Uremet’s engineering, research and development professionals utilize a customized approach that is uniquely tailored to solve each individual customer’s problems.
What’s more, we utilize over 100 polyurethane chemistries with proprietary mixing, pouring, molding and curing techniques to meet the most demanding conditions, such as high speeds, heavy loads and high wear applications. Our manufacturing quality standards, precision manufacturing equipment and inspection processes have been developed and refined over our 20 year history to ensure the highest quality products in the industry.
Uremet’s engineering, research and development professionals utilize a customized approach that is uniquely tailored to solve each individual customer’s problems.
What’s more, we utilize over 100 polyurethane chemistries with proprietary mixing, pouring, molding and curing techniques to meet the most demanding conditions, such as high speeds, heavy loads and high wear applications. Our manufacturing quality standards, precision manufacturing equipment and inspection processes have been developed and refined over our 20 year history to ensure the highest quality products in the industry.
Design and Analysis
Our engineers, which are among the most knowledgeable in the industry, specialize in:
(i) analyzing individual wheel application challenges and developing new and innovative ways to solve them
(ii) continually developing and testing new polyurethane chemistries and wheel designs to produce new and better products with superior performance under the most challenging conditions
(iii) evaluating individual applications that are experiencing high wheel failures and recommending alternative chemistries or other changes to alleviate specific types of failure (such as blowout or delamination)
(iv) continually evaluating and modifying our proprietary processing and manufacturing techniques (mixing, pouring, molding and curing) to enhance quality, consistency and performance
With over 100 proprietary polyurethane chemistries and the experience from developing wheel products utilized in cutting edge applications across several industries, our engineers have a broad knowledge base that can be applied to individual wheel applications. Our full service capabilities include:
- Design of new parts, assemblies and wheels using the latest CAD 3D modeling software
- Reverse engineering of existing parts through material analysis and engineering evaluation of wear, fatigue and failure patterns
- Stress and fatigue analysis and optimization utilizing Cosmos FEA software and supporting calculations
- Validation and other forms of testing using our custom built wheel testing equipment and amusement ride simulator
- All of our parts are designed and evaluated in accordance with the applicable industry quality standards (for example, ASTM F835.5, F1159 and F1123 regulations for the design and construction of amusement ride replacement parts)
Wheel Testing
We have developed proprietary wheel testing equipment that is designed solely for industrial and amusement wheel applications.
Simulation Testing
Our testing equipment allows us to simulate the loads and speeds of industrial wheel applications, providing an invaluable tool to determine the best solution and maximize wheel performance. For example, based on the g-force profile of an amusement ride, we can duplicate the duration of a ride’s speed and load, which not only provides valuable data for superior wheel design but also allows for comparative testing of alternative materials.
Friction Testing
Our wheel design and test capabilities are further enhanced by the addition of our new custom-made wheel friction tester which measures a wheel’s static and kinetic coefficient of friction. The tester’s proprietary design provides the flexibility to simulate the operating conditions of individual applications and conduct comparative testing to measure the coefficient of friction across multiple variables, including: different tread materials, applied loads, wheel sizes, tread configurations, running surfaces, track lubricants and ambient conditions.
*Our wheel testing capabilities are also utilized extensively in new product development through the evaluation of polyurethane chemistries and the simulation of new industrial wheel applications.
Manufacturing Quality Standards
Over 20 years of processing polyurethane, we have developed numerous quality assurance procedures and maintain detailed documentation on each wheel we manufacture. We document 24 individual quality assurance procedures on every product throughout our manufacturing process. We maintain this detailed documentation so that it can be analyzed and tailored by our engineers to maximize wheel performance for each customer’s unique wheel application.
Precision Manufacturing
Uremet’s high quality, state-of-the-art equipment helps to ensure the highest quality products. Our in-house machine shop utilizes computer controlled Mori Seiki lathes and mills for machining steel, aluminum and nylon hubs and tooling to tolerances of less than 0.0005”. This top-of-the-line technology offers greater precision and rigidity, accuracy and consistency in the production of wheel components. In addition, we utilize both automated manufacturing systems (Urethane Dispensing Machine from Max Machinery) for high volume production and hand casting stations for low volume production.
Inspection Processes
Uremet adheres to strict quality assurance standards and stringent inbound and outbound inspection procedures for reconditioning worn wheels. Each wheel undergoes a complete functional, visual and dimensional inspection as well as a complete cleaning. Hubs with excessive wear, cracks or dimensions outside of previously set tolerances are rejected and returned to customers. In addition, our inspection and documentation procedures can be tailored to each customer’s specific requirements.