When shopping for a conveyor belt for your line, it’s essential that you gather as much information as possible. Whether you’re considering the physical layout of your operation, the temperature of your products, the ease of the inspection process, or any number of other factors, carefully documenting exactly what you need starts with asking the right questions. As there are thousands – even hundreds of thousands – of possible configurations, it can be a real challenge to even know what questions you need to ask. Thankfully, when you work with an experienced team, like the team at Great Lakes Belting, you can count on them to walk you through the process. But, in case you’re looking for a starting point, let’s look at a handful of questions you should be asking.
What color conveyor belting do I need?
Color isn’t just an aesthetic choice, it impacts your quality assurance and inspection processes. No matter how you’ve configured your line – visual inspections, automatic cameras, or any number of other methods – contrast is key. Our recommendation is to select a color that doesn’t tend to occur in your products. For example, white is great for food processing and industrial applications. The resulting contrast will help you spot and address any leftover materials, residues, and so forth.
Am I moving up or down an incline?
If you plan to move your products vertically, you’re going to want a belt with cleats. Cleated belts grip your products better, allowing them to be carried safely upward or transported safely downward. Without cleats, your products could easily collect in problem areas, creating clogs that reduce your productivity and threaten your uptime.
Can my belt be customized?
Sometimes there just isn’t an off-the-shelf solution that works. In those cases, you’re going to want to work with a conveyor belt supplier that can customize your belt. With a wide range of custom fabrications available, Great Lakes Belting is the industry’s go-to source for highly customized, highly specific belting products. No matter what you need, if you can envision it, we can deliver it.
At Great Lakes Belting, we’re passionate about offering the absolute largest selection of belting products on the market. Whether you’re in material handling, paper converting, industrial automation, or food processing, you can count on us to help you locate exactly the products that you – and your operation – need. So, if you’re considering switching, upgrading, or replacing your conveyor belts, reach out to us today to learn how we can help.
