Rubber belting is a crucial piece of equipment in bulk material handling operations. It directly impacts the efficiency and longevity of your operations. Whether you are in metal processing, mining, construction, manufacturing, or any other sector- the right conveyor belt keeps your business on track. It ensures smooth material flow, consistent uptime, and a high ROI at the end of your business financial year.
But how do you buy rubber conveyor belt for your requirements? Do you listen to a fellow businessman or research on your own? What is easier? Well, what worked for your companion may not work for you. Additionally, if you do not understand the technical terms- self-research would be futile.
Then what is the solution? Yes, you have guessed it right, this specialist-written blog is! Before you select a product only based on rubber conveyor belt price, walk through this piece of writing.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the essential factors to consider when selecting rubber belting. We will also explain how different belt types can meet the unique requirements of various industries.
What should you consider while choosing rubber belting?
A rubber belt can be abrasion-resistant (M24 conveyor belt), FR-grade (fire resistant conveyor belt), HR-grade (heat resistant conveyor belt), CR-grade (chemical-resistant conveyor belt), etc. A food grade conveyor belt is also there. There can be 7 different types of conveyor belts as per data updated in 2024.
It can be a time-consuming and costly process if you are unsure about the most suitable industrial conveyor belt for your operations.
You should consider:
1. Type of Material Conveyed
When you buy a conveyor belt, prioritize the nature of the material your belt will handle. This also determines the rubber conveyor belt price.
- Sharp, Abrasive Materials: For sharp or abrasive materials like rocks, minerals, or glass, you need a belt that offers high abrasion resistance. Duratuf General Purpose rubber belting can handle the extra wear and tear.
- Heavy Loads: In mining or construction, where heavy loads are common, you’ll need a belt that can support high tension without stretching or breaking.
- Lightweight, Fragile Items: In packaging or food processing industries, you may want a lighter, more flexible rubber belt for handling the lighter and delicate elements.
2. Environmental Conditions
Heat, UV, snow, and rain are the enemies of a natural rubber conveyor belt, according to most conveyor belt manufacturers. Thus, environmental conditions determine the life span of your conveyor system to a large extent.
- High-temperature: In GCC countries like UAE or Saudi Arabia, the temperature stays on the extreme side. Along with scorching sunlight during the day, the rubber covers have to withstand layers of frost at night. Therefore, whenever you think of buying a conveyor belt in these regions, check for a quality-certified product.
- Outdoor or Indoor use: Where will you install the conveyor belts? If you are installing it outdoors, choose a UV and weather-resistant cover.
- Moisture or chemicals: In tropical areas with high humidity, buy rubber conveyor belt that is water-retardant. Such rubber belting is more beneficial to use not only in tropical areas but also in industries like recycling plants and petrochemical and chemical processing units.
3. Durability of the Rubber Belting
Every buyer wants to purchase a ‘durable rubber conveyor belt’, and every seller surely promotes their product to be durable. But, have you ever thought about the operational areas where you truly require a durable conveyor belt?
Durability depends on the capacity of a conveyor belt to perform under mechanical stress. The elements of mechanical stress are:
- Impact: For materials that drop from a height on the rubber belts- the cover has to sustain the tremendous rigor of the activity. Thus, you should buy a 4 or 5-ply conveyor belt with sturdy insertions here.
- Abrasion: Conveyed materials can have high cut and gouge properties. Moreover, some items may have smaller sizes but finer edges. An M24 rubber belting is suitable here.
- Tensile strength: Industries that involve heavy lifting, high tension, or long conveyor lengths require rubber belting with more tensile strength.
4. Industry Specific Standards
Certain industries like construction, mining, and food processing strictly focus on safety standards.
- Food grade rubber conveyor belt: Food processing units require an FDA-approved food grade rubber conveyor belt. A food grade rubber belting implies that the rubber product does not contain any harmful fillers that can contaminate the food items.
- Electrical or Fire-Sensitive Environments: For industrial works prone to fire hazards, buy FR-grade conveyor belts. These belts come with self-extinguishable properties. Fire resistant conveyor belts are popular in metal processing industries.
5. Belt Dimension and Configuration
Conveyor belt length, width, and thickness are not the same for all industrial areas. There are:
- Long conveyor belts: For long conveyor systems, buy rubber conveyor belts with durable textile reinforcements.
- Narrow Belts: A narrower, flexible rubber belt will suffice for a smaller conveyor system.
- Inclines and Declines: For conveying materials at an incline or decline, Chevron or Cleated rubber belts offer improved grip for steep angles.
In a Nutshell
The right rubber belting enhances the performance of your business. Therefore, deciding solely on the rubber conveyor belt price may not work for you at the end of the day. This blog has covered 5 major decision-making factors for a conveyor belt buyer.
If you require more guidance, talk to us. We are just 60 minutes away from you!