In scenarios such as ports and terminals, ship berthing, and logistics warehousing, collision protection for equipment and structures is crucial to ensuring safe operations. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UPE) fender panels have become a preferred choice for protection due to their high performance.
1. What Are Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UPE) Fender Panels?
UPE fender panels are plate-like protective products made from linear polyethylene materials with a molecular weight exceeding 3 million, processed through technologies like extrusion and compression molding. They are mainly used to absorb collision energy and reduce impact damage between equipment and structures, and are commonly applied in industrial scenarios requiring buffer protection.
Compared with traditional fender materials (such as rubber, steel, and ordinary polyethylene), the core advantage of UPE fender panels lies in the performance upgrade brought by their “ultra-high molecular weight”. The higher the molecular weight, the stronger the material’s impact resistance, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance. At the same time, they retain the characteristics of polyethylene materials, such as light weight, chemical corrosion resistance, and non-water absorption, avoiding problems like steel rusting and rubber aging.
2. Core Advantages: Why Become the First Choice for Protection?
| Performance Category | Specific Performance | Scenario Examples | Engineering Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wear Resistance | Low wear rate. It is 1/8 of ordinary steel, 1/5 of rubber, and 3-7 times that of carbon steel | Ship berthing areas in ports (with an average of 3-5 cargo ships berthing daily, based on 2023 operation and maintenance data of XX Port). Fender panels can remain free of obvious scratches for 2-3 years | Reducing replacement frequency |
| Impact Resistance | Absorbs high energy without breaking. It is 20 times that of PVC, 10 times that of nylon 66, and 8 times that of PTFE | Bridge pier protection (in case of accidental collision by small ships). Fender panels only have slight deformation, and piers suffer no damage | Buffering impact force and avoiding structural damage |
| Corrosion Resistance | Resistant to seawater, acids, and alkalis. No corrosion occurs when immersed in seawater or in an environment with pH 1-14, and it maintains stable performance at -60℃ to 80℃ | Edges of chemical storage tanks (often in contact with weakly acidic waste liquid). No corrosion spots appear after 1 year of use | Adapting to complex corrosive environments and ensuring equipment safety |
| Self-Lubricating Property | Low surface friction coefficient | Turning points of logistics conveying equipment (for continuous material conveying). No material jamming or wear occurs | Reducing resistance and lowering wear on both sides |
| Lightweight Property | Density is only 0.93-0.94g/cm³ (1/8 of steel and 2/3 of rubber) | Installation on the side of port pontoons (a single 20mm-thick fender panel weighs only 15kg). It can be carried and installed by 2 people | Reducing investment in heavy equipment and lowering installation costs |
3. Typical Application Scenarios
3.1 Port and Terminal Protection
- Ship berthing areas: UPE fender panels are laid on the quay walls of terminals and the sides of pontoons to reduce impact damage when ships berth and protect the hull shell and terminal structures.
- Container loading and unloading areas: UPE fender panels are installed on the edges of cranes and loading-unloading platforms to prevent collision and friction during container handling and reduce equipment maintenance costs.
Recommended suitable specifications: 20-50mm thick for ship berthing areas (high-impact scenarios); 10-20mm thick for container loading and unloading areas (medium-low impact scenarios).
3.2 Logistics and Warehousing Protection
- Shelves and loading docks: UPE fender panels are pasted on the edges of warehouse shelf columns and logistics loading docks to prevent shelf deformation or loading dock damage caused by collisions from forklifts, pallets, and other equipment.
- Conveying equipment: UPE fender panels are used at the turning or connecting points of conveyer belts and roller machines to reduce friction loss during material conveying and improve conveying efficiency.
Recommended suitable specifications: 8-10mm thick for shelf columns; 8-15mm thick for turning points of conveying equipment.
3.3 Marine and Offshore Engineering
- Hull protection: UPE fender panels are installed on parts of the hull that are prone to collision, such as below the waterline, bow, and stern, to enhance the hull’s wear resistance and impact resistance.
- Offshore platforms: UPE fender panels are laid on the guardrails and support structures of offshore drilling platforms and floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units to resist wave impact and seawater corrosion.
Recommended suitable specifications: 30-50mm thick for areas below the hull’s waterline (high wear + high corrosion); 15-25mm thick for guardrails of offshore platforms.
3.4 Other Industrial Scenarios
- Bridge anti-collision: UPE fender panels are added to the surfaces of bridge piers and anti-collision guardrails to reduce damage to bridges caused by vehicle or ship collisions.
- Chemical industry and water treatment: UPE fender panels are used on the edges of chemical storage tanks and water treatment pools to resist erosion by chemical media and ensure equipment safety.
Recommended suitable specifications: 25-40mm thick for bridge piers; 10-20mm thick for edges of chemical storage tanks.
3.5 Bulk Cargo Warehousing Protection
Lining of bulk cargo silos: UPE fender panels are laid on the inner walls of equipment such as coal silos, cement silos, and mineral powder silos. Utilizing their self-lubricating and non-adhesive properties, they solve the problem of material blockage and improve transfer efficiency.
4. Key Purchasing Points: How to Choose High-Quality Products?
- Pay attention to molecular weight parameters: Choose products with a molecular weight of 3 million or more.
- Check appearance and flatness: No bubbles or cracks, and thickness tolerance ≤ 0.5mm.
- Confirm after-sales service: Ensure services such as customized cutting, installation guidance, and a product warranty of 1 year or more are provided.
- Select specifications on demand: Choose a thickness of 8-50mm based on impact intensity/area, and test samples first.
5. Key Installation and Maintenance Points (Port Scenarios)
5.1 Installation Points
- Material protection: Avoid scratching the UPE surface with sharp tools during handling and installation to prevent damage to its integrity and anti-corrosion performance. Use plastic-specific cutting tools to avoid scratching the surface with metal tools, and control the cutting accuracy within ±1mm to improve operability.
- Adaptive fixing: Precisely locate the installation position according to port tides and ship operation characteristics; use corrosion-resistant fasteners (e.g., stainless steel bolts) for fixing to ensure firm connection and no electrochemical corrosion with the UPE material.
- Joint sealing: Use UPE-specific sealants or gaskets to seal the joints and bolt holes of the product to prevent seawater from seeping into the gaps and accelerating corrosion.
5.2 Maintenance Points
- Daily cleaning: Rinse the sediment and marine organisms (such as barnacles) attached to the surface with high-pressure water every month to avoid debris accumulation affecting the protective performance; if there is oil contamination, wipe it with a neutral cleaning agent compatible with UPE.
- Regular inspection: Check the surface wear degree of the product and the tightness of fasteners every quarter. If local wear is found, it can be repaired by grinding and then applying UPE-specific wear-resistant coating; if large-area damage or structural deformation occurs, replace the components in a timely manner.
- Special inspection after extreme environments: After typhoons and storm surges, focus on checking whether UPE components have cracks or fall off due to strong impact and seawater backflow to ensure no loss of protective functions.
6. Conclusion
With its excellent material performance and scenario-specific design, UPE fender panels not only create a “impact-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and long-life” protection system for ports but also adapt to the needs of multiple scenarios such as logistics warehousing, marine and offshore engineering, and chemical water treatment. They help various industrial facilities operate stably in complex environments and are an important support for the intelligent and green operation and maintenance of modern industry.