Contractor Tips Blog

Jan
29

Get The Right Conveyor Belt For Your Business Needs

Conveyor belts are used in a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing to grocery stores. Although they all may move items from one area to another, each type is very different and has specific uses. A conveyor belt which might work great in one application isn’t necessarily the best fit for another. When it comes to buying a conveyor belt for your business, you want to make sure that you choose the right belt for the job. 

Types Of Conveyor Belts

The type and size of product along with how the conveyor belt will be used are all factors when choosing the right belt for your business. Belts are made in a wide variety of types to fit all different kinds of business needs. Some of the conveyor belts to consider include: 

  • Cleated belts. If the product you will be moving is flat or if the product will be moved up an incline, you may need a cleated conveyor belt. These belts help grip the product and can be made in metal or rubber material.
     
  • Food grade conveyor belts. Food grade conveyor belts must be made to certain specifications to meet FDA guidelines. These generally come with a food grade coating like Teflon or silicone.
     
  • Custom made belts. Whatever your product or need, a belt can be made to accommodate your business. There are experienced conveyor belt manufacturers who can work with you to create a custom designed belt that will suit your business. 

Conveyor belts can save time and money from labor costs, and can even reduce injuries for many types of businesses. Finding the right belt for the right job is the first step to adding one of these useful devices to your business.

Posted on behalf of The King Group

Nov
21

Industrial Polymer Products

Polymer is used in a great number of products that are used daily by every person and company in theUnited Statesand beyond.  Examples of the uses of polymers include plastics, which need to be strong, as well as coatings that prevent sticking and nylon.  Examples of polymer products include High Density Polyethylene and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. 

High Density Polyethylene or HDPE, as it is also known, is used to manufacture products such as pipe, plastic bottles, plastic lumber, hard hats and fuel tanks for vehicles.  The nature of the product makes it very resistant to high temperatures and much harder than polypropylene products.  The product has a high strength to density ration and is also recyclable. 

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene or UHMW, as it is also known, is the strongest product of its type available in the marketplace.  The benefits of the material include its lack of odor and that it is non toxic.  In addition, it is highly resistant to strong chemicals and abrasion.  In fact, the product is six times more abrasion resistant that steel.  The product does not become brittle at extreme temperatures and is usable in temperatures ranging from -155°F to +200°F!  

An experienced industrial product company will be able to provide expert guidance on the best polymer product available at the best possible price, to meet the needs of the manufacturer.  The manufacturer’s representatives are highly trained in the subject and can assist in the selection of the best polymer products available in the marketplace!

Posted on behalf of The King Group

Nov
21

Food Conveyor Belts

Food conveyor belts are used in every food manufacturing facility in the United States, as well as a number of fast food establishments and restaurants.  As with other conveyor belts, food  grade conveyor belts require periodic replacement because they do not last forever.  An experienced conveyor belt manufacturer will be able to assist any food facility in need of replacement belts determine the proper one for the equipment in the facility.  

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) must approve food conveyor belts, which is a distinguishing characteristic between these belts and other conveyor belts.  In addition, normally these belts are provided with some sort of specialized coating to prevent staining, as well as to reduce the accumulation of sticky substances, on the belt.  Two of the most popular and effective coatings for food conveyor belts are Teflon and silicone.  

Despite the coatings available, all food conveyor belts are not the same in the materials used.  Another important consideration when ordering a replacement food conveyor belt is the temperature of the food being moved.  If the food being moved is hot, then a belt capable of resisting melting or burning should be used.  If the food being moved is cold then a material that is resistant to cracking, due to the cold, should be used. 

A highly experienced food conveyor belt manufacturer will be able to assist in providing specific recommendations to which belt to use, the best coating to use, depending upon the application, and the best material, depending upon the food being moved!

Posted on behalf of The King Group

Nov
6

Conveyor Belt Trouble

Let’s face it. No one wants down time due to a conveyor belt breaking or malfunctioning. Such delays cost valuable production time, resources and, yes, money.

As with any equipment, however, it is possible to avoid major complications by routinely checking and maintaining your conveyor belts

Following are some common problems with conveyor belts and possible solutions:

1. Excessive Wear Across Entire Belt –  If wear is even and widespread, then the likelihood is the belt is unsuitable for the application. You may need a stronger belt, or one made of textured material. 

2. Edge Wear – Edge wear indicates uneven tension along the belt system. The belt may need to be realigned or retracked. 

3. Belt Falls Off At Head or Tail Pulley – If the belt is loosening at either of the pulleys, the problem may be build up on the pulleys or belt system. This could also indicate improper loading of the belt. Clean, and reevaluate loading procedures. 

4. Belt Slips At Start-Up or When Conveyor is Running – If the belt is shifting in any way, this may indicate insufficient traction between the belt and pulley or build up of some sort. Readjust tension. Examine pulleys to see if there is any build-up, and clean, if necessary. 

5.  Belt is Cracking, Hardening or Swelling in Certain Areas – If you’re seeing physical changes in the conveyor belt, chances are you have heat or chemical damage.  Reexamine the belt application and consider using a different, more appropriate belt, or impose stricter clean-up standards. 

Though common, the above, of course, are just a few of the problems one can encounter with a conveyor belt. When in doubt, it is always a good idea to consult the original manufacturer of the conveyor belt if any trouble arises.

Posted on behalf of the King Group

Nov
6

Conveyor Belts 101: Types

First used in the late 1700s in Europe, conveyor belts were commonly made of leather or cotton and served as a means of transporting grain or other natural material a short distance. But by the American Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s, conveyors were well established as the primary mode of efficiently moving anything, regardless of size, and they became an integral part of the manufacturing process in factories worldwide. 

But 100 years later, conveyor belts have come a long way indeed. They are now made in a variety of materials and forms, and used in a whole range of applications. 

Cleated conveyor belts are used for moving objects that are flat or round. They are also used for moving objects up or down an incline. This type of belt has a raised design made of rubber, metal or other material to stop objects from rolling around or bunching together. 

Food grade conveyor belts are another type of belt, designed for food applications. Such belts usually have a coating of either Teflon or silicone to prevent stains and sticking, and make them easier to clean. Food grade conveyor belts can also be made with wire mesh to help circulate air and control hot or cold temperatures. 

PVC conveyor belts are strong and durable, so they are often used to move heavy products such as wood, recyclables, agricultural products, meat and fish. PVC belts can be heavy duty or medium weight. 

Rough top conveyor belts are another option for heavy duty products such as heavy boxes and are particularly useful for moving boxes up an incline. The belt top is heavily textured so boxes stay in place as they are being transported. 

For other products that need to be moved along in an industrial or manufacturing setting, there are vacuum or magnetic conveyor belts. Using suction or magnetic pull, this type of belt holds objects firmly in place. It is most often used in printing applications. 

Of course, there are new uses for conveyor belts being developed every day, so it is important to do your research up front. Also, most conveyor belt manufacturers are willing to work with you to fine tune a design that works best in your situation.

Posted on behalf of the King Group

Sep
12

Timing Belts

Timing belts, which are used to move the camshaft or shafts within an engine in a precise manner, are used in a wide variety of domestically and foreign manufactured equipment.  As with other mechanical items, the periodic maintenance of the timing belt is required to keep the machinery running properly without disrupting the company’s daily operations.  In the case of timing belts, the maintenance required is to generally replace the belt before it can fail, which can cause damage to the machinery. 

Timing belts include standard timing belts, metric timing belts or V-Belts.  Standard timing belts are manufactured for equipment manufactured in the United States and to United States based or imperial measurements, while metric timing belts is manufactured for equipment manufactured outside of the United States and to metric measurements. 

Many manufacturing facilities have a combination of American made and foreign made machinery, so it is quite common for facilities to have a need for both standard and metric belts.  The last type of timing belt is the V-Belt, which is used to drive the wide variety of exhaust fans being used in every manufacturing facility in the United States to remove the air from the manufacturing area.  As the air is removed fresh air is brought into the air and the air is constantly being replaced. 

An experienced manufacturer and supplier of thousands of different types of standard, metric and V-Belts, will be able to assist in finding the correct product.  They will be able to supply the correct product quickly and economically, as well as provide assistance on any timing belt issue!

Sep
12

Commercial Hoses

Commercial hoses and various accessories such as couplings and fittings are used on a wide range of equipment in industries such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture and construction.  The equipment used in these industries is “mission critical” to the successful daily operations of ever company.  Commercial grade hoses will occasionally need to be replaced, due to failure or due to periodic preventative maintenance, where the hose is replaced during regularly scheduled maintenance. 

Commercial grade hose products include discharge hoses, hose couplings and fittings, hydraulic hoses and hydraulic fittings.  Discharge hoses are often attached to pumps in the mining and construction industries, to either remove water or place concrete.  Hose couplings and fittings are as critical to the proper installation of the hose on to the equipment and are made of a wide variety of materials including brass, stainless steel and PVD. 

Without the correct coupling or fitting it would not be possible to attach the commercial grade hose to the equipment.  Hydraulic hoses are used on every piece of equipment utilizing hydraulic systems.  These hoses operate under high pressure and carry hydraulic fluid from a holding tank to the hydraulic piston.  Hydraulic fittings are used to make a mechanical connection of the hydraulic hose to the equipment.  As there are thousands of different types of equipment using hydraulic systems, there are thousands of hydraulic fittings.

An experienced manufacturer and supplier of thousands of commercial grade hoses products including discharge hoses, hose couplings and fittings, hydraulic hoses and hydraulic fittings, will be able to assist in finding the correct product.  They will be able to supply a wide variety of commercial grade hose products quickly and economically, as well as provide assistance on any commercial grade hose issues!

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