Why it May Be Time to Replace That Metal Conveyor Belt
Resilient, reliable, and efficient equipment is critical in a plant where every minute of downtime can mean dollars lost. While upgrades can be made in many areas, one piece of equipment may be costing you more money, time, and labor than you realize: your old metal conveyor belt.
Quick takeaway: Metal conveyor belts can create issues with product quality, sanitation, maintenance, and downtime. Modular plastic belting can help solve many of those problems.
Metal Conveyor Belts Can Affect Product Quality
One of the primary drawbacks of wire conveyor belts is that they can directly and negatively affect your product. Metal belting often requires lubrication, and that lubrication can sometimes make its way into the product or surrounding production area.
Metal contaminants are another concern. Worn or damaged wire belts can create contamination risks, and the wire surface can also mark up products, create pinch points, and contribute to product loss.
Product quality matters: If your belt is marking, pinching, contaminating, or damaging product, the true cost is more than the belt itself.
Metal Belting Can Be Harder to Sanitize
Proper sanitation of conveyor belts is essential for both customer safety and plant compliance. Metal belting can be difficult and time-consuming to clean, and contaminants can be easy to miss in the wire structure.
Product adhesion is also a major issue. When product sticks to the belt, it increases product loss and adds more labor during cleaning. Over time, this can create a cycle of more cleaning, more downtime, and more lost production.
Metal Conveyor Belt Service and Repair Can Increase Downtime
Metal conveyor belts can require time-consuming and complicated maintenance because of their weight, lubrication needs, and tensioning requirements. They can also be harder to handle during service and repair.
High belt tension can lead to mistracking, and metal fatigue can shorten belt life. When belts fail or require frequent adjustment, your maintenance team loses time that could be spent keeping the rest of the plant running.
Maintenance warning: If your belt needs constant lubrication, tensioning, cleaning, or tracking adjustments, it may be time to look at a better belt option.
Modular Plastic Conveyor Belts Can Be a Better Solution
The solution to many of these costly and time-consuming problems is modular plastic conveyor belting.
Because modular plastic belts use an all-plastic construction, they help eliminate issues tied to metal contamination, metal fatigue, and belt lubrication. They are also designed to be easier to clean and can help reduce areas where bacteria may grow.
The modular design also makes maintenance and repair faster. Instead of replacing an entire belt, damaged sections can often be repaired more easily. Plastic belting also weighs less than metal, can last longer in many applications, and does not require the same tensioning demands as metal belting.
Metal Conveyor Belts vs Modular Plastic Belting
| Category | Metal Conveyor Belts | Modular Plastic Belting |
|---|---|---|
| Product Quality | Can mark products, create pinch points, and introduce metal contamination risks. | Helps reduce metal contamination concerns and product marking. |
| Sanitation | Can be harder and slower to clean. | Designed for easier cleaning and reduced product buildup. |
| Maintenance | Often heavier and may require lubrication, tensioning, and more complicated repairs. | Modular sections can make repair and replacement faster. |
| Downtime | Metal fatigue, mistracking, and cleaning time can increase downtime. | Can help reduce downtime through easier service and longer belt life in many applications. |
Important: Not every belt is right for every application. Product type, temperature, sanitation requirements, load, speed, and conveyor design should all be considered before switching belt styles.
Should You Switch to Modular Plastic Conveyor Belting?
Whether your metal conveyor belts are due for replacement or still running, it may be worth considering the switch to modular plastic belting. If you are dealing with product damage, cleaning issues, belt fatigue, tracking problems, or frequent downtime, a better belt design may help improve your operation.
For more information on conveyor belt products for your plant, contact the knowledgeable team at MDS of Michigan.
Not every conveyor belt is the same, and your operation should not be forced to adapt to a generic solution.
Custom belt support: At MDS of Michigan, we are a full-service heavy weight and light weight conveyor belt distributor. We offer hundreds of rubber, PVC, and urethane belts in stock, cut to your specific size.
Whether you are replacing a worn belt, switching from metal to modular plastic belting, or building a new conveyor system, our team can help you find the right conveyor belt for your application.
Custom Conveyor Belt Inquiry
Tell us your belt width, length, material, application, and any lacing or fabrication needs. MDS of Michigan can help quote a belt cut to size.
