MATERIALS HANDLING
EVERY PRICE
Leslie David discusses cost, longevity and the questions to ask before you purchase conveyor belts
TELLS A STORY
A
nalysis of internet search engines reveals that the two most commonly asked questions concerning rubber conveyor belts are “how long should
they last?” and “how much do they cost?”. Ironically, the answers to both questions are inextricably linked. Here, we explain how and why.
HOW LONG SHOULD CONVEYOR BELTS LAST? T e service life of any conveyor belt is determined by two basic factors. Firstly, it
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is the overall quality of the belt, its physical properties and ability of the belt to handle both the material it is required to carry and the local working environment. T e second biggest infl uencing factor is the type of materials being carried. In the past, the type of material was considered to be the primary infl uence. However, this was before the technological advances made by manufacturers such as Dunlop Conveyor Belting in the Netherlands (Fenner Dunlop), which is part of the Michelin Group, and Contitech in Germany.
Regardless of which takes precedence, the inarguable fact is that both factors are inextricably linked. T e reason for this is that the true cost of a conveyor belt can only ever be measured and compared based on its purchase price, fi tting and cumulative repair costs divided either by its working lifespan or the tonnage carried during that time. As with any manufactured product, price ultimately determines the quality and the longevity. In the world of conveyor belts, it is not uncommon to see ‘economy’ belts being off ered, usually by
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