5 Ways That Mechanical Belt Fasteners Can Save Your Company Time And Money

Back in the days, industrial applications like above ground and underground mining, bulk material handling, cement manufacturing or aggregate, sand and gravel fabrication utilized vulcanization as a primary method of splicing. Without denying the efficiency of this conveyor belt operation, it is necessary to mention that vulcanization only tends to work well under specific circumstances. If the operation is not performed on a belt free of contaminants and in optimal environmental conditions, then it won’t be able to address the wear and will ultimately have a big impact on your company’s productivity.
Advancements in technology have allowed manufacturers to utilize synthetic materials and create thinner and lighter belts for industrial machinery. What this means is that utilizing standard fasteners for the purpose of joining belt ends together via metal plates and hinges is no longer feasible. Mechanical belt fasteners also constitute the best alternative when you need to splice under less than ideal conditions. Here are the top 5 ways mechanical belt fasteners can help your mining company save time and money in the long run.

1. Easy installation that saves your company time

Most mechanical fasteners can be installed in less than one hour wherever they are needed and you don’t have to call in a professional for the job. By working with a reputable manufacturer, you will have all the portable tools you need for the installation at your disposal, so your on-site team can deal with the task in no time. Moreover, unlike vulcanization mechanical fasteners have a considerably reduced downtime and hence, you don’t have to stop the operations during the process.

2. Compatibility with almost all existent belts on the market

The mechanical fasteners are designed to work with high stretch, extendable and worn belts. In addition, they can be utilized for both permanent and temporary splices and perform well with belts made of solid PVC and plied rubber as well as straight warp belts. Vulcanization on the other hand is contraindicated for very old and worn belts because their layers are already too weak to withstand the heat and will become brittle. Furthermore, vulcanization requires additional belt length and sometimes, you may not have enough material to work with.

3. The installation can occur under virtually any condition

Perhaps the biggest advantage of mechanical fasteners is that they can be easily installed in any condition. In other word, factors like temperature, humidity, dirt or chemicals don’t influence the installation process in any way. The same cannot be said about vulcanization; if performed in subpar settings it will cause air pockets and diminish the effectiveness of the adhesive, thus weakening the strength of the splice.

4. The maintenance can be anticipated

Because you can visually inspect the fasteners during the planned maintenance, it is easy to monitor their performance and strength. Consequentially, the operator can simply replace a damaged fastener and avoid unpleasant situations like a sudden splice failure, for instance. Moreover, the sheer fact that you can see them gives you the freedom to schedule the repairs and maintenance at the most convenient times.

5. The mechanical belt fasteners are strong and durable

The mechanical belt fasteners are designed for heavy-duty applications and are ready to withstand high belt tension and extremely heavy loads.