Polyurethane is one of the world’s six most widely used types of plastic and belongs to the polymer family. It is unique in that it is not a single type of plastic, but an entire family of materials that can be chemically tailored to create everything from liquid adhesives and stretchy textiles to soft foam and rock-hard plastic.

For more in-depth information, visit the Swedish Chemicals Agency.

Polyurethane (PU) combines many of the elastic properties of rubber with the wear resistance and dimensional stability of plastic. In many industrial applications, polyurethane can offer higher abrasion and tear resistance, longer service life and greater flexibility in tailoring hardness and other material properties compared with traditional rubber or plastic.

This makes polyurethane particularly suitable for components exposed to wear, impact, vibration and demanding industrial environments.

We cast polyurethane across a wide hardness range, from 30 Shore A to 75 Shore D. This allows the material to be tailored from soft and elastic properties to significantly harder and more dimensionally stable solutions, depending on the product’s function and application.

It depends on the type of polyurethane and the environment in which the material will be used. Polyester-based polyurethane generally offers good resistance to oils and many chemicals, while polyether-based polyurethane is better suited to humid or wet environments due to its improved resistance to hydrolysis and microbial attack.

Resistance to UV light also varies between different polyurethane grades. Choosing the right material is therefore important to ensure the best possible performance and service life for the specific application.

Polyurethane can typically withstand temperatures from approximately –40 °C to +100 °C, depending on the material type, load and duration of exposure.

For applications involving extreme or prolonged temperatures, we can help select the most suitable polyurethane grade to ensure optimal performance and service life.

In polyurethane mould casting, the liquid material is poured into a mould where it cures into the required shape and hardness. The process offers a high degree of design freedom and is well suited for both simple and complex components.

Compared with methods such as injection moulding, polyurethane casting often requires simpler and more cost-effective tooling. This makes it particularly suitable for prototypes, small production runs and medium-volume manufacturing.

Yes. We can mould metal inserts and many other types of components directly into polyurethane, making it possible to combine different materials and functions in a single part.

This method is particularly useful when you want to combine the wear resistance, damping or flexibility of polyurethane with the strength and stability of metal.

The cost depends on the component’s size, geometry, material selection, tooling requirements and manufacturing complexity. The required quantity and production volume also affect the price.

Send us a drawing, sketch or existing component, and we can assess the requirements and provide a cost estimate.

We are a small and flexible production partner with short decision paths and fast lead times. From project start to finished production, including any required tooling, the lead time is typically around four weeks.

Lead times may vary depending on the complexity of the component, material selection and production volume.

We have no high minimum order requirements – when needed, we can produce from a single component.

Yes. Polyurethane product development is one of IPUR’s core areas of expertise. We support our customers throughout the entire process – from material selection and product design to prototyping, tooling and finished production.

You do not need to have a complete technical drawing from the start. A sketch, an existing component or simply a problem that needs solving can be a good starting point for developing the right polyurethane solution together.

Polyurethane is a versatile material well suited to many demanding industrial applications. It is commonly used in the automotive industry, mining and minerals, internal logistics, warehousing and material handling, paper and printing, offshore applications, construction and agricultural machinery, as well as electronics encapsulation.

In many cases, yes, provided the geometry allows it. Polyurethane typically offers longer service life and better abrasion resistance than rubber, although it may be stiffer depending on the selected hardness.

Service life depends on the application, load and operating environment. Many of our polyurethane components are still performing well after 20 years in service, while others are exposed to more severe wear and need to be replaced at shorter intervals.

Yes, in most cases we can refurbish or recoat existing rollers and wheels with new polyurethane.

A simple drawing or sketch showing the required dimensions and function is usually enough. The documentation does not need to be advanced – we are happy to help develop and refine the design based on your specific requirements.