At Antares, the tube (roller core) at the heart of every paint roller is made in-house. We do not buy tubes. Our extrusion line in Ruse, Bulgaria, produces them from polymer granules.

How the line works

The granules are dosed gravimetrically and fed into the extruder, where they are melted and shaped into a tube in the extrusion head. In a vacuum cooling tank the tube is calibrated to its exact outer diameter and hardens. A puller draws it at a constant speed, controlled by encoders and a PLC. An orbital cutter cuts it to the set length on the move, so the line does not stop between cuts.

Technical data

• Materials: polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) or polyamide (PA)
• Tube diameters: 15, 17, 25, 42 and 52 mm (the tube diameter is the roller diameter)
• Cut length: up to 4,000 mm, and any shorter length
• Output: 10,080 to 20,640 metres per 24 hours
• Continuous operation

Process control

Gravimetric dosing keeps the amount of material per metre constant. Vacuum calibration sets the outer diameter, and the constant pulling speed sets the wall thickness. Cutting on the move gives repeatable lengths without stopping the line. Diameter, wall thickness and length are controlled independently of each other.

What this means for you

A consistent outer diameter means an accurate fit: the roller assembles tightly, turns without wobble and does not work loose in use. Because we make the tube ourselves, we control the roller from the very first operation, with no outside supplier, no import lead time and no dependence on someone else's schedule. Non-standard lengths are made on the same line.

Frequently asked questions

Does Antares produce its own paint roller cores?

Yes. Antares extrudes the tubes (cores) for its paint rollers in-house in Ruse, Bulgaria, from granules to cut-to-length tube. No cores are bought from outside suppliers.

Which core diameters does Antares produce?

15, 17, 25, 42 and 52 mm, extruded and vacuum-calibrated on our own line. The core diameter is the roller diameter.

Can Antares make paint rollers in non-standard lengths?

Yes. The cores are cut to length in-line, so non-standard roller lengths up to 500 mm are possible on request.

See our paint rollers or learn about private label production.