Conveyor Rolls

Red polyurethane conveyor roll with precision steel core manufactured by Universal Urethane Products for industrial material handling systems.

Urethane Conveyor Rolls

Engineered to ensure reliable transport and precise control in high-demand material handling systems, our conveyor rolls deliver exceptional performance across diverse industrial environments. Whether used in packaging, metal processing, or cleanroom handling, these rolls are built to perform under continuous load and varying conditions. Precision steel, stainless steel, or aluminum cores coated with high-performance polyurethane withstand dynamic loads up to 1,200 N per roller while resisting abrasion, moisture, and chemical exposure.

Universal Urethane manufactures high-performance urethane conveyor rolls engineered for precision, longevity, and repeatable performance in demanding industrial environments. These rollers are critical components in material handling systems where non-marking contact, load durability, and drive compatibility are essential. Whether you're transporting delicate surfaces, heavy components, or working in high-speed systems, our conveyor rolls are built to spec.

Core Construction

The structural integrity of any urethane conveyor roll begins with its core. This component bears the primary load and must maintain dimensional stability under operational stress. Core design impacts concentricity, balance, and resistance to bending or deflection, making material choice and machining precision critical for long-term reliability. Every urethane conveyor roller starts with a precision-machined core designed to meet structural load requirements, environmental exposures, and drive system compatibility.

  • Core Material Options:
    • Steel (for maximum strength and longevity)
    • Stainless Steel (ideal for corrosive or washdown environments)
    • Aluminum (lightweight applications where inertia must be minimized)
  • Wall Thickness & Diameter:
    • Optimized to reduce deflection under load
    • Available in custom diameters to integrate with existing conveyor frames
  • Core Machining Tolerances:
    • Precision-machined concentricity to support balanced rotation
    • Bearing journals finished to tolerance to support interference or slip-fit installs

Urethane Covering

The urethane covering is where performance meets application. This outer layer is responsible for contact with conveyed materials and must be tailored for surface protection, grip, chemical resistance, and wear. Selecting the proper durometer, thickness, and finish ensures the roller performs consistently in its intended environment. Polyurethane coatings are available in the 75–95 Shore A range. Harder coatings (90–95 Shore A) provide an optimal balance between impact absorption, structural integrity, and long-term durability, ensuring rollers absorb shocks while maintaining shape and performance under continuous, high-pressure use.

Our rollers are coated in high-performance polyurethane compounds selected for their durability, resilience, and surface performance. The urethane covering is where performance meets application. This outer layer is responsible for contact with conveyed materials and must be tailored for surface protection, grip, chemical resistance, and wear. Selecting the proper durometer, thickness, and finish ensures the roller performs consistently in its intended environment. Our rollers are coated in high-performance polyurethane compounds selected for their durability, resilience, and surface performance.

  • Durometer Range: 40A to 95A
    • Lower durometer (40A–60A): Provides grip, shock absorption, and vibration dampening
    • Higher durometer (85A–95A): Offers low rolling resistance, dimensional stability, and wear resistance
  • Cover Thickness: Ranges from 1/8" to 1"+ depending on load, speed, and cushioning needs
  • Surface Options:
    • Smooth: For low-friction material transfer
    • Crowned: To assist in material tracking and belt centering
    • Grooved or Knurled: For improved grip or drive functionality
    • Ground Finish: Tight runout tolerances for high-speed consistency and uniform surface contact
  • Additive Options:
    • Anti-static
    • UV-stabilized
    • FDA-compliant (food and pharmaceutical environments)
    • Hydrolysis-resistant for humid or wet conditions

Shaft and End Configurations

The roller shaft serves as the mechanical interface between the roller body and the drive or bearing system. Proper shaft design ensures accurate fitment, torque transmission, and integration with sprockets, pulleys, or bearings. Each application may call for unique end treatments or drive geometries. The shaft is engineered to interface seamlessly with your drive and support systems.

  • Materials: Cold-rolled steel, stainless steel, or specialty alloy
  • Shaft Diameter: Specified per load requirements and bearing compatibility
  • Journal Designs:
    • Keyed shafts for torque transfer
    • Threaded or tapped ends for mechanical fastening
    • Machined flats or custom geometry for driven components
  • Drive Integration:
    • Welded sprockets (ANSI #25, #40, #50, etc.)
    • Press-fit timing pulleys
    • Lagging or overcoats for drive rollers

Load, Speed, and Tolerancing

Performance in industrial systems depends on a roller’s ability to handle mechanical loads and rotational speeds without failure. Specifications such as total indicated runout (TIR), RPM capacity, and bonding strength are calculated based on material selection, design geometry, and application-specific requirements. Each conveyor roller is designed and validated against specific mechanical demands.

  • Static and Dynamic Load Ratings:
    • Determined by core material, shaft size, urethane hardness, and cover thickness
  • RPM Ratings:
    • Urethane formulation and bonding strength ensure integrity at high rotational speeds
  • Runout & Roundness (TIR):
    • Typically held to 0.005"–0.015"
    • Special precision grinding available for critical tolerance applications
  • Bonding Method:
    • Chemically bonded with primer system and heat-cured urethane
    • Tested for delamination under cyclical loading and shear

Environmental and Chemical Resistance

Conveyor rollers must often operate in environments with extreme temperatures, moisture, or exposure to corrosive substances. Urethane formulations can be customized for thermal stability, chemical resistance, and compliance with food or pharmaceutical safety standards. Rough ground textures, diamond groove patterns, or elastic polyurethane sleeves can be applied to provide superior grip, ensuring seamless material movement—even in oily, wet, or variable surface conditions. Conveyor rollers must often operate in environments with extreme temperatures, moisture, or exposure to corrosive substances. Urethane formulations can be customized for thermal stability, chemical resistance, and compliance with food or pharmaceutical safety standards. Urethane conveyor rolls are engineered for operation in varied industrial environments.

  • Temperature Range:
    • Standard operation: -20°F to 180°F
    • High-performance urethanes available for up to 250°F
  • Chemical Compatibility:
    • Optional resistance to:
      • Hydraulic fluids
      • Oils and greases
      • Solvents and coolants
      • Cleaning agents and degreasers
  • FDA / USDA Compliant Materials:
    • Used in food processing, bottling, pharmaceutical packaging
  • Moisture Resistance:
    • Hydrolysis-resistant urethanes available for high-humidity and washdown settings

Applications

Urethane polyurethane conveyor rolls from Universal Urethane are trusted by industries that demand efficiency, durability, and low maintenance. Proven uses include:

  • Moving cartons, totes, and pallets quickly and smoothly
  • Transporting parts and assemblies between workstations
  • Food and pharmaceutical processing with FDA-compliant urethane
  • Packaging and shipping systems requiring consistent throughput
  • Integration into sortation, accumulation, and transfer lines for high-speed material handling

Custom Services & Support

In addition to new roller fabrication, Universal Urethane offers a full range of support services to help clients extend the lifespan of existing components and adapt to changing operational needs. From re-covering to reverse engineering, we provide the technical services that keep production running efficiently.

  • Roller Re-Covering:
    • Existing cores can be stripped, inspected, and re-covered with new urethane
  • Dynamic Balancing:
    • Offered for rollers used in high-speed systems to reduce vibration and extend bearing life
  • Reverse Engineering:
    • Legacy rollers can be replicated from samples or measurements
  • Inspection & Tolerance Reports:
    • Provided upon request for critical manufacturing and QA documentation
  • Part Identification:
    • Custom part numbers, labels, or serial tracking available

Contact our technical team to start a specification or request a custom quote.

If you require precision urethane rollers tailored to your application’s load, speed, and environmental requirements, Universal Urethane delivers engineered solutions built for performance and repeatability.

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