Modern Quarrying Quarter 1 2021

A conveyor belt failure can bring an aggregates operation to a standstill, which is frustrating because the cost of downtime is expensive. Trucks hauling product can’t unload, and the conveyors are forced to stop and wait until the belt is repaired or replaced. By Mike Schroeder, product specialist at WCCO Belting. THE BASICS OF SELECTING AN IDEAL CONVEYOR BELT M any believe that belt failure is part of the cost of doing business, but it doesn’t have to be. Conveyor belting can be engineered with optimal technologies to support your application and equipment design. Working with an experienced belting manufacturer can help with increased performance and system efficiency to boost your bottom line. Through the lens of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of custom rubber belting products, here are a few considerations for preventing downtime and determining belt specifications when you are designing and operating a conveyor system. All belts are not created equal Conveyor belts are typically an afterthought, often regarded as just another component part. The reality is, the belt is the essence of the conveyor system. Although the physical differ- ences from one belt to the next can be indecipherable to the untrained eye, the right belt will make or, quite literally, break your operation. Similar to how the right set of tyres will improve the performance of a car with increased gas mileage, improved traction control, better handling and a smoother ride, having the right belt will improve the performance of your conveyor system. The right belt will reduce downtime, repairs and energy consumption, while improving capacity and equipment efficiency. A bit of desk research can help purchasing managers identify experienced manufacturers with service-friendly reputations to guide you through the belt decision-making process. If you are involved with the product development and manufacturing of aggregate conveyor equipment, working with qualified belting

CONVEYOR BELTS

experts early in your design process can improve the function of your future conveyor system. For maintenance personnel, no one understands the pain of downtime better than you. Belting experts can help you analyse the issues to support the problem-solving process. Enlist a belting industry expert When you speak to a belting expert, don’t be surprised if the first discussion doesn’t involve belting at all. If they are trying to provide you with a genuine product solution, they will want to learn about your conveyor system and application. A belt that works well in the logging industry may not work as well in the aggregate industry. A belt in the aggregate industry likely would be overkill in the agricultural industry. The same holds true when comparing one type of conveyor to another within the same industry. A good supplier will want to define the factors or features of the conveyor system that will impact the performance of the conveyor belt. To determine friction force, they might ask what the belt will be running on, or to understand roller

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 - 2021