OPTIMAL MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR CONVEYOR BELT: EXTEND ITS LIFE AND SAVE COSTS
Conveyor belts play a crucial role in various industries, from the recycling industry to the food industry. They ensure that materials are moved from point A to point B smoothly and efficiently. However, it is easy to overlook the importance of maintenance, but this can lead to costly downtime and unexpected repairs. In this blog, we discuss five essential tips for maintaining your conveyor belt to keep it performing optimally and save you costs.
- Clean your conveyor belt regularly
It may sound like a simple task, but regularly cleaning your conveyor belt can make a significant difference. It is crucial to clean your conveyor belts thoroughly. Remember to clean all moving and rotating parts, such as rollers, reversing drums, bearings and the belt surface, both inside and outside. Keep the underside of the conveyor belt clean as well. This ensures that your conveyor belt can move freely and minimises wear and tear on other parts.
- Do preventive maintenance
Prevention is better than cure, and this certainly applies to conveyor belts. By performing preventive maintenance, you can prevent large-scale wear and tear. For example, if the bearing of a conveyor roller needs replacing, replace it before the roller stands still and causes damage to both the roller and the conveyor. Pay close attention to wear spots at the weld, for example. You can take photos of these and mail them to us so we can advise on them. Sometimes it is better to replace a belt than to break it to avoid long-term downtime.
- Inspect your conveyor belt regularly
A daily inspection of your conveyor belt can prevent many problems. Check for idle rollers, worn parts and imperfections. By detecting these problems early, you can minimise further wear and avoid unplanned downtime. Also check your drum lining, if the drum lining is damaged, the belt will also be damaged.
- Use belt scrapers
Belt scrapers are a valuable tool to keep your conveyor belt clean and prolong its life. They prevent dirt and material from accumulating on the belt, keeping the conveyor working more efficiently. However, it is important to note that belt scrapers are not suitable for all conveyor installations. Fortunately, there are several automatic methods available to clean conveyor belts. Check out our website for more information.
- Make sure your conveyor belt is technically sound
Last but not least, make sure your conveyor belt is technically sound. Some important concerns are checking belt tension, correct belt alignment, smooth running of all rollers and reversing drums, avoiding rubbing against the belt and using the right type of conveyor belt for the specific application. Check support rollers and/or sliding plate with respect to wear. Also check the bearings so that the support rollers run smoothly. It is also important to consider that the side seal is properly adjusted and the correct side seal is used. This is important to ensure that the belt is steered correctly to avoid wear and tear. Make sure that your conveyor belt does not skew. If the belt is steered correctly, it will run straight and prevent wear on your conveyor belt.
In conclusion, regularly maintaining your conveyor belt is vital to avoid costly downtime and repairs. With proper cleaning, preventive maintenance, inspections, belt scrapers and technical inspection, you can extend the life of your conveyor belt and make significant cost savings. So, invest in the well-being of your conveyor belt in good time and see how your business benefits.
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LBS is committed to quality and only works with high-quality materials and components. We strive for the highest possible customer satisfaction and work closely with our clients. With a flexible and proactive approach, we meet our clients' specific needs as much as possible.
