Non-ferrous rollers
Rollers in plasic, polypropylene, stainless steel or aluminium
Plastic Rollers
These are popular for very lightweight conveyors, and in particular for food applications, or where a mild-steel roller might scratch or mark the surface of the carried product.
They are - of course - relatively fragile compared to the sturdier steel or polypropylene rollers. However, for loads of a few dozen kilograms, they are emminently suitable.
Plastic rollers can feature all of the different shaft permutations that steel rollers can, including sprung loaded, threaded, and flattened-D configurations.
Stainless Steel Rollers
These are more expensive than mild steel rollers, and not as strong. They are, however, corrosion-resistent as well as food-grade, making them very popular in wash-down rooms, food manufacturing industries, and ocean-going trawlers !!They can have all of the same shaft types as standard steel rollers
Aluminium rollers
These are quite rare, as they are rather expensive and not as strong as either stainless or mild steel. (though stronger than plastic). Their two benefits are that they are corrosion resistant, and VERY lightweight. These would be useful if buliding a very light portable gravity conveyor.They can have the same shaft configurations as the standard steel rollers
Polypropylene rollers
This material is normally restricted to heavy-duty Drum Rollers, but we CAN produce smaller rollers using it.A Polyprop roller is VERY tough; even moreso than its steel equivelant. This is because is is a solid roller, rather than the hollow tubes of its steel or plastic brethren. It is also heavier as a consequence
It is - however - a speciality item, requiring individual machining, and is very expensive as a result. If, however, you want a tough, long-life roller, then this is the one to have !