Material handling facilities rely heavily on conveyor belt systems for efficient operations. When choosing their conveyor belt type, companies often consider requirements related to product and application needs such as size, shape, weight, temperature, and more when selecting their ideal conveyor belt solution. Plastic modular belts manufactured by Intralox may offer distinct advantages over fabric or metal conveyors for food processing and other industrial uses.
Plastic conveyor belts have quickly become the go-to solution in several major industries, such as seafood, meat, bakery, confectionery, and pharmaceuticals. Plastic belts offer several advantages over fabric conveyor systems in terms of sanitation and chemical and biological resistance compared to fabric ones; furthermore, plastic conveyors tend to perform better at temperature fluctuations compared with fabrics making them an excellent choice for companies that must deliver goods across varying temperatures.
Modular plastic conveyor belts are comprised of injection-molded plastic modules connected with rods to form a conveyor belt. Their modular design enables easy customization for specific needs, repair and maintenance costs can be reduced compared to metal belts and save companies money over time; changing production runs won't necessitate new investments when equipment needs updating or modifications made during production runs are required.
Plastic modular belts have applications in food- and nonfood-related industries alike, including automotive manufacturing, can-making material handling, and material transport. Their versatile nature allows them to accommodate a range of sizes and shapes while being designed with curves or inclines for design purposes. Their antistatic and nonconductive plastic materials also make these conveyor belts great for some applications; furthermore, their nonporous thermoplastics and exposed hinge rods make them suitable for use in food manufacturing environments.
Modular plastic conveyor belts differ from synthetic fabric conveyors by being developed individually with their sprocket styles and designs, which makes them easier to interchange between conveyors with minimal or no adjustment necessary. Modular plastic conveyors come in solid, woven, or perforated finishes for an array of finishes to choose from.
To select an optimal modular plastic conveyor belt, it is essential to take into account the material and size of each product being transported. This information will allow for the determination of optimal thickness and sprocket configuration based on this data. Furthermore, modular plastic belts may be tailored with customizable openings, nub top structures, and other customizable features to enhance product grip - such as installing nub top structures to prevent products from rolling off onto employees creating safety risks; or by including features like ribbed mesh or grid patterns that increase strength and durability respectively.
