Choosing the appropriate conveyor belt for your business is one of the most critical and yet overlooked detail. The type of material it is made up of is vital to the success of the application. Having the wrong belt can significantly affect throughout the process, downtime, and safety.
Conveyors are mechanical devices made of shaped steel, used to move items or packages with minimal effort. They comprise frames that support rollers, wheels, shaped steel, or material such as gravel or aggregate.
There are many reasons why conveyor belts are so ubiquitous, but among the most important is their versatility. Different conveyor belting options, configurations, and other specifications are combined and customized to accommodate a variety of needs and specifications.
Are you interested in knowing more about the different conveyor belt types and its uses? Take a look at our comprehensive guide below to get more information about the types, applications, and more.
General Purpose Belts
This broad group of belting is typically made of an inner carcass and an outer shield. The materials used for these belts have rubber, PVC, Urethane, Neoprene, Nylon, Nitrile, Polyester, leather, and others. Belt properties determine the conveyor belt’s primary uses. For instance, mining and milling industries use rubber to handle bulk materials including raw ore and aggregates. Grocery stores usually use PVC conveyor belts, and airports may use neoprene, polyester, or rubber for baggage handling.
These materials possibly feature different coatings, thicknesses, and arrangements to deliver a variety of handling properties. Some also offer food safety ratings while others perform well in extreme temperatures. Other standard features of general-purpose belt include high or low friction levels and specific bulk-handling structuring.
Plastic Belting and Chain
These are light-weight, durable, and are available for use in different industries. The most common use of these belts is in areas where rust and wear resistance are highly present. Areas include food production and processing, pharmaceutical, packaging, and manufacturing industries among others.
Common industry names for this type of belting include TableTop, MatTop, Angled Roller Belting, and MicroSpan. Uses include:
Food production
Packaging
Pharmaceuticals
Manufacturing
Hinged Metal Belts
Hinged belts often feature metal construction liked shaped steel. The hinged belt gives a flat, stable surface; capable of rotating around the pulley system via interlocking hinges. Hinge metal belts are incredibly durable and are often used for machine chip and scrap removal from shaped steel.
Companies use hinged belts for a small product, scrap, and recycling applications. Due to their rigidity, they can stand up to rigorous use.
Woven Wire Belting
These are high and low-temperature conveyor belts whose extensive utilization is highly recommended in areas where rapid drying is required. These belts feature interlinking chains or shaped steel designed to allow airflow as an item moves ahead. Businesses generally use woven belts to facilitate drying, cooling, and heating processes in the food, electronics, and glass-working industries.
Manufacturers offer pre-fabricate woven belt designs or custom design a woven belt to meet a customer’s specific application needs.
Flat Wire Belting
As the name suggests, flat wire belting has a flat surface making it ideal for food handling as it is more economical at times compared to woven wire belting. These belts are made purely from wire mesh.
With the level of high aeration presented in the belt, the conveyor is suitable for use in the food industry, especially for drying of food.
More uses of this type of belting include:
Canning and food preparation
Baking and freezing food
Parts painting/drying
Product sorting, assembly, and packaging
Parts transfer
PVC Conveyor Belts
PVC conveyor belts, otherwise known as solid woven conveyor belts, are used in the mining industry to transport aggregates, materials, and fines from the open-pit or underground mines to the mine plant or the stacker system. PVC is used in underground and above-ground applications and is known for its anti-corrosion properties. Due to its flexible nature, it puts less strain on the conveyor support. It is resistant to corrosion damage, impact damage, and remains unaffected by oil and bacteria.
PVC conveyors are very easy to install, and there are numerous varieties of PVC belt weaves with varying levels of strength and resistant properties.
Rubber Belting
Rubber conveyor belts are used in mining projects as well as other industrial applications. As an inexpensive alternative to the PVC belts, rubber belts provide astute anti-corrosion properties. Rubber belts offer flexible support for delivering materials. However, these belts are not resistant to tearing and impact damage as the solid woven belts.
Food Industry Conveyor Belts
Much like the metal conveyor belts, food industry belts are made primarily from metal composites. The food industry often requires complex conveyor systems for the various stages of the food production process, so each wire belt system needs to be customized for the operation at hand.
Slat/Apron
Apron/Slat conveyors are product handling systems that use shaped steel, wood, or other materials typically mounted on roller chains to convey products. These conveyors are mainly required in material handling applications for moving large, hefty objects including crates, drums, or pallets in heavy-industry settings. The slats make way for heavy duty use with less wear and tear. These conveyor systems are usually automated and come in many sizes and load capacities.
Beltless Magnetic
These conveyor belts are material handling systems that use moving magnets beneath stationary plates. This is done to move magnetic (ferrous) materials usually in the form of machining scrap. Key specifications include the intended application of conveyed product, throughput, and electrical requirements. Systems can be horizontal, vertical, or combinations.
When you have the correct belt for the job, it becomes easier to reach your targets than when you have the wrong ones. Once used, the belt can be cleaned, maintained, and replaced whenever necessary.
We will help you choose the right conveyor system for your industrial, mining or automotive application needs. Contact us, so that we can help you with all your conveyor belt system needs.