Patent ID: 6837365

Claim:
An article of manufacture for a conveyor line with minimal surface friction, said article of manufacture comprising: a. a thin elongated metal core with a substantially flat front face and an opposing substantially flat back face, said metal core further having a spaced hole pattern extending substantially the full length thereof, for aiding in bending of the metal core, wherein each hole in the hole pattern extends from the front face to the opposed back face of the metal core and the holes are substantially uniformly spaced; and b. an integral UHMW polyethylene cladding system attached to the front face and the back face of the metal core, said cladding system (i) substantially covering the full front face of the metal core, (ii) substantially covering the full back face of the metal core and (iii) extending fully through each hole in the spaced hole pattern for filling each said hole in a connecting manner and for forming the integral cladding system, whereby the metal core provides sufficient strength to the article of manufacture to withstand shearing forces and further whereby the integral cladding system provides a surface along which items can move with minimal travel friction.