Reliability cast in steel – Nine reasons why steel outperforms rubber for spreader rolls

When you require exceptional durability from your spreader rolls, the choice between steel and rubber is clear.

The traditional rubber roll structure, which combines steel segments with a rubber sleeve, is both expensive to overhaul and prone to reliability issues. In the event of a bearing failure, the rubber sleeve must be cut and replaced, leading to increased downtime and maintenance costs. Finbow’s steel rollers are engineered to eliminate these problems, providing a more durable, cost-effective solution.

A rubber-sleeved roll is expensive and time-consuming to service because the rubber sleeve has to be cut and replaced.

Finbow’s spreader roll solutions feature stainless steel spools and a hard chrome-plated surface for superior wear resistance.

By switching to Finbow steel rolls, you’ll not only reduce maintenance costs but also minimize operational disruptions and unexpected shutdowns ensuring a more efficient and cost-effective production process.

Superior service life and ease of maintenance

Finbow’s acid-proof stainless-steel spools (AISI 316) and hard chrome coated spreader rolls for press felt spreading give you the following advantages over rubber-sleeved rolls:

  1. Superior wear resistance: Spreader rolls with hard chrome-plated segments offer significantly longer lifespans thanks to chrome-plated steel’s superior wear resistance compared to rubber. We typically recommend re-coating after the third service cycle, which usually occurs after 15 to 18 years of use.
  2. Maintenance-friendliness: Hard chromium-plated stainless steel spreader rolls allow for easier and more cost-effective maintenance, eliminating the need to replace rubber sleeves during overhauls.
  3. Extended service life: Stainless steel segments (AISI 316 with hard chrome plating) can withstand 4 to 5 service intervals, ensuring a service life of over 20 years.
  4. Consistent performance: Rubber sleeves wear unevenly during operation. This can have a negative effect on spreading performance and excessive felt wear. This issue can be avoided with Finbow’s hard chrome-plated spreader rolls, which ensure consistent spreading.
  5. Enhanced durability: Rubber sleeves are prone to damage during transportation, installation, or cleaning. Steel offers far greater durability, reducing the risk of breakage.
  6. Lower operating costs: Stainless steel AISI 316 segmented spreader rolls offer a lower cost per operating hour thanks to their significantly longer service life compared to rubber-sleeved rolls.
  7. Industry-leading warranty: Our exceptional warranty lasts 24 months after installation in the paper machine and 36 months after delivery. This underlines our commitment to quality and sets us apart from the competition.
  8. Shielded structure. Our rolls feature glued couplings between segments preventing water or dirt from entering the roll’s internal structure.
  9. Efficient moisture management: Finbow spreader rolls incorporate a moisture removal system that efficiently eliminates moisture, protecting the internal components from condensation in all wet-end applications.

Want to see how much savings you could generate by switching to steel from rubber?

Try our roll cost calculator

Still not convinced? Don’t hesitate to contact us or our global sales partners to hear more about the benefits of our Genuine BowHow!