Specialty Belting
Conveyor systems are used in the assembly lines of nearly every mass-produced product within the food and beverage, automotive, electronics and metal fabrication industries, among many others. They are also used in packaging, recycling centers, post offices, airports and in elevators. Each of these applications requires a different type of belt that is fabricated from metal, plastic, rubber, fabric or leather. Some are flat, smooth and without cracks, while others are manufactured with holes in a grid pattern or a perforated surface. They can be inclined, horizontal or curved but must be flexible to accommodate the continuous belting that requires the belt to bend. Standard belting, on the other hand, generally made of a rubber composite, is flat, smooth and similar to conveyor belts seen in grocery store checkout lanes.
All conveyor systems that use a belt are composed of a metal frame and a series of rollers. The belt must be flexible and moves continuously around the rollers in order to transport the objects. They transport raw materials, parts, finished products and packaging from one facility area to another, and therefore many must be able to withstand multiple environments. Belts for the food and beverage processing industry are considered food grade and FDA or USDA approved for operation. They are always made either of stainless steel, which is a smooth, easily sanitized and non-contaminating metal, or a thermoplastic resin, which can withstand high temperatures and can resist prolonged exposure to moisture. Belting systems are also sometimes required to withstand prolonged extreme heat or cold. In such cases, metal or temperature-resistant plastic belts are most commonly used. Some specialty belts are fabricated with separators, corrugated sidewalls, magnetic separator pots, a cleated surface or a porous woven wire mesh surface. These specifications depend largely on the type of object being conveyed, its size, weight and bottom surface. Specialty belting is more expensive than standard belts, but since conveyor systems are each so unique among a wide range of different industries, the demand for specialty belting is large.
