hercules
engineering
about us
Cut To Size Plastics Pty Ltd is proudly associated with Hercules Engineering, one of the leading suppliers of Structural Bearings and Slip Joints in Australia. Hercules Engineering has grown steadily since 1972 and developed a positive reputation in the industry.
Now a division of Cut To Size Plastics, Hercules Engineering offers a broad range of structural products for both Government and commercial clients in Australia and overseas. Their clients represent the Construction, Infrastructure, Mining, Fuel and Energy Industries.
Services

Design
Hercules Engineering provides technical liaison with consulting engineers and architects at the design stage of a project. We provide detailed specifications and drawings.

Manufacturing
Hercules Engineering manufactures complete bearing systems for a wide range of industrial applications. Customised design and precision manufacturing are done in Australia.

Installation
Hercules Engineering provides detailed installation instructions, on-site assistance, comprehensive data sheets and highly trained staff to ensure your project runs smoothly.

Development
Hercules Engineering is consistently researching and developing new materials and designs to provide our customers with cost-efficient and quality product options.
Why Choose us?
Hercules Engineering’s business strategy is based on delivering customisable, cost-effective and sustainable solutions to prolong the service life and minimise maintenance costs for important structures. If installed correctly, our products last for the life of the structure.

Quality, customisable
Product
We provide high quality and highly customisable products to accommodate the requirements provided by engineers and contractors. We have in-house expertise, the latest software and advanced CNC machines.

in-house
expertise
Our highly trained staff can provide in-house design assistance to ensure your project is completed on-time and is compliant with all standards and regulatory requirements

Long-established business
We have more than 40 years of hands-on experience with structural bearings and slip joints, including major projects such as the ANZAC bridge, Opera House, and New Parliament House Canberra.

Support &
assistance
Our experienced team can provide support and guidance from design to installation of our products, including those on regional and remote sites. We can also provide supervision of installation works on-site.
Products
Hercuslip Composite (HSC) has been developed to fill the need for a reliable, easily applied slipjoint product on load bearing brickwork and under concrete slabs. It is specifically designed to centralise loads and accommodate initial shrinkage and subsequent thermal movement. It is ideal for post-tensioned and cast in-situ slabs.
HSC consists of a stainless steel sheet sliding against a Hercuflon coated natural rubber strip, blocked out either side with polystyrene spacer strips.
Hercuslip Composite (HSC) has been developed to fill the need for a reliable, easily applied slipjoint product on load bearing brickwork and under concrete slabs. It is specifically designed to centralise loads and accommodate initial shrinkage and subsequent thermal movement. It is ideal for post-tensioned and cast in-situ slabs.
Hercules Galvanised or Stainless Steel Grease Slipjoints (HGSJ) or (HSSJ) are a cost-effective alternative to Hercuslip Composite Slipjoints (HSC) where sliding face rotation or even weight distribution is not required. They are easily applied slip joint material, used on load bearing brickwork and under concrete slabs.
Grease Slipjoints are most commonly used under cast in-situ concrete slabs and less critical structural components.
Hercules Galvanised or Stainless Steel Grease Slipjoints (HGSJ) or (HSSJ) are a cost-effective alternative to Hercuslip Composite Slipjoints (HSC) where sliding face rotation or even weight distribution is not required. They are easily applied slip joint material, used on load bearing brickwork and under concrete slabs.
Grease Slipjoints are most commonly used under cast in-situ concrete slabs and less critical structural components.
Hercules Shearstrip (HSS) consists of a natural rubber strip blocked out either side with expanded polystyrene spacer strips taped top and bottom with adhesive tape.
Hercules Shearstrip (HSS) consists of a natural rubber strip blocked out either side with expanded polystyrene spacer strips taped top and bottom with adhesive tape.
Herculon Type D Free Float Bearings (HLD/FF) have been developed to fulfil the need for a low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±30 mm.
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Standard top slide plates have been designed to accomodate up to ±30 mm design expansion in the principle direction of movement and ±7.5 mm in transverse direction. If extra expansion or rotation capacity is required please contact our Technical Department.
Herculon Type D Free Float Bearings (HLD/FF) have been developed to fulfil the need for a low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±30 mm.
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Standard top slide plates have been designed to accomodate up to ±30 mm design expansion in the principle direction of movement and ±7.5 mm in transverse direction. If extra expansion or rotation capacity is required please contact our Technical Department.
Herculon Type D Fixed Bearings (HLD/FX) have been developed to fulfil the need for a rotation only bearing on corbels and columns. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges. These bearings are designed to be removable and to accept a lateral load of 30% of the vertical rated load.
The HLD/FX bearing consists of a mild steel top plate bonded to a fixed Hercupad, which in turn is bonded to a mild steel base plate. Two shear pins are provided to transfer the lateral loads.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Type D Fixed Bearings (HLD/FX) have been developed to fulfil the need for a rotation only bearing on corbels and columns. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges. These bearings are designed to be removable and to accept a lateral load of 30% of the vertical rated load.
The HLD/FX bearing consists of a mild steel top plate bonded to a fixed Hercupad, which in turn is bonded to a mild steel base plate. Two shear pins are provided to transfer the lateral loads.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Type D Sliding Guided (HLD/SG) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for a low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges. These bearings are designed to be removable and to accept a lateral load of 30% of the vertical rated load.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±40 mm.
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Type D Sliding Guided (HLD/SG) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for a low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under beams and slabs and also under pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels and small span bridges. These bearings are designed to be removable and to accept a lateral load of 30% of the vertical rated load.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±40 mm.
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Type D Tank Top (HLD/TT) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for an easily installed low friction bearing under roof beams of water tanks. They are particularly useful where loads are small and both lateral and uplift forces need to be accommodated. They can also be used in other light structures.
The HLD/TT bearing consists of a thin stainless steel slide plate with two stainless steel studs flash welded to the upper face. The lower face is highly polished and the plate is
provided with two slotted holes for uplift through-bolts. This plate slides against a Hercuflon coated Hercupad which has two clearance holes drilled in it.
There is only one type of HLD/TT bearing available but it is available in five sizes depending upon working load requirements (see Table 3-10). Bearings having larger
capacities or of different dimensions than those listed can be designed by our Technical Department.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.01 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Type D Tank Top (HLD/TT) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for an easily installed low friction bearing under roof beams of water tanks. They are particularly useful where loads are small and both lateral and uplift forces need to be accommodated. They can also be used in other light structures.
The HLD/TT bearing consists of a thin stainless steel slide plate with two stainless steel studs flash welded to the upper face. The lower face is highly polished and the plate is
provided with two slotted holes for uplift through-bolts. This plate slides against a Hercuflon coated Hercupad which has two clearance holes drilled in it.
There is only one type of HLD/TT bearing available but it is available in five sizes depending upon working load requirements (see Table 3-10). Bearings having larger
capacities or of different dimensions than those listed can be designed by our Technical Department.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05 – 0.08 depending on stress.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.01 radians.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
Herculon Modified Type D (HLMD) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for a simple, low friction, highly stressed bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under cast in-situ and post-tensioned slabs and beams.
HLMD bearings consist of a stainless steel top plate roughened on the upper surface andpolished on the lower. This steel plate slides against a Hercuflon coated Hercupad.
There are two basic types of HLMB bearing available:
- Standard, and
- Seismic
The seismic bearings are manufactured from the same materials as the standard bearings but they have greater all round expansion capacity (±50 mm) to accommodate the larger movements which occur during seismic shock.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm (standard), up to ±50 mm all round (seismic).
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians
Herculon Modified Type D (HLMD) Bearings have been developed to fulfil the need for a simple, low friction, highly stressed bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under cast in-situ and post-tensioned slabs and beams.
HLMD bearings consist of a stainless steel top plate roughened on the upper surface andpolished on the lower. This steel plate slides against a Hercuflon coated Hercupad.
There are two basic types of HLMB bearing available:
- Standard, and
- Seismic
The seismic bearings are manufactured from the same materials as the standard bearings but they have greater all round expansion capacity (±50 mm) to accommodate the larger movements which occur during seismic shock.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.05.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm (standard), up to ±50 mm all round (seismic).
- Maximum contact stress 10 MPa.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.02 radians
Herculon Modified Type B (HLMB) Bearings (see Fig 2-1) have been developed to fulfil the need for a simple, low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under cast in-situ and post-tensioned slabs and beams.
There are two basic types of HLMB bearing available:
- Standard
- Seismic
The seismic bearings are manufactured from the same materials as the standard bearings but they have greater all round expansion capacity (±50 mm) to accommodate the larger movements which occur during seismic shock.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.06.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm (standard), up to ±50 mm (seismic).
- Maximum contact stress 3 MPa.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.006 radians.
If you require a highly stressed bearing we recommend Type “D”
Herculon Modified Type B (HLMB) Bearings (see Fig 2-1) have been developed to fulfil the need for a simple, low friction bearing on corbels and columns where a continuous slipjoint is inappropriate. They can be used under cast in-situ and post-tensioned slabs and beams.
There are two basic types of HLMB bearing available:
- Standard
- Seismic
The seismic bearings are manufactured from the same materials as the standard bearings but they have greater all round expansion capacity (±50 mm) to accommodate the larger movements which occur during seismic shock.
The following design limitations are recommended:
- Coefficient of friction 0.06.
- Expansion capacity up to ±20 mm (standard), up to ±50 mm (seismic).
- Maximum contact stress 3 MPa.
- Maximum temperature 80°C.
- Maximum rotation up to 0.006 radians.
If you require a highly stressed bearing we recommend Type “D”