Replacing a Conveyor Belt? Questions to Ask a Conveyor Belt Expert

Replacing a conveyor belt. questions to ask the experts

 

“I need to order a replacement conveyor belt right away!”

When a conveyor belt breaks on your line, the costs of slowed or stalled production can start adding up fast. At MIPR, we field frantic phone calls all day long from operators and supervisors who need to get things back on track after a busted belt. We understand their frustration and the urgency of their request, and we have built our national reputation on our ability to ship the highest quality replacement conveyor belting on the same day we are asked for it.

But first, we are going to need a little more information from you.

MIPR stocks and manufactures one of the most extensive ranges of standard and specialty conveyor belting in the country. We offer so many choices in size, weight, material, and style—literally hundreds of flat belts to choose from. To ship a replacement belt same-day, and to price that replacement accurately, we need to understand what you do and how your production line works. So before you pick up the phone and get your problem solved, jot down a few notes about the belt you need to be replaced.

Questions To Consider Before Replacing A Conveyor Belt

What is your belt carrying?

Raw dough? Long sawn boards? Crushed rock? Cooking tortillas? A simple description of your product category can tell an experienced belting engineer so much of what they need to know, like whether or not you need a filter belt, or a food-grade belt, or a Teflon-coated high-temperature belt. Be prepared to answer questions about the materials you are handling, the temperatures the belt needs to be able to withstand, and the level of resistance to oil, chemicals, and abrasion you will need. Our team knows just what to reach for when they hear “cattle feeding,” “corrugated boxes,” or “cheese,” and the more information they are given the better our suggestions will be.

How is your production line arranged?

Our belting engineers need to understand the angles, diameter pullies, and tolerances of your production line. The thickness of your replacement belt will depend in large part on the diameter pullies at the head and tail end. (In fact, we often replace belts that have broken because a previous vendor forgot to ask and provided a belt unable to travel around small diameter pullies without failing.) Let us know about incline angles, in case we need to recommend cleats, and length, so we can work out some important math.

Not Sure How To Measure For Replacing a Conveyor Belt?

Our experienced conveyor belting engineers will need to know the width and length of your old belt. The best measurements are taken by wrapping steel tape around the actual belt path—NOT the top or outside of the belt—and pulled tight. Note the adjustment device position and measure at 2/3 of its collapse amount. A retracted length of four inches is actually 8 inches of belting because the belt travels on the top *and* bottom of the conveyor. Ask our team how to obtain your correct ordering dimensions!

What protections need to be in place?

You’ve been through a broken belt once and you are in no hurry to have this happen again. Let us help you find the strongest possible replacement belt and share any protective requirements you might need in your production line. We can source conveyor belts covered with a layer of elastomer to withstand the wear-and-tear of carrying or conveying large volumes of bulk goods. Think of that protective coating as a tire tread that keeps your line moving forward at high speeds even in rough conditions. 

If you need filtering or dewatering belts, strength is also a big factor. Our engineers will estimate the optimal ply and fabric type for your needs. We can give you 30 pounds per working inch or 1,400 pounds per working inch of width, so make sure we know just how tough you need your replacement conveyor belt to be.

With shipping centers across the U.S., MIPR is able to same-day ship replacement belt samples (or replacement belts) almost anywhere they are needed. We know replacing a conveyor belt is time and money so we move fast to get you what you need. Our belting experts are always standing by, ready to work with you to find the best replacement conveyor belt solution—with a same-day sample guarantee.