Belt conveyors: types and applications
All options are feasible with Rulmeca production
The massive success of belt conveyors in the global industry lies in a series of benefits which make them the current most cost-effective material handling systems. Replacing the physical labour required for this operation, the faster and less risky automatic transportation of materials increases a company’s productivity. Moreover, as Rulmeca extensive production of belt conveyor parts proves, advancements in technology have gradually made possible the realisation of multiple configurations. Integrating the right components, belt conveyors can be easily installed in plenty of environments and move loads of any nature, weight, size and shape. Due to their operating advantages and flexibility, most industries now incorporate conveyor systems in their transportation regime and rely on Rulmeca as an all-around reference manufacturer and supplier of premium components.
Multiple configurations
The most commonplace categorization of conveyors identifies belt conveyors and roller conveyors, whose difference lies in the conveyance surface. Belt conveyors features a belt, stretched across two or more pulleys (or drums) and powered by an electric drive unit, sliding over a flat surface or supported by rollers. In roller conveyors the surface is only made of a series of rollers. Of course, these basic conveyors must match the specific industrial application according to the transported materials and environmental conditions. Here, Rulmeca main categorization of products for either bulk or unit handling applications becomes relevant. Heavy industries dealing with the transportation of high loads of corrosive and abrasive bulk materials typically use motorized belt conveyors supported by strong and resistant pulleys, rollers and idlers. Lighter duty conveyor belts can also be installed in unit handling facilities, but such applications often take advantage of roller conveyors in their powered and non-powered configurations: gravity, belt driven and chain driven rollers conveyors.
Industrial uses of belt conveyors
Conveyor systems, in their multiple configurations, are used in plenty of industries along the assembly line to move or store materials and products between different working areas for each supply chain task to be efficiently performed. Lighter-duty conveyors handle all stages of manufacturing processes, from production to packaging, and support logistics operations in all industries where products or items are handled per unit. Therefore, roller and belt conveyors are essential in manufacturing facilities of consumer goods, including the most demanding food and beverage industry, warehouse and distribution centers to sort and prepare documents, boxes and parcels for delivery. Also, they are applied in more specific applications where logistics also play a crucial role. It’s the case of airports where thousands of baggage are loaded, unloaded and checked daily. On the other hand, the most common heavy industries, like mines, cement plants, salt and sugar plants, steel and power plants, crushing and recycling industries, import and export terminals, take advantages of belt conveyors to transport significant quantities of heavy loads of bulk materials along long distances to connect different working areas.
