Getting the Most out of your Sanitary Belt Conveyor
May 16, 2019
Sanitary belt conveyors are widely used in food processing facilities. Well-constructed conveyors from reputable manufacturers will have long lifespans, lasting 20 or more years. However, with a little forethought in the buying process, that lifespan can be increased. A key factor for increasing the equipment life of a sanitary belt conveyor is the operating speed of the conveyor – units which are run faster generally have increased wear and tear on parts and components.
In this blog, we present some tips to consider when buying a sanitary belt conveyor that can permit slower operating speeds, resulting in superior equipment longevity without sacrificing operational reliability or performance.
Often, to save costs, buyers will purchase the smallest belt width that will meet their needs. This can have the unfortunate consequence that the conveyor needs to be run at faster rates to meet higher future demand for throughput. It is better to buy a conveyor with a wider belt width which will provide some reserve for future capacity increases without requiring the unit to be run at a faster rate.
Increasing the number of cleats on a sanitary belt conveyor will permit more product to be carried on the same length of belt. Adding a belt with a higher density of cleats can allow more product to be carried without running the conveyor faster. This can increase the longevity of the equipment.
To address product loss during conveying, the operating speed of a conveyor often has to be increased. Using a conveyor whose belt has sidewalls can prevent loss and spillage, allowing the unit to be run at a slower rate.
The first three tips can allow a sanitary belt conveyor to be run at a slower rate, without sacrificing throughput, thereby extending the unit’s operating life. In addition, Tip #3 helps preserve product and throughput, reducing spillage and the need for cleanup.
UniTrak manufactures the KleanTrak sanitary belt conveyor. The KleanTrak conveyor is a cleated belt conveyor specifically designed for applications where hygienic performance is a key requirement. This sanitary conveyor will support applications in the food, confectionary, coffee and tea, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
KleanTrak conveyors feature an open sanitary design which minimizes the risk of pathogen or allergen contamination and permits fast and easy in-place cleaning. Each conveyor uses a cleated FDA-approved belt, available in a range of styles, in a patented tensionless drive system which provides no belt slippage or stretch. The frame is made from 304 stainless steel and a variety of finishes are available, including electropolishing. To find out more about KleanTrak sanitary belt conveyors from UniTrak, please contact the UniTrak sales team.
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