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Drive Wheels
Custom Urethane Drive Wheels
Universal Urethane Products (UUP) designs and manufactures urethane drive wheels engineered for high-load, continuous-duty service in material handling, automation, and heavy industrial systems. At the foundation of every wheel is a precision-cast polyurethane tread, formulated to combine exceptional abrasion resistance, controlled traction, and load-bearing capacity. When bonded to precision-machined steel, aluminum, or engineered polymer cores, UUP wheels deliver dimensional stability and service life that surpass conventional rubber or thermoplastic alternatives.
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Technical Design Features
Polyurethane Performance
UUP’s hot-cast polyurethane systems are optimized for mechanical endurance and environmental stability in demanding drive applications:
- High tensile and tear strength resists cutting, chunking, and tread delamination under torque.
- Low compression set preserves geometry and force transfer over extended duty cycles.
- Abrasion resistance up to 10× greater than rubber extends wear intervals.
- Chemical resistance against oils, greases, moisture, and solvents ensures reliability in aggressive environments.
Hardness and Traction Control
Wheels are available across a durometer range from Shore A 70 to Shore D 75, allowing tailored performance:
- Lower durometers deliver grip, noise reduction, and impact absorption in conveyors and AGVs.
Higher durometers maintain geometry and dimensional stability under heavy static and dynamic loads at elevated speeds.
Core Construction and Bond Integrity
Each wheel incorporates a precision-machined steel, aluminum, or engineered polymer core, selected for load, weight, and corrosion requirements. UUP’s proprietary hot-cast process forms a permanent chemical bond between tread and core, validated through destructive pull testing to eliminate delamination risk under sustained torque.
Precision Casting and Machining
Dimensional tolerances are tightly controlled during casting and machining, ensuring concentricity, balance, and surface finish. This precision minimizes vibration, improves torque transfer, and enables smooth performance in high-speed or continuous-duty systems.
Thermal and Environmental Stability
Standard urethane systems retain performance from –20 °F to +180 °F, with specialty chemistries available for wider operating ranges. All formulations resist hydrolysis, ozone, and UV degradation, making them reliable for both indoor automation and outdoor industrial use.
Performance Characteristics
- High Load Capacity: Sustains both static and dynamic forces without permanent deformation.
- Optimized Traction: Balanced formulations reduce slippage while maintaining efficient drive transfer.
- Extended Wear Life: Outperforms rubber and plastic in abrasion and chemical resistance.
- Noise and Vibration Reduction: Softer profiles absorb impact and dampen conveyor or AGV operation.
- High-Speed Capability: True balance and low-heat generation support elevated RPM drive systems.
Applications
- Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) & Robotics – Consistent traction and extended service cycles.
- Conveyor Drive & Idler Rollers – Non-marking, abrasion-resistant treads for dimensional reliability.
- Material Handling Equipment – Durable wheels designed for 24/7 operations.
- Packaging & Printing Systems – Precision urethane surfaces protect substrates and maintain throughput.
- OEM & Heavy Equipment – High-durometer profiles for sustained torque and load transfer.
Ordering and Availability
UUP urethane drive wheels are offered as:
- Standard configurations available in a range of durometers and core materials with lead times of 1–2 weeks.
- Custom-engineered wheels, with durometer, tread geometry, and core selection tailored to system requirements.
All wheels are cast and finished in-house at UUP’s U.S. manufacturing facility, ensuring strict quality control, traceability, and consistency across production. Engineering collaboration, prototype sampling, and OEM support are available to accelerate development and reduce lifecycle costs.
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