TriStar Plastics, LLC

09/10/2026

Not all bearing materials are created equal — and when it comes to demanding industrial applications, using counterfeit or low-quality materials can come with serious consequences.

How can you tell if your Rulon® bearing material is genuine?

TriStar’s white paper explores what engineers and manufacturers should know when sourcing Rulon® bearings, including:

• How bearing quality is defined
• The controls and laboratory testing used to verify material quality
• How to recognize genuine Rulon® materials
• The potential performance and reliability risks of counterfeit bearings

When bearing performance matters, material authenticity matters too.

Get the Rulon® Bearings White Paper and learn how to avoid counterfeit materials and make more confident sourcing decisions: https://www.tstar.com/rulon-bearings-white-paper

09/08/2026

The TriStar Advantage: Engineering expertise. Custom fabrication. In-house manufacturing.

When you’re developing a critical component, you need more than a material supplier. You need a partner who understands the application, the design, and the manufacturing process.

At TriStar Plastics, our advantage is built around three capabilities:

• Engineering: Our technical team brings experience across thousands of applications, helping you select the right material, optimize component geometry, calculate PV, and develop practical solutions. We can even provide on-site technical seminars and support.

• Fabrication: From prototypes to production, our state-of-the-art CNC capabilities include turning, milling, and custom fabrication. Our machinists and quality technicians are trained specifically in machining plastics to deliver precision components.

• Manufacturing: By manufacturing composite bearing materials and custom blends in-house, we can create unique sizes and solutions tailored to your requirements while maintaining control over quality, timing, and cost.

At TriStar, there’s no such thing as “standard.” Your requirement is our standard.

Discover the TriStar Advantage: https://www.tstar.com/tristar-advantage

09/03/2026

A conveyor roller bearing may be a small component, but in food and pharmaceutical processing, the wrong bearing can create big problems.

Conveyor bearings must withstand much more than load, speed, and wear. They may also face frequent washdown, cleaning chemicals, moisture, food or product residue, and strict sanitation requirements.

That’s where self-lubricating plastic and composite bearings can offer an advantage.

Compared with traditional metal bearings, the right high-performance polymer bearing can:
• Reduce or eliminate external lubrication
• Resist corrosion in wet and washdown environments
• Reduce grease-related debris and contamination concerns
• Support cleaner, more consistent operation
• Extend service life in demanding applications

TriStar offers a range of engineered bearing materials for challenging conveyor applications, including Rulon®, CJ, FCJ, and Ultracomp®.

But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Load, speed, shaft material and finish, temperature, cleaning chemistry, moisture, and compliance requirements all need to be considered when selecting a bearing.

A small material decision can have a major impact on sanitation, maintenance, and uptime.

Read the full article to learn how the right conveyor roller bearing can help improve food and pharmaceutical processing operations: https://www.tstar.com/blog/how-it-works-conveyor-roller-bearing

09/02/2026

From prototype to production, the right material, design, and manufacturing process can make all the difference.

At TriStar Plastics, we provide more than high-performance plastics and self-lubricating bearing materials. We work alongside engineers and manufacturers to solve demanding application challenges through:

• Engineering and component design
• Material selection and application analysis
• Custom fabrication and CNC machining
• Prototype development
• Production manufacturing
• High-performance and enhanced materials

Our cross-functional team of mechanical engineers and polymer scientists can help evaluate your application and identify the right material and component geometry for your requirements.

We also provide resources like engineering worksheets, a material database, and a PV calculator to help engineers make informed material decisions.

Whether you're developing a new component or looking to improve the performance of an existing one, TriStar can help you move from concept to production.

Explore what we do: https://www.tstar.com/what-we-do

08/28/2026

Sheave bearing failures are often more than a parts problem—they can be a sign of a larger system issue.

TriStar’s Sheave Bearings White Paper: Engineering for Systems-Level Performance takes a closer look at the factors that can impact sheave performance, wear life, maintenance, and long-term reliability.

Get your free copy of the Sheave Bearings White Paper:
https://www.tstar.com/sheave-bearings-white-paper

08/28/2026

In a caustic crate washer, grease wasn’t just failing — it was becoming part of the problem. Hot alkaline detergent and sanitizer were rapidly washing lubricant from conveyor and roller bearings, forcing frequent relubrication and short replacement cycles.

TriStar recommended self-lubricating TriSteel™ PT bearings to take grease out of the application entirely. https://hubs.ly/Q04vzFrj0

See how TriSteel™ PT bearings address grease washout, chemical exposure, and contamination risks in food-processing crate washer conveyors.

08/27/2026

When standard materials fall short, custom plastic and composite components can provide the performance your application demands.

TriStar Plastics specializes in precision custom plastic manufacturing and fabrication — from one-off prototypes to full production runs. Our CNC milling, Swiss screw, and turning capabilities allow us to machine components to your exact specifications and tolerances.

Our expertise goes beyond machining. We help engineers select the right material and design approach based on load, wear, motion, and environmental conditions.

TriStar can manufacture:
• Custom plastic components
• Composite components
• Metal-backed and layered constructions
• Reinforced polymer components
• Prototype and production parts

With experience working with materials including Rulon®, Ultracomp®, and TriSteel™, our team can help determine whether a custom plastic or composite solution is the right fit for your application.

From material selection and engineering to machining and quality control, TriStar provides the expertise to take your component from prototype to production.

https://www.tstar.com/custom-plastics

08/21/2026

What makes a conveyor bearing suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications?

It takes more than simply handling the load.

Food and pharma conveyor bearings must also stand up to demanding conditions such as:
• Frequent washdown and moisture
• Cleaning chemicals and corrosion
• Product residue and debris
• Strict sanitation requirements
• Continuous operation and downtime concerns

That’s why bearing material selection matters.

Self-lubricating plastic and composite bearings can help reduce external lubrication, resist corrosion, and provide reliable performance in challenging conveyor environments.

TriStar Plastics helps engineers select bearing materials based on the complete application — from load and speed to cleaning conditions, temperature, and environmental exposure.

The right bearing can help keep your operation cleaner, more reliable, and running longer.

Watch the video to learn more about what to consider when selecting bearings for food and pharmaceutical conveyor systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rGlYe5qpZE

08/20/2026

The right material is only part of the equation. The right engineering approach can make all the difference.

At TriStar Plastics, our cross-functional team of degreed mechanical engineers and a polymer scientist works with you to evaluate your application, select the right material, and determine the optimal component geometry.

Our engineering support includes:
• Material selection for your specific application
• Component geometry analysis
• Engineering worksheets for project collaboration
• Full CAD/CAM capabilities
• Prototyping for testing and validation
• Custom manufacturing and plastic fabrication
• Access to engineering tools including our material database and PV calculator

Whether you’re replacing metal or ceramics, optimizing an existing component, or developing a new design, TriStar can help you move from concept to finished component.

That’s the TriStar Advantage: engineering expertise, materials knowledge, and manufacturing capabilities working together to support your project from start to finish.

https://www.tstar.com/engineered-plastics

08/13/2026

Sheaves may look simple, but real-world performance depends on much more than the wheel itself.

TriStar Plastics’ Sheave Bearings white paper explores how bearing design, thrust management, material selection, alignment, and environmental exposure all affect wear life, maintenance needs, and long-term reliability in demanding applications like cranes, marine equipment, and heavy material handling.

Inside, you will find:
• An overview of sheaves, including sheave vs. pulley distinctions and key design considerations
• A closer look at why bearing failures often begin at the system level
• Insight into how polymer and composite bearing materials can reduce lubrication needs, improve corrosion resistance, and extend service life

Grab your copy today: https://www.tstar.com/sheave-bearings-white-paper