Important Factors to Consider While Selecting a Conveyor Belt

Author: Dorinda

Jun. 05, 2025

Chemicals

Important Factors to Consider While Selecting a Conveyor Belt

Important Factors to Consider While Selecting a Conveyor Belt

A conveyor belt is one important parts of the conveyor system which contributes to the progress of the industrial sector. It is widely used for distribution, transportation, and handling of materials in warehouse, assembly lines and many other places such as airports. Conveying various types of materials including sand, coal, and grains have become easy because of this efficient device. The conveyor belt is used in various industries such as manufacturing and packaging industries, food producing industries, power plants, textiles industries, and more.

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The conveyor system won’t function well if your conveyor belt is weak or stiff. To keep your system running effortlessly, you need to choose an appropriate conveyor belt. With so many choices out there, how you are going to select the right belt for your system? Here are some important tips that will help you to make an easy decision.

Factors to Consider While Selecting a Conveyor Belt

Various things come into consideration while choosing a conveyor belt for a project or system. The first key point to consider is the type of material used to construct the belt. The conveyor belt is made from various materials such as rubber, polyester, leather, nylon and more. Several key considerations are:

Dimensions: There’s a lot that goes into selecting an appropriate conveyor belt for your system, but some of the most important considerations are the length and width of the belt. Taking care of the accurate dimensions for your belt is imperative to the best belt selection. The process of gathering dimensions enables your belting representative to rule out some belt constructions.

Product Specifications: Listing the type of products being conveyed on the conveyor belt is a critical step in selecting the best belting option for your application. Significant details include the weight, size, and type of the products being conveyed.

Weight: The weight of the product is one of the important considerations while selecting an appropriate belt because heavy materials can bend or wrap the belt. To keep the system running properly you will need to determine the weight of your product.

Size: The size of the product should be the next consideration when you purchase a belt. Your product should fit comfortably on the belt surface. If not, it can get entangled in the conveying machine.

Type: The type of conveyor belt you choose should be as per the product you need to transport. For example, if you are planning to transport metal products then you need something that withstands with sharp edges and filings.

Decline or Incline Requirements: You need to consider the movement of the conveyor when you choose the best for your applications. If the belt moves in an upward or downward direction, there might be a chance that the product sitting on it would slip or shift. To avoid this, the belt should have a stopper that will keep your product in place.

Environmental Conditions: Environmental conditions must be considered before you purchase a belt. It is important to understand the type of environment in which your conveyor will be placed. Some belts made of certain materials may not be able to withstand extreme hot or cold temperatures. Also, the material transported is important. For instance, if oil cans are transported, and by any chance, the oil spills onto the container, it may hamper the working.

There are various factors you should keep in mind when selecting a conveyor belt, here are some of the more essential ones:

Material: Your conveyor belt should be constructed from materials suitable to its application. These materials have different properties such as durability, flexibility and resistance to chemicals, heat and abrasion.

Dimension of Conveyor Belt Width and Length:For optimal results, conveyor belt size should match both its width and length as well as any products being transported on it.

Load Capacity: For optimal operation, conveyor systems should have enough weight capacity to safely move all products being transported on them, including their weight and dimensions.

Speed: Your conveyor belt should operate at an optimal speed for your application while simultaneously protecting both workers and products in transit.

Maintainability: Conveyor Belts should be easy to keep up and repair, with readily available parts and services for repairs or maintenance needs.

All the above-mentioned points are just some of the important considerations when selecting a conveyor belt for your application. Without the proper selection of conveyor belt, your products, systems and workers would be at risk of injury or damage. Read about belt conveyor MAINTENANCE TIPS EXPLAINED

If you have still confusion over how to select a conveyor belt or you need an expert opinion there are many reliable manufacturers and suppliers of conveyor belts who provide assistance in this regard. JM Industrial is a well-known reseller of used conveyors in USA. The company offers wide ranges of belt conveyors at competitive prices.

Choosing the Right Conveyor Belt

The Conveyor Belt Material you choose is crucial to ensure optimum performance and durability in a given environment. Your choice will depend on your specific application, working environment, the nature of the materials transported, and economic constraints. The materials used for conveyor belts vary widely, and each offers distinct advantages and limitations.

Rubber is one of the most commonly used materials for conveyor belts, thanks to its versatility and durability. It resists abrasions, cuts, and tears, making it ideal for transporting heavy or sharp materials. Rubber can also be formulated to withstand extreme temperatures, chemicals, and oils, making it suitable for industries such as mining, construction, and waste treatment.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is another material frequently used for conveyor belts, particularly in the food industry, where hygiene is a major concern. PVC belts are easy to clean and resistant to chemicals and moisture. They are also less expensive than other materials, making them an economical choice for many applications.

Polyurethane (PU) is preferred for applications where durability and flexibility are required. It is particularly resistant to wear, cuts, oil and grease. PU belts are often used in the food and pharmaceutical industries and in the processing of bulk materials where contamination must be avoided.

Fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and cotton are also used to manufacture conveyor belts. These materials offer good tensile strength and are suitable for transporting light to medium loads. Fabric belts are often used in the paper, printing, and textile industries.

Metals, such as steel or stainless steel, are used in applications requiring high resistance to heat or corrosion. They are often used in foundries, industrial bakeries, or for transporting hot materials.

Composite materials such as glass- or Kevlar-reinforced belts, are used in applications requiring exceptional tensile strength and low elongation. These lightweight belts can withstand very heavy loads, making them ideal for the aerospace industry.

How to Choose a Mining Conveyor Belt

Conveyor belt systems play a crucial role in the mining industry, making operations more efficient and less costly. A mining conveyor belt transports mined materials from the site to loading areas or processing facilities. Choosing the right mining conveyor belt depends on the needs of your business.

Understanding Mining Conveyor Belts

At the heart of a conveyor system lies the mining conveyor belt, essential for moving ore and various materials from the mining site to processing units or loading zones. These belts, powered by motors running on electricity or alternative sources, come in various compositions, including plastic or rubber compounds, fabric materials, and steel cables. Supported by rollers, these belts move materials efficiently and safely at a set speed.

Composition of Conveyor Belts

Typically, a conventional conveyor belt comprises three layers:

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The top layer or cover supports the product during transit.

The middle layer, also known as the carcass, provides additional support, often made of metal or woven fabric.

The bottom cover completes the belt’s structure.

types of conveyor belts

Selecting the correct conveyor belt system type is vital for ensuring safe and efficient operations, as using the wrong type can lead to detrimental consequences and unplanned downtime. The various conveyor belt types include:

Straight-warp: Ideal for tunnelling, used in rock quarries and crushers. They feature impact and tear resistance, with yarns and polyamide on both sides.

Multi-ply: Characterized by multiple fabric layers separated by rubber, these belts are durable and suitable for underground applications.

Steel-cord: Employing steel cables along the belt’s length, these are designed for underground applications.

Solid woven belts: More common in Europe and Asia, less so in the U.S.
Heat-resistant: Built to withstand high temperatures.

Choosing the Right Mining Conveyor Belt

Application and environment are top considerations when selecting a mining conveyor belt. Consider tensile strength requirements, cover thickness, and type based on the material transported and loading method. For example, conveyors in temperature-controlled warehouses transporting light materials have different demands than those moving heavy products in underground mines.

Differentiate between above-ground and underground belts. Above-ground belts, typically made of highly flammable petrochemicals, pose a safety hazard if used underground. In contrast, underground mining belts incorporate flame-resistant materials and special agents to reduce friction and increase fire resistance.

For surface or above-ground belts, consider the properties of transported materials, including humidity levels, granularity, and abrasion characteristics. The nature of transported materials significantly affects belt lifespan; abrasive materials can damage the belt more quickly.

Additional Considerations

Service Life: Consider durability based on your environment; belts in mines and quarries have different demands than factory lines.

Temperature: High-temperature materials can damage belts; select a belt with appropriate thermal properties.

Fireproofing: For underground conveyors, ensure compliance with fire resistance requirements like MSHA Part 14.

Pulley Diameter: The recommended diameter varies depending on the belt fabric thickness.

Corrosion-Resistance: Important in fluctuating environments, mainly underground.

Belt Width & Length: Know your sizing requirements, as belts vary significantly in width and size based on application.

Luff Industries Quality Engineering and Expertise

While numerous components power a conveyor system, the belt is a critical part that warrants careful consideration. Understanding the types, compositions, and application-specific requirements of conveyor belts is essential in selecting the right one for your system, ensuring safety, efficiency, and operation longevity.

Leveraging our deep industry expertise and insights, we recognize the unique demands of various conveyor belt applications. Our dedicated team works hand-in-hand with every client, meticulously evaluating their specific needs and obstacles. Based on this, we craft and engineer conveyor belt system solutions that suit their distinct needs, guaranteeing superior performance, efficiency, and longevity.

Partnering with Luff Industries means you’ll get a custom conveyor belt system designed not just to meet but exceed expectations, enabling your operations to function smoothly and effectively.

Choosing the Right Conveyor for Your Needs - Challenger Group

When choosing a conveyor system there are a fair few things you should think about before going ahead and buying one.  There are lots of different choices when it comes to conveyor belts such as size, weight, capacity, length, material so knowing how the system is going to be used is key to help you decide what the best option is for you. Here are some of the things we recommend you think about to help you make the best decision:

What belting options are available? What products are you going to be transporting using your conveyor system? What material, size and weight will they be?  Different types of conveyor system are suitable for different tasks. For example, a general conveyor system is suitable (not surprisingly, given the name) for a wide range of applications. They are oil resistant, heat resistant and troughed for ease of moving large products. A plastic belting however would be more suitable for handling smaller products and a wire belt is most suited to handling food products. Inclined conveyors are for moving products from one floor to another.

How easy is it to repair and can I get spare parts in case of a breakdown? - You want to choose a system that has widely available spare parts or parts available from the supplier.  At Challenger we take care of all after sales needs and endeavour to solve problems if they arise.

Buy old or buy new?  It may be that you decide that a used conveyor will do the job for you.  If this is the case make sure you thoroughly inspect it beforehand and be aware of it’s predicted life expectancy.

Safety - Of course safety is critical.  Your new system must meet safety standards for example, having an immediate shutdown if anything gets caught in the system.

Energy consumption - Nowadays with rising costs, a lot of thought needs to be put into this. Are the costs of running it going to be worth it in the long run?

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Coal Mine Steel Core Conveyor Belt.

Also, think not just of your current needs but also what your needs may be in the future!

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