Of all machinable engineering plastics, HMPE is one of the most wear-resistant. ANKRO machines it in series for customers in the food, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries—in applications where parts must last for years under heavy loads and in humid conditions.
HMPE, High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene, is an engineering plastic in which the molecular weight determines its properties: the higher the molecular weight, the harder, tougher, and more wear-resistant the material. The common variants (mostly HMPE500 and HMPE1000) differ from one another in this respect. This also applies to the weldability of both.
You should choose HMPE when wear resistance, moisture resistance, and toughness are all important factors. Bearings, sliding components, and guides: these are applications where metal rusts, other plastics wear out too quickly, and HMPE offers exactly the right balance. That moisture-repellent nature and toughness are inherent in the material. The dimensional accuracy is the work of our machinist.
HMPE is wear-resistant in use but relatively soft to machine—softer than, for example, POM or PA6. The long polymer chain, which contributes to its wear resistance, also makes the material tough and deformable under clamping force.
If clamped incorrectly, HMPE deforms even during machining. That deformation is then incorporated into the final dimensions and cannot be reversed. This applies to a single part, but is even more critical for a series where every piece must have exactly the same dimensions.
At ANKRO, these are well-known variables. They are taken into account during setup, ensuring that the first correct dimension is also the hundredth correct dimension.
Delivering a single high-quality HMPE part is one thing. Delivering a consistent series that stays within tolerance batch after batch requires more.
Consistent material quality is what counts. HMPE from the same supplier can vary slightly in density and machinability from one production batch to the next. A machining specialist who recognizes this actively monitors their parameters. Those who don’t risk delivering defective parts that only become apparent during assembly or in the end application.
For customers transitioning from prototyping to series production with HMPE, this is not a minor detail but the very essence of our partnership.
Would you like to have a series of HMPE parts machined?
In the food industry, the operating environment requires materials that can withstand cleaning, pressure, and movement without wearing out or rusting. That is precisely where HMPE excels, for applications such as conveyor guides and bearings.
In shipbuilding, HMPE serves a different purpose but with the same core requirements: sliding components that repel seawater, are corrosion-resistant, and require no lubrication. Materials that would not survive in a metal structure can operate here for years without maintenance.
In the petrochemical industry, an additional requirement comes into play: chemical resistance. HMPE withstands a broad spectrum of chemicals and aggressive media, making it suitable for use even where other plastics degrade.
Three industries in three diverse environments with one common factor: HMPE can make all the difference here.
ANKRO processes HMPE for customers who know exactly what they need, as well as for those who first want to discuss their material selection. Sometimes HMPE1000 is the right choice; sometimes HMPE500 is a better fit because welding needs to remain an option. And sometimes the discussion points toward an entirely different engineering plastic. We always ask that question before we issue a quote.
With decades of experience in high-volume plastic machining and an ISO 9001:2015-certified quality process, ANKRO has the expertise and machinery to deliver HMPE series that are consistent from the first batch to the fifteenth.
Would you like to know what we can do for your HMPE series?
Please feel free to contact us. You can do so by phone at +31 (0)183 304 872 or by filling out the contact form. We will handle your question as soon as possible.
