Stainless Steel Conveyor Rollers: Basics and Applications in Various Industries

Stainless Steel Conveyor Rollers: Basics and Applications in Various Industries

You might have heard about stainless steel rollers for industrial applications. The word “stainless” has been commonly used for many years for different kinds of metals. People used the term to refer to steel to make cutlery, and today, it means many grades of metal that resist corrosion well. Often, companies make heavy-duty conveyor rollers out of stainless steel, particularly a T-303 stainless steel alloy.

 

About Stainless Steel Conveyor Rollers
Stainless steel is an iron alloy that has at least 10.5 percent of chromium in it. Often, a company making stainless steel will add other alloys to increase the formability, resistance against corrosion, and strength. The term stainless steel means that it does not corrode.

 

With a stainless steel conveyor, the main goal is that it will resist corrosion well for specific applications. This is not the only consideration, however. You also need to consider its mechanical and physical properties as well.

 

Austenitic Grade of Stainless Steel
This kind of stainless steel has about 8 percent of nickel in it and about 17 to 25 percent of chromium in it. It might also have titanium, copper, or nickel in it. Some rollers for conveyors use a T-303 stainless steel alloy. This is a grade for free machining. It has selenium or sulfur in it to give it the best machining properties.

 

The T-303 stainless steel resists corrosion well, and it works for typical applications. Of course, regular reviews of each application are still necessary. Although T-303 stainless steel is not as easy to machine as other types of stainless steel, conveyor rollers do not need a lot of machining. Typically, a manufacturer will shear the axle to length and cut the tube using a rotary blade or a saw.

 

Often, people choose stainless steel for their conveyors because of its strength and durability. Plastic also resists corrosion well, but it is not nearly as strong. Plus, a stainless steel heavy duty conveyor roller can resist heat up to extremely high temperatures without oxidizing.

 

Applications
Typically, you can use heavy-duty conveyor rollers for many kinds of material handling applications. To operate properly, the components need to resist corrosion well in its environment. A company may use this kind of conveyor in applications like:

• Powered belt conveyors.
• Gravity conveyors.
• Food handling conveyors.
• Wash down applications.
• Dishwasher machinery.
• Conveyors working with packing.

Turn to a Trusted Distributor of Stainless Steel Conveyor Rollers
Heinrich Brothers Inc. offers advice on helping you choose the best kind of heavy-duty conveyor rollers for your company. We will consult with you and learn about your company’s requirements. Give us a call today to begin your consultation.