The damage you can’t see: The hidden risks for unprotected conveyor belts

CHRISTINE KINDER, Marketing Manager for Kinder Australia Pty Ltd provides a report on Capotex Belt Conveyor Covers.

Idle conveyors which have no shelter are more at risk of increased belt damage caused by surface cracking than conveyors that are running.

Motionless exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can produce a photochemical reaction which promotes the oxidation of the surface of the rubber. This can have several consequences:

• Surface cracking (which can get caught on belt cleaners and then tear the belt);
• Loss of adhesion properties (making the belt more difficult to repair and re-splice);
• Reduction in mechanical strength (reducing the belt’s working characteristics);
• Alignment and mistracking problems (the rubber warps as moisture seeps into the cracks making tracking problems difficult to pinpoint); and
• Environmental and OHS risks (fine particles penetrate the surface cracks, allowing them  to pass through any cleaner system and are then shaken out on the return run of the belt. Build-up of dust can cause roller seizure. Airborne dust particles create OHS hazards).

Fixed from stringer to stringer, and self-supported, the range of Capotex Conveyor Belt Covers supplied by Kinder Australia requires no additional support structure, making them a better and more cost effective cover option in comparison to fabric covers. They are lightweight and easy manoeuvre reducing any potential for physical strain during installation, and also requiring less resources. Very importantly, ongoing access from either side of the conveyor is made simple due to their patented Lock/Hinge system.

Kinder Australia has been appointed as the exclusive distribution partner for Capotex’s Belt Covers in Australia and New Zealand.

“We are delighted to have been appointed as Capotex’s exclusive distribution partner. The Capotex belt covers have been used very effectively by quarry sites in Europe, South America and India, but now conveyor operators in Australia have full access to the range. What makes these belt covers very effective is how light they are to install so there is a significant time and labour saving in installation. Also, once installed the ongoing maintenance of the conveyor belt is simple because access is made easy with the hinge system.”

For more information on our exclusive Australian distribution of the range of Capotex Belt Conveyor Covers, contact our team of sales engineers on (03) 8587 9111 or by email to sales@kinder.com.au.

 

 

 

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60 SECONDS WITH AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER.

What is your name?
Barry Oram

Who do you work for?
Kinder Australia, although until recently we were known as Kinder & Co. The name was changed to reflect the more global presence we have in the bulk materials handling market – our customers and our innovative product solutions.

How many years have you worked for this business?
Coming on 5 years.

How many years have you been involved in the Industry?
Another 5-6 years in the industry overall.

What is your role at the company?
With our other Sales Engineers out and about on site, my key function is to respond to the day-to-day incoming telephone enquiries. The calls vary from simple repeat orders, to sites with material handling problems and they want advice on how to fix it.

What does your job involve?
My job involves a lot of product knowledge obviously, but also having an in-depth understanding of conveyor and bulk materials handling engineering. The best part of my job is solving difficult problems and helping customers make productivity improvements so they can work more efficiently and safely.

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