Polyoxymethylene (POM / Acetal) and UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight PE) are the two most quoted options for plastic gears, bearings and wear parts in marine and offshore projects. Both are widely available, but they behave very differently once they are in service.
The notes below come from day to day production and export work with overseas buyers.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines plastic gears, bearings and wear parts by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include module 0.3 to 8; plain and self-lubricating grades; PTFE and oil filled compounds. Materials most often specified are Polytetrafluoroethylene, Polyamide, UHMWPE, Polyether Ether Ketone, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the marine and offshore sector the decision is usually driven by UV and salt resistance and impact strength, with buoyancy as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include deck fittings, rope and netting, dock fenders.
Typical values for a general purpose grade are listed below; filled, stabilised and speciality compounds will differ.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyether Ether Ketone | 1.32 g/cm³ | 90-100 MPa | -50°C to 250°C |
| Polyamide | 1.13-1.15 g/cm³ | 60-85 MPa | -40°C to 120°C |
| UHMWPE | 0.93-0.94 g/cm³ | 30-45 MPa | -150°C to 80°C |
Polyoxymethylene is frequently the default selection here: POM is the standard replacement for small metal parts that must hold tight tolerances.
Polyoxymethylene grades offer excellent dimensional stability, while UHMWPE brings highest impact strength of any thermoplastic. For marine and offshore service the difference shows up in impact strength and in the long term behaviour under load.
The practical decision usually comes down to the service environment: temperature, chemical exposure and expected lifetime.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
Each step below has its own control points, and skipping one of them is where most defects start.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
Work through these points in order and most specification mistakes disappear.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
Standard packing is export cartons on fumigation-free pallets, with custom labelling, barcode and retail packing available. We also handle consolidated containers and door to door delivery.
Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
Yes. {mat1} is one of our regular materials for this item, and we can supply virgin, modified and certified grades with full traceability. Material certificates and test reports are issued per batch.
For standard sizes and colours the minimum is usually one pallet or one production run; for custom tooling the economic minimum depends on the tooling cost amortised over the expected volume. Send us your annual volume and we will calculate the break even point.
Our team supplies plastic gears, bearings and wear parts to marine and offshore customers worldwide, with samples, material certificates and full inspection reports available before mass production.
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