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Tag: extruded plastic

Seamless Results for a Producer of PVC Plastic with Endless Metal Conveyor Belts

Posted on by Devon LaChance

endless metal conveyor beltsA producer of PVC plastic recently approached Belt Technologies with a problem. They had been beta testing belt materials for their conveyor system and had not yet found a solution that would work. They needed a conveyor belt that could transport hot PVC plastic without leaving any marks on the surface of the plastic as it cooled. The silicone belt they had been testing was not working due to a seam in the belt that left a mark on the product when it cooled.

A Special Application: Extruding PVC Plastic

The customer was searching for a belt that would not leave impressions on the product they were extruding. The customer needed to extrude PVC plastic that was 1/2” wide and 1/8” thick onto a belt and then allow it to remain on the belt while cooling. The PVC plastic would be extruded at temperatures of 350°F to 400°F, so the belt needed to withstand these high temperatures.

Stainless steel metal conveyor belts have a high resistance to temperature, which make them a great choice for this type of application. Most importantly, the smooth surface of an endless metal belt allows hot plastic to cool without leaving any impressions in the PVC, thus preventing unnecessary damage to the product.

Choose Endless Metal Belts for a Smooth Product Finish

Endless metal belts deliver the ideal combination of precision, strength, and versatility. We manufacture metal belts by welding stainless steel into endless belts. Our welds are incredibly strong and can be weld-finished for better blending. Achieving flawless results when welding thin stainless steel belts is our specialty. With the endless metal belt from Belt Technologies, the customer was able to achieve the smooth product results they desired while maximizing product output and speed.

Optimum Results with Custom Coatings for Your Application

This customer wanted to prevent the hot plastic from adhering to the belt as it cooled, so we added a Teflon coating to the Belt. Belt Technologies offers various Teflon coatings with benefits including food-grade qualification, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance. For this customer, we chose a Teflon with good release characteristics to make sure the product would not stick to the belt.

Belt Technologies has the ability to design and manufacture custom metal conveyor belts for virtually any application. Surface coatings and surface treatments help expand the potential uses for stainless steel metal belts. BTI provides several options, including Teflon, silicone, polyurethane, and more.

Looking to increase the efficiency of your conveyor system and get better product results every time? Call or request a quote today!

 

Conveyor System Upgrades to a Stainless Steel Belt for Perfect Product Handling

Posted on by Mike Loomer

Belt Technologies engineers have the knowledge and experience to not only design and build brand-new, custom conveyor systems, but also to retrofit existing conveyor systems to take advantage of the unique properties of stainless steel metal belts. When a customer contacts us with a problem regarding their existing systems, we are more than ready to examine their specific needs and provide a solution.

Product Manufacturing Requires Specialty Belts

A customer recently contacted Belt Technologies for a solution to a product-handling issue. They produced high-performance plastics and resins, which were being extruded onto a conveyor belt at high temperatures and allowed to cool as they were transported. The original conveyor belts were mesh metal belts; these were able to handle the high temperatures of the extruded plastic material but would leave markings on the plastic strands as the material cooled. The customer needed a new conveyor belt that could withstand elevated and varied temperatures without leaving any markings on the finished products.

retrofit metal conveyor belts
Our flat metal conveyor belts are made from a single sheet of high-end stainless steel.

Mesh or Flat Metal Belts: Which Do I Need?

retrofit metal conveyor belts
The smooth finish of flat metal conveyor belts ensures there are no unwanted marks or dents on finished products.

Flat metal belts are durable and easy to clean. Their resistance to high heat makes them a great choice for applications using elevated temperatures. Unlike mesh metal belts, our flat metal conveyor belts are made from a single sheet of high-end stainless steel. Endless metal conveyor belts from Belt Technologies have a flat, even surface, which makes them ideal for applications that need a smooth product finish.

Mesh belts are another form of metal conveyor belt often used in high-heat applications. They are made of links, or metal weaves that allow the passage of fluids or air. While popular, the challenges and shortcomings of mesh belts can be detrimental to a production line. Hundreds or even thousands of links mean hundreds of difficult-to-clean recesses, making mesh belts a haven for contamination. Any misalignment of a mesh belt can result in damage to individual wires and links, making the risk for belt failure or damage to product significantly higher and increasing the potential for downtime. As demonstrated in this specific instance, the textured surface of a mesh belt can also result in damaged product that must be reworked or scrapped altogether. An upgrade to an endless, solid metal belt can eliminate many of the expensive risks associated with mesh belted conveyors.

Avoid Complete System Replacement with Affordable Retrofit Solutions from BTI

Belt engineers worked with the customer to design a new, flat metal conveyor belt that would easily integrate into the existing conveyor system. The new belt was made with 301 full hard-tempered stainless steel able to withstand the high temperatures required for the operation. The flat surface will not leave any marks on the extruded plastic as it cools.

With a retrofit solution from Belt Technologies, the customer was able to avoid the cost of replacing the entire system and can now achieve the smooth product results they needed. Is your existing conveyor system letting you down? Call or request a quote today and let our experts help find a solution!