sand, gravel, or other aggressive materials. A typical component is a bucket elevator, where polyurethane plates are glued or attached to the bottom and side walls to absorb grain impact during loading.

## Why is Polyurethane More Effective than Rubber and Steel in Elevator Lining?
Polyurethane provides 10 times higher wear resistance compared to standard rubber, as confirmed by abrasion tests (DIN 53516: 20-45 mm3 for polyurethane versus 100-200 mm3 for SBR rubber). Rubber quickly wears under grain and abrasive flows, while steel, although strong, does not dampen vibrations or absorb impacts and is prone to local chipping due to excessive rigidity.

The main advantage of polyurethane is its elasticity in the hardness range of 80-95 Shore A. This allows the material to 'work on rebound': abrasive particles bounce off rather than cut into it, reducing wear depth. Steel lining is characterized by high local wear and transmits impact loads to the elevator frame, accelerating metal fatigue and requiring frequent repairs.

## Key Properties of Polyurethane Lining for Elevator Equipment
TIMOL's polyurethane lining operates in a temperature range from -60 to +100 °C, allowing its use in elevators in any climate and season. Abrasion according to DIN 53516 is only 20-45 mm3, while rubber is 3-5 times worse, and steel is even worse in terms of impact absorption. The tensile strength of polyurethane is 25-60 MPa, and rebound elasticity is 35-65%, ensuring tear resistance even under dynamic loads.

The thickness and hardness of the lining are always selected for a specific component. For buckets, chutes, and scrapers, the optimal range is 80-95 Shore A, ensuring a balance between abrasion resistance and elasticity. For sealing elements (gaskets, rings), slightly softer grades, 70-90 Shore A, are used for better sealing while maintaining durability.

## Comparison of Polyurethane with Rubber, Steel, and Caprolon
The actual choice of material for lining elevator components is based on specific operational parameters. The table below compares the main characteristics of TIMOL polyurethane with common competitors (SBR rubber, carbon steel, caprolon):

| Property | Polyurethane (TIMOL) | SBR Rubber | Carbon Steel | Caprolon (PA6/66) |
|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
| Abrasion (DIN 53516), mm3 | 20-45 | 100-200 | - | 30-90 |
| Operating Temperature, °C | -60...+100 | -40...80 | -40...500 | -40...100 |
| Density, g/cm3 | 1.05-1.25 | 0.94-1.1 | 7.7-7.9 | 1.13-1.15 |
| Tensile Strength, MPa | 25-60 | 8-20 | 370-700 | 60-85 |
| Hardness | 50 Shore A - 70 Shore D | 40A - 80A | 120 HB - 250 HB | 75D - 85D |
| Rebound Elasticity, % | 35-65 | 30-55 | - | 5-15 |
| Wear Resistance (relative to rubber) | 10 times higher | 1 (baseline) | - | - |

Polyurethane abrasion is 20-45 mm3, which is 2-5 times better than plastics and rubber. While steel has high strength, it does not protect the component from impact load transmission, does not dampen noise, and does not cushion particles. Caprolon is rigid but brittle under impacts and not suited for abrasive work in elevator transport components.

> **Engineer’s Tip:** For lining buckets, chutes, and scrapers of elevator equipment, the best choice is polyurethane with a hardness of 80-95 Shore A. This resilient yet firm grade best absorbs impact and resists abrasion. Before pouring polyurethane, the metal surface should be thoroughly degreased and sandblasted for quality adhesion.

## Where is Polyurethane Lining Used in Elevators?
The application of polyurethane lining covers all components subjected to abrasive, impact, or frictional wear. The most typical installation areas are:

- Bucket elevators: lining the bottom and walls protects against abrasion by grain, sand, granules.
- Chutes, trays, discharge pipes: inserts or overlays prevent metal or plastic wear.
- Scrapers, wheels, and rollers: the polyurethane surface ensures wear resistance and dampens noise.
- Gravity flow equipment: lining minimizes product sticking, ensures smooth transportation.

Thanks to polyurethane's properties, it is used not only in grain and feed elevators but also in conveyors for sand, granules, fertilizers, and other bulk products. For each component, TIMOL selects the optimal shape, thickness, and hardness, considering flow speed, temperature, and raw material type. Learn more about solutions for agriculture in the [agriculture section](/galuzi/selskoe_hozyaystvo).

## Manufacturing Technology and Selection of Polyurethane Lining for Components
The production of polyurethane parts for lining is carried out by free casting: this allows not only simple plates but also complex inserts with holes, grooves, and mounting nests to be reproduced. To order, you need to provide a drawing, sketch, or sample of the part to be protected.

The selection of hardness and thickness depends on the type of load: for intense abrasive and impact loads (bucket loading zone, scraper components), a harder grade closer to 95 Shore A is used. For parts where elasticity is important (seals, gaskets), polyurethane 70-90 Shore A is chosen. The thickness of the lining is recommended by the technologist, based on the thickness of the component's metal, dimensions, and operating mode.

Free casting ensures perfect fit on metal, precise dimension replication, and high-quality adhesive layer. In complex components, mechanical and adhesive fastening can be combined for maximum reliability.

## Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of Polyurethane Lining
Polyurethane linings are installed using two main methods: mechanical (bolts, washers, grooves) and adhesive (gluing to a cleaned surface). For areas with high dynamic loads, combined fastening is recommended, increasing reliability and simplifying the replacement of worn inserts.

Polyurethane inserts are easy to maintain: periodic visual inspection for wear or mechanical damage is sufficient. In case of localized wear, individual plates can be quickly replaced without dismantling the entire component. This repairability is especially valuable for elevator conveyors operating seasonally or year-round without long downtimes.

Thanks to polyurethane's high wear resistance (10 times more than rubber), the replacement frequency of linings is significantly lower than rubber or steel counterparts. This reduces maintenance costs and allows for repair planning during the off-season.

## Economics and Efficiency of Polyurethane Lining
Choosing polyurethane lining for elevator equipment provides not only technical but also economic advantages. The extended lifespan reduces replacement costs, downtimes, and emergency repairs. With proper surface preparation and installation, polyurethane lining lasts several seasons even in the most aggressive environments.

An additional benefit is the reduction of noise and vibration, which is important for elevators located near residential or administrative buildings. The reduced weight of protective inserts compared to steel parts simplifies installation and does not overload the component.

Thanks to free casting technology, not only can a new insert be manufactured, but a worn part can also be restored using a provided sample. This shortens repair times and simplifies spare parts logistics, allowing for effective recycling of old components.

## How to Order Polyurethane Lining to Fit Component Size and Specifications?
TIMOL manufactures polyurethane linings according to the customer's drawing, sketch, or sample. Free casting technology allows for precise reproduction of complex geometry, including holes, stiffeners, and mounting nests. To order, simply provide a drawing or old part: engineers will help select the optimal hardness, thickness, and fastening type.

For standard components, you can choose ready-made products from the [polyurethane products catalog](/katalog): bucket elevators, scrapers, polyurethane plates and sheets, guides, and gravity flow equipment parts. All products undergo quality control and are tested under working loads. If needed, the factory can arrange a technologist consultation on-site or remotely select a solution for your task.

## Conclusion: Why Choose Polyurethane Lining from TIMOL
Polyurethane lining is a modern and reliable way to extend the lifespan of elevator equipment, reduce failures, and improve operational economics. Thanks to unique physical and mechanical properties and the ability to manufacture parts of any shape, TIMOL polyurethane surpasses rubber and steel in wear resistance, impact resistance, and repairability. Contact TIMOL for consultation, drawing-based calculations, or selecting a ready-made solution ([ordering contacts](/contacts)).