Here are the 5 most important points to ask about:
1. How strong is the bond?
One of the most important factors to check when choosing a conveyor belt is its strength. To choose the right strength of tape, you need to know the load the tape will be subjected to. How many tons per hour (t/h), lifting height, length of conveyor, engine power and angle of inclination. Whether it’s a soft or abrupt start also matters. For particularly heavy loads, belt manufacturers can help with calculations.
You can quickly check how strong a conveyor belt is by looking at the product designation itself.
Example:
A tape could be labeled ‘EP400/3 – 4+2’, where letters and numbers describe different elements. Here’s a brief explanation:
- The first numbers in the product designation, in this case ‘400’, describe strength in terms of newtons per millimeter (n/mm)
- The number just behind the slash, the ‘3’ number stands for the number of layers
- The numbers ‘4+2’ describe how much rubber there is on each side. top layer (‘4’), and how much rubber is on the underside of the tape (‘2’).
- The letters stand for the type of fabric/material in the belt. In this case ‘EP’, which is the most common in standard belts, is made of polyester-polyamide.
There are countless combinations of qualities, for example: 250/2, 315/3, 500/3, 630/4, 1000/4, 1250/5 etc. The number combinations give an overall indication of strength.
The actual strength can be documented in the test certificate for each roll, which states how much force is required before the tape breaks. You may want to take a look at this to check the actual strength of the tape.
2. How much wear and tear can it withstand?
Another very important quality indicator that you may want to check is how much wear and tear the conveyor belt can withstand. It is often referred to as ‘abrasion’ in the test specification, and describes how many cubic millimeters (mm3) are worn off in a fixed test cycle. (PS! This is tested in practice by using a machine in which they put a sample piece and sand it with certified abrasive media). Here, the quality indication is the opposite of wear resistance (n/mm). So a lower number and number of cubic millimeters worn off means a more wear-resistant belt.
For example, the standard DIN norm for a Y-quality tape is 150 mm3. This means that the belts should have an ‘abrasion’ or wear that is lower than this level. Note that there is a very large distance from the maximum ‘abrasion’ in Y-quality, which is 150 mm3, down to the best belts within Y-standard, which are often between 110 and 120 mm3.
3. Does it fit the drum?
The diameter of the drive and turning drum must be considered before choosing a conveyor belt. With small diameter drums, you should not choose a conveyor belt that has too many layers of cloths. A thick conveyor belt with many layers should not be bent too hard. Then the different layers of rubber can be separated from each other. This happens if you have too small a drum diameter.
Example:
If you need to haul a lot of mass on a steep uphill slope, you need a strong conveyor belt. Such a tape will have several layers of fabric, perhaps up to 4 layers of rubber. Then it has great thickness. If you then have a small drum, the four layers start to separate and the strength disappears.
4. Do I need a special tape?
We have examples of trials with special tapes and specially adapted constructions of tapes that have multiplied their lifespan. In situations where the load is high, there are alternatives with extra good rubber that should be used.
If you have a belt that is directly under a large crusher, where there is a fall of heavy stones or you have a conveyor of several hundred meters, you may want to consider an alternative and choose a belt with stronger rubber, multiple layers and thick cores.
Read more:
Avoid conveyor belt misalignment in 10 simple steps
In such cases, you can check the ‘tensile strenght’ of the tape in the inspection certificate. This will give you a good indication of what the tape can withstand in terms of shocks and heavy loads.
5. What are the manufacturer’s quality requirements for the tape?
Conveyor belts with quality rubber from European manufacturers have significantly stricter quality requirements than the standard DIN norm. Well-known brands have modern factories and established production routines. This ensures that the quality is consistent every time a conveyor belt rolls out of the factory. In addition, they test the wear factor and strength of their conveyor belts. Some also provide a test certificate to guarantee that what you get is of the quality they promise.
We’re happy to help you find the right product
When ordering, you may often only specify the desired quality, width and thickness of the tape.
You may want to provide additional details about, among other things:
- quantity (tons per hour)
- what kind of mass to be transported
- the specific usage situation
If you ask the questions and check the various points above when buying conveyor belts, you will be in a better position to buy the right belt for your application. When it comes to purchasing conveyor belts, it may not be the purchase price that matters most. The most important thing is that you make a thorough assessment of your characteristics and needs. Choosing the right tape for your needs will have a positive impact on production and you will achieve the best possible durability per ton produced in the long term.