Before you call: 4 important considerations for conveyor belt repairs

The humble conveyor belt is imperative to near-endless companies, and so it’s only natural that they all want their machine to be running at full capacity! Unfortunately, subpar business practices and other issues often contribute to malfunction, making it essential to perform immediate repairs.

After all, a malfunctioning system will only lead to further profit losses, so it’s imperative that any company experiencing this issue invest to have it repaired ASAP.

Conveyor belt repair must, of course, be conducted by trained professionals, to avoid injury risk and to get the best result from the solution.

With this in mind, here are four things to consider before calling in the experts:

1. What has caused the damage?

These essential machines can malfunction for a number of reasons, but whatever the reason it is absolutely essential that you assess the damage before calling in the experts, as you can properly determine whether they will only need to fix a small issue or will have to impede on scheduled production time to fix a larger problem.

For example, a minor rip can potentially be a quick fix for repairs teams, whilst a major tear can cause further issues which will require the experts to fix the problem during scheduled shutdown as opposed to during a small period of production downtime.

2. Do you need to shut down operations?

Hopefully, the damage won’t be so terrible as to have to shut down operations, but you need to decide on this once you evaluate the machine. Conveyor belt fixes can be time-consuming, and can affect your business’s operations and costs thousands in solutions, so it is vital to assess whether you need a small or large repair (not to mention a replaced part!).

The load on the current system may have to be shifted to the other belt - this can be an expensive, time-consuming process, leading to further operational shut downs and other issues that make it hard for the machine to run at full capacity. Therefore, it’s important to assess the damage’s nature and choose a solution based on that.

3. Will a temporary fix suffice?

Once the damage has been analysed it is essential to consider whether the temporary solution will get the job done over time or if it is a better idea to simply replace the damaged component. It is important to check if the belt can manage the take-up forces or drive after its tensile strength has been fixed.

Temporary solutions only usually deal with small issues like replacing or mending fasteners, as well as holding a scab overlay using elevator bolts or fasteners, so it all depends on how much damage the system has incurred. Of course, if your solution has experienced major damage then it will require a full service.

4. What kind of solution is needed?

There are various fixing methods available, including cold cure, Dutchman, metal fasteners and vulcancised - your professionals will help you decide which choice is perfect for your system.

So, if you need your system to be fixed as soon as possible, don’t rush in, ensure that you assess the damage yourself to ensure that you request the right kind of job for the problem at hand.

You don’t want to waste yours and your company’s time and money by choosing the wrong solution for a problem that might not have been such a big deal in the first place, so be sure to check out the problem before giving your experts a call!

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