Engineering plastics for industrial applications
Engineering plastic sheets, rods, tubes and custom cut-to-size semi-finished products for applications ranging from general mechanical engineering to demanding thermal, chemical and mechanical environments. Custom parts can also be manufactured from drawings or samples.
Selecting the right engineering plastic
The right material should be selected according to temperature, mechanical load, wear, friction, chemical resistance, moisture absorption, dimensional accuracy, electrical properties and any food-contact requirements.
Mechanical load
Selection depends on stiffness, impact resistance, compressive load and long-term creep.
Wear and friction
A key consideration for sliding elements, guide rails, bushes and rollers.
Temperature
Continuous and short-term operating temperatures determine which materials are suitable.
Chemical resistance
Compatibility should be checked for acids, alkalis, solvents and process media.
Dimensional stability
Thermal expansion and moisture absorption are important for precision components.
Special requirements
Food-contact, ESD, electrically insulating, flame-retardant and other special grades are also available.
Engineering plastic materials
From commonly used engineering plastics to high-performance polymers, in standard and custom dimensions.
POM-C / POM-H
High stiffness, good dimensional stability and excellent machinability. Low friction and good wear resistance for precision machine parts, gears and bushes.
PA6 / PA66 / cast PA6
Tough, mechanically strong and wear-resistant. Commonly used for rollers, wheels, guides and heavily loaded machine components.
PE-UHMW / PE1000
Outstanding wear and impact resistance with very low friction. For guide rails, sliding surfaces and material-handling equipment.
PE500 / PE300 / PE-HD
Lightweight, chemically resistant and easily machined polyethylenes for tanks, covers and general engineering applications.
PET
Rigid, dimensionally stable engineering polyester with low moisture absorption and good machinability for precision machine components.
PP
Lightweight, chemically resistant and weldable plastic for tanks, chemical-processing equipment and covers.
PVC-U
Rigid, easily machined material with good chemical resistance for chemical, mechanical and enclosure applications.
PC – polycarbonate
Highly impact-resistant transparent engineering plastic for machine guards, protective covers and viewing windows.
PMMA – acrylic
Rigid, weather-resistant transparent plastic with excellent optical clarity for covers and visual engineering components.
ABS
Rigid, impact-resistant and easily machined material for equipment housings, covers and prototypes.
PEEK
High-performance polymer for high temperatures and heavy mechanical loads, with excellent chemical and wear resistance.
PPS
High-stiffness, dimensionally stable, chemically and thermally resistant plastic for demanding mechanical and electrical applications.
PEI
Amorphous high-performance plastic with good heat resistance, stiffness and electrical properties.
PSU / PES / PPSU
Dimensionally stable amorphous plastics for high-temperature chemical, electrical and process applications.
PAI / PI
High-performance polymers for extreme engineering requirements where heat resistance and mechanical stability are essential.
POM, PA, PE and PET – core materials for mechanical engineering
Their good machinability and broad range make them suitable for bushes, guides, rollers, gears, sliding elements and structural components.
| Material | Main advantage | Typical application | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| POM | Dimensional accuracy, stiffness, low friction | Precision part, gear, bush | Check compatibility with the chemical environment |
| PA | Toughness, wear resistance, load capacity | Roller, wheel, guide | Moisture absorption may affect dimensions |
| PE1000 | Wear and impact resistance, low friction | Slide rail, chain guide, material handling | Not the first choice where high stiffness is required |
| PET | Stiffness, low moisture absorption | Precision machine part, roller, guide | Impact loading should be checked |
PEEK, PPS, PEI, PSU, PES, PPSU, PAI and PI
For applications where the heat resistance, dimensional stability or chemical resistance of general engineering plastics is no longer sufficient.
PEEK
High operating temperature, high mechanical strength, and excellent chemical and wear resistance. Filled grades are also available.
PPS
Excellent chemical resistance and dimensional stability even at high temperatures. Natural and reinforced grades are available.
PEI
Rigid, high-temperature amorphous plastic with good electrical insulation properties.
PSU / PES / PPSU
Heat-resistant amorphous polymers selected according to thermal, chemical and hydrolysis resistance.
PAI
High mechanical strength, wear resistance and heat resistance for precision components.
PI
Special polymer for extreme-temperature and tribological applications.
PC, PMMA and other sheet materials
For machine guards, viewing windows, equipment housings and process structures.
PC
Highly impact-resistant transparent sheet for machine guards and safety enclosures.
PMMA
Excellent optical clarity and good weather resistance for displays and covers.
PVC
Rigid, easily machined sheet with good chemical resistance for industrial structures.
PP
Chemically resistant and weldable sheet for tanks and process equipment.
ABS
Impact-resistant, easily formed material for equipment housings and technical covers.
Special grades
Coloured, ESD, UV-stabilised or specially certified sheet grades on request.
PTFE, PVDF, PFA, FEP, ETFE, ECTFE and PCTFE
For applications requiring outstanding chemical resistance, high purity or extreme-temperature performance.
PTFE
Non-stick, low-friction and exceptionally chemically resistant. Available as film, sheet, rod and tube, including etched, filled and expanded grades.
PTFE rangePVDF
High-strength, chemically resistant fluoropolymer; stiffer than PTFE and thermoplastically weldable.
PFA / FEP
Melt-processable fluoropolymers with good chemical resistance, available as film, tube and hose.
ETFE / ECTFE
High-strength, chemically resistant fluoropolymers for specialised industrial applications.
PCTFE
Dimensionally stable fluoropolymer with very low gas permeability, also suitable for cryogenic applications.
Special fluoropolymers
MFA, THV and other special materials available through custom sourcing.
Sheet, rod, tube, cutting and CNC machining
We can supply more than raw material: finished parts can also be quoted based on a drawing, sample or application parameters.
Cut to size
Cutting sheets, rods and tubes to the required starting dimensions.
CNC turning
Bushes, rings, rollers, spacers and rotational parts manufactured from drawings.
CNC milling
Contoured, drilled and complex plastic components in small and medium production runs.
Special grades
Glass-fibre, carbon-fibre, graphite-filled, low-friction modified and ESD grades.
Material substitution
Finding an alternative plastic for an existing component based on its operating loads.
Custom sourcing
For less common materials or special dimensions, we source solutions through our European supplier network.
Frequently asked questions
POM or PA – which should I choose?
Where dimensional accuracy and low moisture absorption are important, POM is often preferable. For high mechanical and wear loads, a suitable PA grade may be the better choice.
What is PE1000 used for?
Its excellent wear and impact resistance and low friction make it suitable for guide rails, sliding surfaces, chain guides and material-handling equipment.
When should PEEK or PPS be selected?
When general engineering plastics no longer meet the thermal, chemical or mechanical requirements.
Are ESD or antistatic plastics available?
Yes. ESD or electrically conductive grades are available in several materials. Please specify the required resistance range when requesting a quotation.
Can I order only a cut-to-size piece?
For many materials, yes. Availability depends on the material, dimensions and current supplier stock.
What information is needed for a quotation?
Material grade or required properties, sheet/rod/tube form, dimensions, quantity, operating temperature, mechanical and chemical loads, and any certification requirements.
Request a quotation for engineering plastics
Specify the material grade, dimensions and quantity, or describe the application. If the material has not yet been selected, we can help identify a suitable solution based on the technical requirements.
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