5 Key Considerations when Buying Conveyors for High Wear Applications

Conveyors for high wear applications, require special considerations to achieve needed durability, reliability and longevity and are called Severe Service applications. For some manufacturing plants, standard durability conveyors cannot provide adequate longevity or reliability in operation. For these heavy-duty applications, a specialized solution is needed.

REASONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CONVEYORS FOR HIGH WEAR APPLICATIONS:

1. Temperature
Sometimes, conveying equipment is exposed to very high or very low temperatures, either in the material being conveyed or the operating environment. When this is the case, temperature resistant parts must be used to ensure that product flow is not interrupted and equipment performance is not compromised.

2. Material Harshness
Abrasive and corrosive materials can be lethal to the reliability and longevity of standard conveyors. Conveying equipment designed specifically with material harshness in mind will protect your investment, ensure your operations continue running smoothly, and cause fewer headaches.

3. Nature of Operation
If the equipment will be exposed to heavy-duty or continuous operation, ensure the design has been “ruggedized” to withstand the extra stresses encountered in high wear applications, and will use materials, parts and components that are designed for extended lifecycles over the duration of the equipment. These features, in turn, will ensure equipment longevity, dependable running, and lower operating costs resulting from fewer replacement parts and maintenance interventions.

4. Exposure to the Elements
In applications where equipment is placed into outdoor service, with exposure to moisture and the elements, unique design factors must be considered. Sometimes the internal parts of the equipment and the product being conveyed must be protected from the outdoor elements. In other cases, the equipment itself must be able to withstand the punishment of being outdoor year after year. Often both are the case. Specialized equipment design considerations help ensure that outdoor conveying equipment performs as consistently as an indoor machine.

5. Line Factors
Due to many factors within a processing line, conveyors can be subjected to abusive loading such as dropping material into the infeed from heights or in an abrupt manner. Conveying equipment placed in lines where this is the case must consider and be able to handle the potential for shock and impact from dropped material.

6. Manufacturer
High wear applications strongly benefit from an equipment supplier who will be there in the long-term, to answer questions, supply spare parts, or provide routine servicing. Be sure to select an equipment manufacturer who is established, has experience handling high wear and otherwise severe applications, and is committed to customer care.

Conclusion
Severe service conveyors require a strong understanding of your particular application, specialized design considerations, and a suppler that is committed to quality and care. Having considered these 5 key factors, you’re now better equipped to make a smart buying decision and minimize your lifecycle costs.

If you require a conveyor for high wear service, UniTrak has the know-how, experience and equipment lineup to handle your high wear application. To find out more about how UniTrak can support your high wear conveying needs, call us 1-905-885-8168!