Contractor Tips Blog

Oct
16

Best Conveyor Belt Options for Food Production Lines

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Conveyor belts are necessary for all types of mass production and are uses extensively in making and packaging food products. However, to meet health standards and other concerns, the conveyors used for food production lines must meet certain specifications. Many small food operations grow to the point where they need to add conveyor belts to meet their production goals. When deciding which conveyor belts are best for a food production line, consider these factors.

Is the Belt Food Grade and USDA Approved?

You must have a conveyor belt that is food grade and has been approved by the USDA for food production. These tend to be non-porous to prevent contamination and issues with bacteria.

Belts Should Have a Specialized Coating

If the food that will be transported has liquid or sticky substances, you will want the conveyor belt to be coated to prevent staining and allow for easy cleaning. Popular coatings include silicone and Teflon, which offer a non-stick surface.

Temperature Compatible Materials

If the food needing to be processed is frozen or hot, it is important to have food grade belts that will be compatible with the temperatures. Some belts may crack in cold temperatures, while others could melt with too much heat.

Cleated or Non-Cleated

Some food products may require cleating to hold the items in place if they are flat, slippery or may roll off the conveyor belt.

In many cases, conveyor belts for food production lines will need to be customized for the exact specifications needed. It is vital to have a conveyor belt company that offers specialized food-grade conveyor belts to find the best option to fit the needs of your business.

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

Aug
5

Benefits of PVC Conveyor Belts

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Do you own or manage a food packaging business? Whether you have a small produce business or a large international company packaging nuts, you need conveyor belts that are food-grade and will benefit your operation. PVC conveyor belts are an excellent choice for many food packaging operations due to unique advantages that these belts provide. Meat, produce, poultry and nuts are all common foods that PVC conveyor belts can transport with less issues than other types of belts. Here are some of the benefits of PVC for your conveyor belt.

  • Acid resistance. PVC belts are perfect for high acidity food items and provide excellent chemical resistance. Where other materials can react or impact acidic foods like meat and poultry, PVC does not, providing a safe and effective transport material.
  • Rot resistance. The PVC belts are not prone to rot or mildew like many other belt materials. This is very important to meet health code standards when packaging moist foods like meats and produce.
  • Design options. PVC conveyor belts can be designed with your business’ needs in mind. Some PVC belts are made with a chevron pattern that enhances grip for inclined belts, while other businesses prefer crescent profiles or other designs for their needs.
  • High strength. PVC conveyor belts are durable with a high strength capacity, which is especially needed in the meat packing industry.

If you are in the food packing industry, consider the benefits of PVC conveyor belts for your factory operations. Talk to your local conveyor belt supplier about the options available in this versatile belt material that works so well for the food packaging industries.

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

Nov
30

Can Your Small Business Benefit from a Custom Conveyor Belt System?

Posted in Conveyor Belts

Everyone knows that conveyor belts are necessary in large manufacturing operations, but what about small businesses? More and more entrepreneurs are creating and shipping products thanks to the convenience of online ordering. Conveyor belt systems can help improve productivity, especially in small businesses where labor costs are a major concern.

Conveyor belts come in all forms and sizes, not just giant systems for warehouse manufacturing. They also can be used for almost any type of product. Have a small candy business? Food-grade conveyor belts are available to accelerate the process. Small or flat items? Vacuum or cleated belts can keep your items in place. These systems can be incorporated into your small business and help you reduce labor costs and increase your productivity. Benefits include:

  • Improved flow for maximized productivity
  • Standardized output for consistency in your product
  • Customization available to fit almost any product or workspace
  • Streamlined packaging and shipping processes
  • Excellent ROI and expanded growth potential

Businesses that can benefit from adding conveyor belts into their production process include almost any company that creates or ships products. Bottling of craft beers, hand-made crafts, candy makers and many other small businesses can use these systems to accommodate larger orders and increased volume. Although there is an initial investment into the equipment, increased productivity can lead to larger revenue and bigger sales opportunities.

A great way to grow your business is to find efficient ways to increase your output of products. Conveyor belt systems can be the next step to expand your small business to the next level. Talk to conveyor belt service company to find out how conveyor belts can help enhance your productivity and grow your small business revenue.

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

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