Contractor Tips Blog

Feb
18

How to Perform a Cold Cure Repair for Conveyor Belts

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Conveyor belt rips, gouges or worn spots need repair before the entire belt is damaged and needs replacement. While volcanized repairs are often the closest to manufacturer quality and strength on canvas belts, they require special equipment and time. Metal fasteners can also be used but do not offer the same strength as volcanized repairs. Another option is a cold cure repair, a quick and convenient method for some types of conveyor belt repairs.

What is Cold Cure Repair?

While volcanized repairs use heat and pressure to repair a portion of a conveyor belt, cold cure repairs use a chemical or resin process. This requires no special equipment like vulcanization, making it easier to perform quickly and wherever the conveyor belt is located. There are many different types of cold cures for belt repairs, designed for different materials and applications.

To perform a cold cure repair, the process is similar to volcanized repairs. The damage piece of belt is removed and a new piece of cover or canvas is cut to size. The difference is that chemicals or resin is used to adhere the new belt material in place instead of heat and pressure. The curing time depends on the product used but usually is about 4-8 hours. Compared to the downtime required to bring in volcanizing equipment and specialists, this can save days of missed production in some cases.

Time needed for repairs, whether cold cure or vulcanization, is always a concern. There is always a chance a repair will not hold and the time used will be wasted. It is a good idea to have a replacement belt available for serious damage – replacement time and cost can be a better option than the downtime costs for major belt repairs.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Sep
3

5 Signs it is Time to Replace Your Conveyor Belt

Posted in Conveyor Belts

If your business relies on conveyors belts to meet your production goals, efficient maintenance, repairs and replacement is key to your success. You do not want to wait for your conveyor belt to fail to consider a replacement. Avoid production line shutdowns with proactive replacement when there are signs of serious deterioration. Here are five signs it may be time to replace your conveyor belt.

  1. Would it take less time to replace than repair the belt? Even if the belt can be repaired, is it worth it if the downtime is much longer? Weigh the cost of replacement versus repair in downtime costs.
  2. Is there a significant tear? Tears in your belt are repairable, but if it extends more than 25% of the width, you probably should replace versus repair.
  3. Has a temporary repair already been performed? If your belt is failing and a temporary repair has already been performed, it is time to replace instead of trying to repair it again.
  4. How old is the belt? All belts have a life span. When tearing or fraying begin and the belt has met its expected lifespan, replace it.
  5. How busy is your upcoming production schedule? If you have a busy schedule for production over the next few weeks, any sign of deterioration should spur a replacement. You do not want to stop production during a busy time for repair or replacement.

Staying on top of conveyor replacement can save you money in the long run. It is better to proactively replace a belt than spend too much time on constant repairs. Educated your production line managers to make wise decisions on when to replace your conveyor belts and contact your conveyor belt supplier to order extra belts to keep on hand.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Jun
5

4 Elements of Visually Inspecting a Conveyor Belt

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Ocular or visual inspections are an important part of conveyor maintenance; there are often visual clues that can alert you to a conveyor breakdown before it happens. Performing an ocular inspection should be part of routine maintenance, but you need to know what to look for during your inspection. Here are four elements of visually inspecting a conveyor belt that can ensure you stay on top of preventive maintenance.

  1. Is the belt intact? Start with the overall basics and inspect the integrity of the belt. Are the belt and joints worn, frayed or have any signs of deterioration? Look for residue, metal dust or dirty areas that could be signs of parts wearing down.
  2. Check the moving components. Look at the moving components and bed of the conveyor. Check the pulleys, spindles, rolls, bearings and sliding bed to ensure all pieces are in good condition and complete.
  3. Watch the belt movement. Without product, test the belt movement. Does the belt pull to one side or is it centered? A worn bearing can cause the belt to pull to one side – misalignment of pulleys, rolls and wheels can also pull the belt off-center. Adjust as needed to align the belt.
  4. Inspect product transportation. A conveyor belt can function fine without weight, then have issues under load. Carefully inspect the belt as it is transporting product – look for rubbing or slipping that can cause wear and malfunction.

Periodically doing self-inspections on conveyor belts can identify issues before they cause a belt breakdown that can stop production. It is also important to schedule professional maintenance and thorough inspections to replace parts as needed to extend the lifespan of your equipment and reduce emergency repairs. Just remember, preventive maintenance is always cheaper than loss of production and costly repairs.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Jul
23

Top 3 Reasons for a Conveyor Belt Repair

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Conveyor belts may seem mundane, but they run the manufacturing and shipping industries, plus many others. When they come to a halt, so does your production. Knowing what to look for when it comes to repairs can save you time and hassle of a conveyor belt shutdown. Here are three reasons that conveyor belts need repair.

Roller Problems

Steel rollers can jam – if one roller seizes, it can be bad news for your belt. The steel can quickly cut up your belt, needing a complete replacement. Keep an eye on your rollers if they are steel – keep them maintained to reduce wear on your belts. In some cases, vinyl rollers can be a better option with less chance of tearing up your belt.

Mistracking

If the belt shifts from side to side and doesn’t stay on its correct track or path, it can quickly wear out and need replacement. You will often see excessive edge wear when the tracking is not set correctly. Keeping the belt on the right track is critical – tracking in one of the main reasons for needed repairs.

Slippage

The wrong tension can cause belt slippage, leading to expensive shutdowns. This can be due to excessive build up that can reduce traction on the belt drive. If the belt is slipping, make sure the tension is tight enough and clear build up to reduce the need for belt repairs.

Prevention is important when it comes to conveyor belt issues. Having an experienced conveyor belt service can help you maintain your equipment and replace parts as needed to prevent expensive shutdowns of your production line.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Feb
17

What is a Cold Cure Conveyor Repair?

Posted in Conveyor Belts

When the cover or carcass components of a conveyor belt is damaged, replacement is not always necessary. There are repair options available, including a cold cure repair. This option replaces the needed materials and “cold cures” them into place. This can create a seamless repair to the belt to extend the life; it also is a quick solution when you want to limit impact on your production.

There are two methods used to adhere new belt materials for repair: vulcanized and cold cure. Both secure the new materials in place, but each uses a different method. Vulcanized repairs use heat and pressure to repair the belt. Cold cure uses chemicals to complete the repair and is best for repairs to belts that are gouged, worn or have scoring.

Completing a Cold Cure Repair

It is important to have expertise and patience when completing a cold cure conveyor belt repair. The damaged area must be carefully trimmed to remove all the damage and the new patch or replacement material must to cut to match. With cold curing, it is important to have a dry, clean environment to ensure the cement and putty will cure correctly. Once the new section is cemented in place, a roller can be used to smooth the surface. It is important to test the belt on a lower tension at a lower feed rate to ensure the repair will hold before returning to regular operation.

While cold cure repairs can extend the life of your belt, they must be carefully completed to hold. Having a reliable conveyor service company that can repair or replace belts as needed on-call is important to ensure your production line keeps moving.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Jan
10

Signs of Conveyor Belt Problems

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Many different types of businesses rely on conveyor belts to maintain productivity. Whether you own a large manufacturing business or a small retail business that ships out products, you most likely use conveyor belts in your operation. A malfunction of one of your belts can cost you thousands of dollars in downtime and lost productivity. To avoid breakdowns, keep an eye out for common conveyor belt issues before they become expensive problems.

  • Belt slippage. If your belt shifts or slips during use, you may have an issue with the traction or pulley. This can be due to improper tension, debris build up or other issues. Cleaning the conveyor or readjusting the tension could resolve the issue.
  • Noticeable wear on the edges. When your belt begins showing edge wear, it is a sign of trouble. You may have uneven tension or misalignment within your track. If there is even wear throughout the entire belt, it may be time for replacement. Premature wear could mean you are using the wrong belt for your application.
  • Cracked or hardened areas. If you are noticing some areas on your conveyor belt are hardening, cracked or seem swollen, this could be from heat damage.

These can all be signs that your conveyor belt will fail if you do not address these issues. The best solution is to schedule regular maintenance for your conveyor through a reputable conveyor belt service company. Having a professional technician inspect and service your conveyor can ensure you have the correct belts, tension and traction for your application. This is a good investment in your business and can reduce the chance of costly shutdowns in the future.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

Mar
13

Finding a Conveyor Belt Repair Service

Posted in Conveyor Belts

In the world of manufacturing, nothing can slow down production quicker than an assembly line that stops moving. Everything depends on those conveyor belts to continue to move products from one station to the next, whether it is on the production floor or in the shipping warehouse. When one of your conveyors breaks down, you need a fast, dependable service on speed dial to get your line up and moving again. Don’t wait for an emergency to happen. Research and find that company now and add them to your emergency contacts. Here is what to look for:

  • A company with decades of experience. You want a conveyor service company that knows this industry inside and out, with many years of experience.
  • Conveyor experts.  Don’t settle for a company that repairs all types of industrial equipment. Find a conveyor expert that specializes in providing conveyor parts, repair service and installation. They will find the problem faster and have the right parts to fix the issue.
  • Fast service and troubleshooting experts. When you work with a company that knows all the ins and outs of conveyor belts, they are quick to find the problem.  In many cases, just describing your issue over the phone can pinpoint the problem to an experienced conveyor service technician. They can then come prepared with the right parts to get your operation up and running fast, saving you time and money.

Finding a conveyor service company that offers all these qualifications is not easy, but worth the search. When it comes to something as important as keeping your production floor moving, you only want the best service available.

Posted on behalf of:
The King Group, Inc.
6865 Shiloh Road East, #100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 886-1113

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