4 Ways to Reduce Conveyor Belt Damage
Conveyor belts form integral components to many factory and warehouse operations. Used day in and day out it’s no wonder that they see significant wear and tear, and even damage.
The team here at Leverlink live and breathe all things conveyor belts and over the last two decades plus of supply and service we’ve come to understand just about everything there is to know about these engineering marvels.
What is a conveyor belt?
Conveyor belts are used to carry a wide variety of objects, contents and items. While there are many different types of systems–each made up of slightly different components–they all function in the same way: A carrying medium in the form of a closed loop around which the belt rotates.
Conveyor belts are widely used in various commercial and industrial applications and even in some other instances, such as airports.
How long should my belt last?
The length of time you should expect your conveyor belt to last is a difficult question to answer. There are numerous factors at play and that can affect the level of damage your belt is exposed to.
In general, a conveyor belt should last years with more than 10 years being considered a good run. In applications, such as mine sites, where environmental exposure and the nature of the goods being transported are more abrasive or heavier, the lifespan of a belt may be less.
Ongoing wear, general fatigue, overstress from what is being carried and damage through accidents can all impact the lifespan of your conveyor belt.
How to prevent conveyor belt damage?
As with many things in life and business, one of the best ways to treat a problem is not to treat it at all but actually to prevent it! The same holds true when it comes to industrial equipment, conveyor belts in particular.
With the hustle and bustle of everyday operations it can be easy and tempting to simply ignore any issues and just deal with a problem when it arises and begs to be attended to. But for numerous reasons this is less than ideal.
For one, you will be actually spending more money in the long term having to repair or even replace your belt. Secondly, proper maintenance and damage prevention can help to reduce the likelihood that your conveyor belt will break down and disrupt ongoing operations. Few businesses can afford sustained disruption to their operations.
1. Install conveyor belt supports
Over time and through sustained use, sagging can occur between the different rollers along your conveyor belt. This can not only cause subpar operation of the belt itself but over time can worse and cause other issues.
Installing conveyor belt supports can prevent this from happening. By keeping the belt itself flattened and by ensuring that the smooth straight edge meets the skirting, you can minimise the amount of sagging and the risk of leakage.
Fortunately, Leverlink provides professional conveyor belt edge supports. Our experienced team knows exactly how to future-proof your belt for maximum operation and minimum downtime.
2. Select effective sealing for conveyor
Using effective sealing on a conveyor belt can help to shield the system from things like dust or particulates. With ongoing and regular maintenance to ensure the sealing is holding up and continually effective, you can significantly reduce wear and tear, and lengthen the life of the belt itself.
3. Ensure belt alignment of conveyor
You may be surprised at how often badly aligned or misaligned conveyor belts occur. To ensure the best operation and longevity of your belt you need to make sure that it is aligned and installed properly. Apart from risking damage to your goods and damage to the belt itself, if the alignment is not correct your belt will suffer from significantly more wear and tear.
If your conveyor belt wasn’t installed by our reputable team here at Leverlink, we suggest you schedule an onsite review of your system. For those past customers of ours, make sure you schedule in regular maintenance with our team so that we can keep on top of any misalignment that may only occur during the course of your operations.
4. Install belt cleaning systems
Keeping your machinery and equipment clean is very important in ensuring its seamless operation and durability. Your conveyor belt is no different. In fact, with the amount of operation and use that you expect from your belt, it’s often even more important to ensure regularly scheduled cleaning is conducted.
Fortunately, there are highly effective and economical belt cleaning systems to help you get the job done. Whatever can be automated should be automated, and while it may cost some level of investment today, it’s going to save you more than its money’s worth tomorrow.
Bonus: Ensure your belt shows the proper tension
The effectiveness of a conveyor belt often depends on the belt itself exhibiting the proper level of tension. The belt needs to look, feel and actually be firm. If the tension is not correct, your belt may bow and slack when up and running, and cause damage to the goods it is carrying or to itself.
But how do you properly tension a belt when installing? You don’t! We do! The Leverlink team don’t believe in shortcuts and rush-jobs. We take the time and make the effort to ensure that every conveyor belt we install and service works like a charm.
Looking for quality? Choose Leverlink
As the leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of stored energy dynamic impact beds and motor bases for conveyors, we know a thing or two about all things belts.
With total control over the quality of our products and installations, we’re happy to put our money where our mouths (or hands) are. So, if you’re concerned about sustained damage to your conveyor belt or just want to find out more ways to reduce further wear and tear, give our maintenance team a call today.
