When a design engineer needs to reduce the weight of a cylinder assembly, one of the first thoughts is to use a lighter cylinder material. Composite cylinders offer reduced weight, and Polygon Company has been supplying them for over 25 years. The company’s PolySlide® composite cylinders are lower in weight than aluminum and are similar to magnesium.

However, the real nemesis of cylinder weight typically is more a function of the piston rod rather than the barrel material. Polygon Company has engineered a new family of composite piston rods that can replace their metallic counterparts in certain applications, offering significant weight reduction.

Polygon Company’s composite piston rods have been used successfully in commercial applications, proving their worth as a method of weight reduction. An added side benefit is that composite rods are corrosion resistant. This property is especially helpful when used in machinery exposed to caustic materials and/or cleaning agents.