Light. Resistant. Ready for action.

UHMW polyethylene

Soucy Plastiques

In the defence sector, every component matters. Military vehicles need to be able to handle extreme conditions, traverse challenging terrain, and withstand significant mechanical stress. All while maintaining an optimal level of performance. To meet these challenges, manufacturers and engineers are constantly looking for robust, lightweight, and durable materials.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene has proven to be all of this. Thanks to its exceptional properties, UHMW polyethylene can be used to produce wheels and bespoke components that meet the most stringent needs associated with military applications.

UHMW polyethylene outperforms conventional materials and delivers myriad benefits to military vehicle manufacturers and operators.

  • Enhanced manoeuverability

    Weight is critical in military operations. Replacing some standard components with parts made from UHMW polyethylene significantly decreases the weight of vehicles. This is in turn leads to greater fuel efficiency, improved manoeuverability, and increased payload capacity.

  • Greater operational availability

    Unplanned maintenance can compromise missions. UHMW components offer excellent shock and wear resistance. Accordingly, they require less maintenance and deliver an extended service life, thereby reducing downtime.

  • Reliable performance in extreme conditions

    Moisture, mud, dust, corrosion, contaminants... military environments put materials to the ultimate test. Because UHMW polyethylene is highly resistant to these abrasive conditions, it delivers consistent performance in even the harshest environments.

  • Improved tactical stealth

    Loud noises can put some military operations at risk. Thanks to its dampening properties, UHMW polyethylene helps reduce noise emissions, making it ideal for situations requiring covert action.

  • Proven durability

    UHMW polyethylene formulations have been successfully deployed on armoured vehicles rated up to 810 hp. That’s because it’s a material able to withstand incredibly heavy loads in severe operating conditions.

  • A lower life-cycle cost

    Components made with UHMW polyethylene deliver exceptional wear resistance and extended durability, reducing the costs associated with maintenance, replacements, and equipment downtime.

The quality of a part goes beyond the material. Manufacturing processes — and the team’s expertise in transformation processes — impact the final results.

Our expertise in UHMW polyethylene compression moulding means we’re able to design and manufacture bespoke components that meet the highest standards required by the defence sector.

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High-volume manufacturing capacities

We have the infrastructure necessary to produce large-scale parts with the greatest precision. In fact, we operate the largest compression moulding press in North America.

  • Molding capacity: up to 1,000 tons
  • Parts: up to 120 kg
  • Maximum thickness: 25.4 cm
  • Maximum length: 182 cm

Integrated solutions

Our expertise also allows us to meet any specific requirements our clients have. This can include integrating metallic components, rubber, or even hybrid assemblies. Moreover, thanks to our high-precision machining capabilities, we can achieve tight tolerances and ensure part-to-part consistency.

We guide our clients at every stage of the process — from prototype design to mass production — in order to provide them with reliable, high-durability solutions that are perfectly tailored to their needs.

Every military platform has its own unique challenges. That’s why we closely collaborate with every client from day one.

Our team supports manufacturers and integrators throughout the process:

Analysis and optimization

  • Technical analysis of your needs, environment, and specific applications
  • Technical advice and plans designed to optimize performance
  • Recommendations for materials and designs from UHMW polyethylene experts
  • Improvements to functionality, production capacity, and assembly

Equipment and production

  • Custom tools and equipment tailored to your specifications
  • Detailed progress reports at every step of the project
  • High-volume production with consistent quality
  • Selection of the moulding process best suited to part geometry and anticipated production volumes

Our goal is simple: design components that enhance functionality, production capacities, and the effectiveness of your platform.

UHMW polyethylene is resistant, durable, and lightweight. Whether your project involves wheels, parts, or components, our engineers are ready to help. Find out how our personalized UHMW polyethylene solutions can increase the performance and reliability of your military vehicles.

  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Cost-efficient
  • Wear-resistant (up to 10 times more than steel or carbon)
  • Reliable in harsh conditions
  • Resistant to impact, moisture, and corrosion
  • Quieter
  • Less maintenance required
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