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Tag: advantages of GATORCOATⓇ

GATORCOATⓇ Outperforms Teflon for Solid Metal Conveyor Belts

Posted on by Devon LaChance

AGAWAM, MA, July, 2016—GATORCOATⓇ, a heat-resistant, non-stick coating for solid, metal conveyor belts, is preferred by manufacturers for its superior performance in high-heat applications.  GATORCOATⓇ is offered exclusively by Belt Technologies, Inc., a global leader in automated and custom-designed stainless-steel conveyor belt systems.

GATORCOATⓇ is a proprietary coating comprised of internally reinforced metallic materials, resins, reinforcing elements and releasing components provided by Belt Technologies. Like Teflon, GATORCOATⓇ is non-stick, but offers up to ten times the abrasion resistance of Teflon or similar generic alternatives. After switching to GATORCOATⓇ, customers reported that the treated belt surfaces exhibit a notable increase in durability, requiring fewer replacement belts and therefore reducing maintenance downtime.

“Our unique GATORCOATⓇ surface treatment is one of our most effective coating options,” said Ivan Amaya, Belt Technologies’ Sales and Marketing Manager for the Americas. “It lasts longer and is more resistant to potential wear and tear than other coatings on the market. With GATORCOATⓇ, our customers get superior release qualities and an extremely durable surface treatment, which enables them to maximize the productivity of their conveyor systems.”

GATORCOATⓇ is FDA approved for use in the food processing industry and is an excellent choice for systems where food products are cooked or frozen. Other applications include solar panel production, extruded plastics, and sterilization systems. The coating is resistant to household chemicals and is capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 600°F (316°C).

Belt Technologies, Inc. offers a virtually limitless range of coating and surface treatment options for their stainless steel conveyor belts; each conveyor system is custom-designed to meet customer specifications or application requirements. Contact Belt Technologies today to discover how your conveyor system can benefit from the superior qualities of GATORCOATⓇ surface coating

About Belt Technologies, Inc.

Belt Technologies, Inc. has been producing custom metal belt conveyor solutions for new and existing conveyor systems for more than five decades. With sophisticated engineering and advanced manufacturing processes, they are able to provide an unlimited variety of configurations and coatings for custom-designed belts. Metal belts, timing belts, and metal drive tapes from BTI are superior, high-quality options for automated production and robotic facilities. To learn more about Belt Technologies and metal conveyor belts, visit belt.marketmentorsdev.com/.

Select the Ideal Surface Treatment for Your Metal Conveyor Belt

Posted on by Devon LaChance

Coatings and surface treatment applications can enhance conveyor system functionality and performance by altering the surface properties of the conveyor belt.

There are many options for coating and surface treatments, including GATORCOATⓇ, neoprene rubber, and hard coatG4RX3381 anodization.  Each surface treatment and coating option exhibits unique characteristics, including thermal resistance, impact and abrasion resistance, nonstick release, and FDA approval for use in food processing and pharmaceutical applications.

Unique custom coatings can also be developed upon request, which have included copper cladding, gold plating, and diamond bonding. Belt Technologies engineers are able to provide feedback and guidance when choosing the best surface treatment for your conveyor system.

Surface Treatments for Conveyors in Hostile Environments

Stainless steel alloys have high tolerance for heat, cold, and chemical corrosion, and can further benefit from coatings which are applied to the metal belt surface. These coatings must also operate in hostile environments as they are exposed to extreme temperatures and corrosive chemicals used in product processing.

In instances where operating conditions present a highly demanding environment, selecting an appropriate surface treatment can increase service life. Inversely, coatings specified without consideration to the operating environment and application risk premature degradation, causing a decline in performance and likely necessitating early replacement.

Proper Release Ensures Product Quality and Minimizes Downtime

Surface treatments can also be applied to support optimal product quality and throughput. Coatings such as silicone, urethane, and neoprene rubber are securely bonded to a belt to alter the friction coefficient. These materials—neoprene rubber in particular—are compressible; making it possible to die-cut pockets in the belt in order to safely nest and transport materials.

In heated applications such as food preparation or plastic extrusion, product can unintentionally bind to an untreated surface. This results in product loss and maintenance downtime. Coatings like Teflon and GATORCOATⓇ offer superior release qualities by providing a heat-resistant, nonstick surface that smoothly releases products without risking material damage or loss.

FDA Approved, Nonstick GATORCOATⓇ Outlasts Teflon

Of the many coating and surface treatment options Belt Technologies offers, one of the most resilient and popular coating options is GATORCOATⓇ—a proprietary three-layer system of internally reinforced metallic material with a high-BELT FP 2-14-0cure, nonstick surface and up to ten times the abrasion resistance of Teflon. GATORCOATⓇ is approved for food processing applications and is well suited to other high-temperature applications such as solar panel production or sterilization. It is resistant to household chemicals and has the ability to withstand temperatures as high as 600°F (316°C).

The durability of GATORCOATⓇ has been shown to maintain its integrity in many demanding applications.  A North
American solar panel producer that previously replaced their conveyor belts every three months due to damaged coating reported that replacement belts treated with GATORCOATⓇ have consistently resisted damage for more than a year. The abrasion-resistant GATORCOATⓇ outlasted any previous treatment, resulting in fewer belt changes and reduced maintenance requirements.

How will your conveyor system benefit from the advantages of a surface treatment like GATORCOATⓇ? Contact our engineers today to learn more about all our coating and surface treatment options.