Redwood Plastics and Rubber Purchases Rogers Rubber Manufacturing in Washington.
Woodland, WA, USA – October 22nd, 2019 – Redwood Plastics and Rubber, a multinational plastics and rubber manufacturer and distributor has acquired Rogers Rubber Manufacturing, a leader and long-standing manufacture of rubber rollers near Tacoma, WA.
Rogers Rubber provided its customer with quality rubber products since 1977. As a second-generation family business, Rogers Rubber had a solution-based business model with a strong focus on supplying value and quality to its customers.
Redwood Plastics and Rubber will serve Rogers Rubber clientele with the same level of professional service they have come to expect with the entire product line remaining available. The previous ownership will also be moving to the Redwood Plastics and Rubber team, sharing over 40 years of experience with their sales and manufacturing departments.
This acquisition, as well as a recent investment of an internal transfer truck that runs between their Canadian and US facilities twice a week will position Redwood Plastics and Rubber to become one of the most comprehensive and competitive suppliers of rubber rollers in the Pacific North West. They have the ability to produce machined rubber and urethane rollers in-house up to 167” long and up to 24” in diameter with economical prices, strong product knowledge and impressive lead times for a variety of materials. Learn more about Redwood’s roller capabilities here.
About Redwood Plastics and Rubber
Redwood Plastics and Rubber supplies plastic sheet, rod and tube as well as rubber sheet, rubber profiles, rubber rollers and molded rubber in an assortment of standard and specialty grades to solve a variety of problems including; shock, abrasion, noise, weight, mold & mildew, wear, and friction.
Redwood Plastics and Rubber also has the manufacturing capabilities to mold, machine, and fabricate, a wide-range of high-quality parts in prototype and production volumes. With their technical expertise and experience, they strive to bring new, innovative developments and products to numerous industries and communities with 100% customer satisfaction.
Make. Create. Innovate.
There are few questions we dread more than the customer asking about a PTFE truck liner. While the error is understandable – in natural form both UHMW polyethylene and PTFE are white colored plastic, if PTFE were ever used as a truck liner the cost would be many 10s of thousands of dollars and the liner would be worn to bits in short order! Yet, monthly we receive inquiries from customers who simply don’t know any better asking for that. We believe it’s important to discuss the distinction, and some similarities, between the two plastics.
Similarities:
Both plastics in their natural form are white and both are widely stocked by most plastics distributors. Both plastics are known for having a very low coefficient of friction and net zero water absorption. They’re both available in 48″ wide plates and in common thicknesses from 1/8″-2″ (and beyond). Both plastics are FDA/CFIA compliant in their natural form. Both plastics can be modified with a variety of fillers or additives. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Differences:
There are so many differences between the products that a list is the best way to explain:
So if UHMW is less expensive, handles more wear, and more load…Where do you use PTFE? The answer is pretty simple: 1.) when it’s spec’d in or 2.) when one of its differing properties from UHMW makes it the better choice. For example, if you’re machining some bushings for use in a 400 degree Fahrenheit environment you would go with a PTFE product vs. a UHMW product which would simply melt. As well, if the application demands bearing pads with dynamic sliding (think telescope mounts) then PTFE is the better choice due to its phenomenal low coeffecient of friction. If in doubt, simply contact Redwood Plastics and Rubber and we’ll lend a hand!
The venerable Shark Fin Board Turning system has provided saw and planar mills with decades of excellent performance across the world. The system is simple, using the mill’s existing machinery and gravity to turn boards. This frees graders from this responsibility which leads to reduced injury claims and increased productivity. However, the Shark Fin is not ideal in all circumstances. Modern mills, particularly softwood mills, run too quickly for Shark Fin to function. Shark Fin is ideal in any application that runs 75 lugs-per-minute (LPM) or less, this is typically hardwood mills these days.
The Shark Fin is also not designed for very small tables. The minimum size for a one grader table should be about eight feet in length and the table needs to allow for Shark Fin lugs that are approximately 7″ tall to travel over and around. The system also requires that it be used on 81X sawmill chain as the lugs, pins, channel and other components are designed for it. The system succeeds in mills that want a simple, low-cost grading solution where their employees are handy and able to work with a kit.
So what does a Shark Fin kit consist of?
-Shark Fin turners
-Shark Fin lugs
-Shark Fin pins welded onto 81X chain
-81X channel
-Polyurethane drive and idler sprockets
-Bearings, collars, and steel shafts
-A spare parts kit
For questions about the Redco Shark Fin system or for a quote on your needs please contact us.
Video of Shark Fin in action!
Purchasing rubber would seem to be a simple thing: everyone knows what “rubber” is and most people think of it as one hegemonic product where even if different rubber types exist, they’re all more or less similar. That is actually untrue and the rubber family is indeed much wider, more extensive, and perhaps complicated than most people might think. The good news is help is available! We are rubber experts here and can carefully guide you through the process of selecting the correct Redco rubber for your application. However, if you feel you have a pretty good handle on rubber and don’t have a need to go through the selection process with us, these three tips will help ensure anyone is satisfied with a hassle-free rubber purchasing experience.
#1 – Know Thy Rubber
Even if you have a pretty good handle on rubber products you do need to make sure you “know enough”. Here is an example, you’ve used SBR rubber before and you know what size and thickness you need it in, perhaps 1/8″. So you email an RFQ “I need one piece of SBR 4′ x 8′ x 1/8″ ” Is that enough information? Actually it isn’t. We offer SBR in both 60A and 80A durometer (hardness) and we need to know which you need. In addition, we offer almost all of our products in a premium grade, which can be provided with certifications, and consumer grade, which cannot be certified beyond a simple compliancy form. Which leads to…
#2 – Know Thy Certifications
One stressful part of the rubber sales process for both the salesperson and the customer, is when certifications are requested after a sale and after the rubber has been shipped. While one may assume that all rubber we sell is certifiable and to any industry spec, this is actually inaccurate. It can lead to annoying situations and even cancelled orders. Our lower-priced consumer grade product offers price savings but cannot be certified for, example, food processing or aerospace requirements. We do offer such grades of rubber! However, those are our premium grade materials. Therefore please always inform us of any certification that is required before purchasing. In addition, we have run into certifications we cannot supply – even with our premium grade materials, which is why it’s best to bring any certs up during the quotation stage of the process.
#3 – Ask and Trust
If you’re unclear at all about what rubber you require, please do not hesitate in asking for help. At times, customers may feel ashamed admitting they need help in picking a product. However, as long as you can get us the information we need on the operational environment of the application we are happy to help make a recommendation. That said, there is a measure of trust involved. Customers tend to be familiar with “neoprene” rubber, for example, but when we’re telling a customer he/she needs Viton P70 rubber to function in the application then trust comes into play.
You can view our rubber line card by clicking here.
For more assistance or a quote on your rubber needs please contact us today.
Twin-wall polycarbonate is a long-lasting and cost effective product that can provide years of enjoyment in a greenhouse or roof awning application. The product is durable, UV-resistant, and relatively inexpensive. However, there are some very important things you need to know to maximize the success of the product and avoid premature degradation.
Only use mild soap and water to clean
While polycarbonate is very strong in regards to impact, it is prone to scratching. Using harsh chemicals or dirty water could mar the surface. Make sure to change the soapy water often while washing the twin wall to avoid grit damaging the surface.
Always install with the film facing outwards
Only one side of twin wall polycarbonate comes with a UV-protective film, which is often clear or light blue. The other side is often masked to protect against scratches and UV but meant to be peeled once installed.
Use a rubber coated washer when you fasten
When you screw in the twin wall to the frame be sure the screws have rubber coated washers. These reduce the pressure on the plastic because remember it is made up of thin walls.
Store in a dark area
If you’re not installing the twin wall right away, store it in a dark area like a garage. The UV mask does not last forever and you will be using up needlessly the sun exposure meant for the product when installed. In addition, the masking can become difficult to remove when exposed to light and heat.
Don’t worry about tapping a large screw hole
Twin wall polycarbonate expands and contracts due to heat to the ratio of 1/8″ per 100 degrees Fahrenheit of change. Having a larger screw hole will provide some important ‘give’ during temperature fluctuations.
For assistance and a quotation on your polycarbonate twin-wall needs, please contact us today.
Redco IRG (impact-resistant grade) nylon pile driving cushions are one of our core products for the construction industry. These pads are hand-made to fit into each customer’s pile stacks and absorb the impact of the hammer, dissipating the energy as heat. Unlike regular grades of nylon, which are brittle to impact, IRG nylon is filled with plasticizers and heat-dissipation additives which allow it to absorb the huge impact involved. The cushions can be manufactured for any foreseeable size, typical tolerances are (+/-) 1/8″ or 1/16″ with the standard color blue. Typical manufacturing time is 5-6 weeks to ship an order.
For more information on our Redco Pile Driving Cushions click here to view our literature or contact us for a quote.
So, you have a part you want made out of plastic (or rubber). You have a drawing, maybe a CAD file. You know what the part needs to do.
What now?
This is the stage where you need to make the leap from idea to practical. To get the part finalized, material specified, and actually get the part into production. What information do you need to have to finalize everything?
1.) Know Your Operational Environment
This is absolutely critical and something we often need to work through with customers before we make a recommendation. You need to know the complete operational environment for your part. This includes:
Depending on the part there may be other critical factors but you should know at least those four.
2.) Know Your Required Tolerances
This is perhaps the most important thing that keeps getting overlooked in part design. Often we’re handed a drawing with metal tolerances (+/- 0.001″) and told to make it (hint: not possible to hold those tolerances). Or, in many cases, customers simply tell us to hold “best” tolerances. Did you know there’s a premium to that? When we work out a quote internally, required tolerances are part of that because of the time and risk involved in hitting our tightest (+/- 0.005″) tolerance. Often a (+/-) 0.03″ is suitable for many applications and since it will save you money, it’s worth it to know the demands of your application.
3.) Know Your Quantities – Buy In Bulk
Quantity usually means price break when it comes to parts. Customers will often send us a drawing and ask that we quote a couple pieces, ostensibly as samples. The issue is that the cost for prototypes will be inflated compared to the prototypes…And sometimes customers just think the price would remain constant. So know an accurate number of how many parts you will need once in production and get both prototypes and production runs quoted at once for a clear picture of your costs.
For more information on how to buy your parts in the most economical way possible, please contact us today.
Out of the many parts and plastic profiles requested of Redwood Plastics and Rubber, plastic angle keeps coming up. This is typically plastic bent at a 90 degree angle halfway. This is primarily used for protection of a surface or object if machined out of UHMW or nylon plastic. However, much stronger (more rigid) fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) angle is available and stocked by our supplier. A common example of a FRP angle application would be to bolt it in on the edge of a platform at a train station. FRP angle is available in a variety of widths and thicknesses with 1/4″ and 3/8″ thick being the most common. It is available in all three primary EXTREN resin types (general purpose polyester, fire-retardant polyester, and vinyl ester). These angle profiles are more expensive than steel or aluminum angle; however, for certain applications such as those that demand electric or radio non-conductivity, plastic angle may be your only choice.
To get a quote on an angle profile is easy. Firstly, we need to know the width of each side of the angle, they are not always the same! We then need to know both the thickness and the material required. If you need assistance selecting a material, just ask, but me sure to be ready to answer questions about your application such as what the angle is doing, if there is any chemical or high heat exposure, etc. Angle profiles of all plastic types are typically sold by the 10 foot length; however, there are cases where we can supply shorter or longer profiles.
For a quote on your plastic angle needs, please contact us today.
The space shuttle “Challenger” explosion in 1986 was a seminal moment for many Americans. The launch was shown on live TV and there was a high amount of interest in teacher Christa McAullife being on the flight. The shuttle exploded 73 seconds into the flight resulting in the deaths of the entire crew. An immediate investigation was launched and it was determined that a failed rubber o-ring system used as seals on the solid rocket boosters led to the explosion. The launch was on an unusually cold day – the o-ring seals were qualified for use at no less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit but the temperature got as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit the night before.
Prior to launch several engineers attempted to warn against launching due to this reason. The engineers believed that the cold temperatures would weaken the rubber and also lead to a poor seal, which would allow hot exhaust gases to potentially escape the boosters and cause catastrophic damage. It had already been determined that the o-rings were being damaged even on successful flights. The engineers were forced by NASA management to try to prove that the application would fail at low temperature, something the engineers could not do because of a lack of testing data.
Your application with rubber will likely not be as critical as the space shuttle o-ring seals; however, even with our applications there is much to learn.
Firstly, is you need to pick a rubber that will work within the parameters of your application. You need to know what chemical exposure and temperature range the part will need to operate in.
Secondly, once you get the parts you need to use them within the parameters that you have specified because if you introduce, for example, new chemicals or operate the part outside of the prescribed temperature range, it may fail!
The third and final thing we can learn is to listen to the product experts who helped recommend a rubber solution to you. If they strongly believe a certain material is required and can give you concrete reasons, you should consider this thoroughly before going in another direction. This is particularly a concern where a desired price may be a determining factor for a purchasing decision, rather than if the rubber is actually suitable or not.
Redwood Plastics and Rubber has rubber experts standing by to help recommend the best product for your application so contact us today.
Silicone is a remarkable variety of rubber that offers some outstanding properties that can make it the clear choice among competing solutions. Firstly, silicone can handle very high temperatures in operation, up to 230°C (446°F). This allows it to maintain its properties at elevated temperatures that many other rubbers will not be able to handle! In addition, it has excellent resistance to UV and weathering, making it outstanding in outdoor applications. This includes heat, cold, freezing, direct sunlight, etc.
Silicone also has a low compression set – this means it can be compressed for a long period of time and will bounce back to close to its original profile when the weight has been removed. Think of this in a sealing application such as a door which is open and closed many times. The silicone will maintain the seal when compressed and will then return to its original form once the door is reopened. Also, the product is food safe and Redwood Plastics and Rubber can supply it in a new FDA blue variety.
There is a silicone rubber shortage currently in North America but not here! Redwood Plastics and Rubber carries significant levels of silicone stock in our central warehouse including FDA blue. For a discussion on how silicone rubber can benefit your application or for a quotation please contact us today.
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sales@redwoodplastics.com
