Written for procurement engineers, project managers, and operations supervisors. We assume you already know UHMWPE is the wear-resistant lining you want — this is about the order specification, not the material decision.
1. The 8-line PO that gets you the right sheet
Copy these 8 lines into your purchase order:
- Material: UHMWPE PE1000, virgin resin, color [black / green / natural].
- Sheet size: 2000 × 1000 × 25 mm (or your size).
- Bolt pattern: per attached drawing [file name], units in mm.
- Hole diameter: І22 mm (M20 bolt clearance).
- Counterbore: І40 × 25 mm deep, sharp corner.
- Tolerance: per ISO 2768-m, hole position ±0.5 mm.
- Edge bevel: 15 mm × 45° on all four edges.
- Documentation: per-piece dimensional report; MTC per EN 10204 3.1; ISPM-15 wood crate.
That's it. With those 8 lines we can quote in 4 hours and ship in 18 days.
2. Standard bolt patterns we can produce off-the-shelf
If you don't have a custom drawing, these standard patterns cover most retrofit applications:
| Pattern code | Sheet size (mm) | Hole pattern | Hole diameter | Counterbore | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-4C | 1000×1000 | 4 corners, 100 mm in | І18 | Optional | Light-duty liner |
| P-6P | 1500×1000 | 6 perimeter, 250 mm spacing | І22 | І40×20 | Standard chute liner |
| P-9G | 1500×1000 | 9-hole 3×3 grid | І22 | І40×20 | High-impact liner |
| P-12P | 2000×1000 | 12 perimeter, 300 mm spacing | І22 | І40×20 | Hopper liner |
| P-16G | 2000×1000 | 16-hole 4×4 grid | І26 | І50×25 | Heavy crusher feed |
| P-20G | 2400×1200 | 20-hole 5×4 grid | І26 | І50×25 | Truck bed liner |
3. Counterbore design — why it matters
A flush bolt head is the difference between a liner that lasts 5 years and one that wears through in 18 months. When the bolt head sits proud of the wear surface:
- Material flow erodes the bolt head and surrounding plastic 3-5× faster than rest of sheet.
- Eventually the bolt fails or strips, and the sheet starts lifting at that corner.
- Lifted sheet catches material, gets ripped off entirely, and you're replacing during peak production.
Counterbore depth = bolt head height + 5 mm. For M20 grade 8.8 hex bolt (head 12.5 mm tall), counterbore depth = 17.5 mm minimum, we recommend 25 mm for compression allowance. Counterbore diameter = bolt head AF + 5 mm = 32 + 5 = 37, round up to 40 mm.
4. Which ASTM and ISO standards apply
The relevant standards for procurement specification:
- ASTM D4020 — Standard specification for UHMWPE molding and extrusion materials. Defines molecular weight, density, abrasion grade.
- ISO 11542 — International equivalent of ASTM D4020.
- DIN 16972 — European spec for PE-UHMW semi-finished products (sheets, rods).
- ISO 2768-m — General tolerances for machined parts (medium class), referenced for hole position and sheet dimension tolerance.
- ASTM F1306 — Test for puncture resistance, useful when comparing wear performance.
- EN 10204 3.1 — Material test certificate format (issued by the manufacturer's QC, signed and stamped).
5. Bolt selection — grade, coating, and quantity
For UHMWPE liners we recommend:
- M20 grade 8.8 hex bolt, hot-dip galvanized. Standard for almost everything except offshore/marine.
- M20 grade A4-70 stainless (316), for marine and chemical exposure. 3× cost of galvanized.
- Backing washer: 60 mm OD steel fender washer. Distributes load on UHMWPE underside, prevents pull-through.
- Nut: nylock or double-nut to prevent vibration loosening. Apply on chute outside (not under wear surface).
We can supply matching bolt kits with the sheets — add to PO. Common ratio: 1 bolt + washer + nut per hole, plus 10% spare.
6. Lead time, MOQ, and shipping
For pre-drilled UHMWPE sheets:
- MOQ: 10 sheets, mix-and-match patterns OK.
- Lead time standard: 18-22 days ex-factory + 28-35 days sea freight to US East Coast / EU.
- Lead time express: 10-12 days ex-factory + air freight option for emergency.
- Crating: ISPM-15 fumigated wooden crates, max 1500 kg per crate. 20-foot container holds ~16 t of pre-drilled sheets.
- Incoterms: EXW, FOB Qingdao, CIF, or DDP your warehouse — quote in any.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can you drill metric and imperial bolt patterns on the same sheet?
Yes — we have both drill bit sets. Specify each hole diameter clearly on the drawing.
❓ What if my drawing is in DXF format and US units?
Send it as-is, mark units (inches) in the title block, and we'll convert. Quote turnaround unchanged.
❓ Can you supply with bolts pre-installed?
Yes for marine pads (less common for chute liners since you usually want to bolt from the back). Specify on PO.
❓ Do pre-drilled sheets crack around the holes during shipping?
Not in our experience. UHMWPE is too tough to crack under handling. We crate so sheets don't rub against each other.
❓ Lead time for emergency replacement?
We hold standard pre-drilled stock (P-6P, P-12P) in our warehouse, can ship in 5 days + air freight if you need. Stock is limited — confirm availability before counting on it.
❓ Can you handle 5+ different bolt patterns in one shipment?
Yes — we routinely ship 3-7 different patterns in one container. Each pattern crated separately and labeled.
❓ Do you charge a tooling fee for new bolt patterns?
No — our CNC drill is fully programmable, no physical tooling needed. New pattern is just a CAM file.
