Skirt Board Rubber: What Role Does it Play in Conveyor Belt Operations?

Does your industrial system involve the use of conveyor belts for material handling? Do you want to install a conveyor belt in your current or old facility? If your answer to one or both questions is “Yes,” one of the most important parts, which are used to help enhance the performance of the system is the skirt board rubber.

Skirt board rubber, also referred to as side rubber, is used to help center materials being moved using a conveyor. It is designed as a rubber sheet and acts as a sealing strip, especially on the transfer, loading, and transfer points of the conveyor system. Here are the key roles played by skirt board rubber in conveyor belt operations.

Minimizing Material Loss

If a conveyor was working in a perfect world, one would expect 100% of materials to reach the targeted destination. However, factors such as material consistency, roller type, and conveyor speed make some material get spilled along the way. If the material being moved is very light, it can also be blown off the belt. Effective conveyor skirting can help to cut down the material being wasted when moving them using the belt.

Skirt Board Rubber Helps to Reduce Belt Damage

If the materials you are moving using the conveyor spills out, they reduce not only the quantity getting to the eventual destination, but can also be trapped on the rollers. If the particles get underneath and are caught between the rollers and belt, there is a risk of belt mistracking and damage. Within a very short time, you are likely to require conveyor belt replacement. However, you can avoid this by getting a high-quality skirt board rubber.

A carefully installed skirt board rubber can help to prevent excessive materials FROM getting into the underneath of the belt. This makes it a good way of reducing the damage to the belt and increasing its life.

Cutting Down the Cost of Cleanup

Material spillage and dust pollution can cost your facility a lot of money in cleanup. In facilities such as mining and grain handling that deal with bulk materials, the process of cleanup will not only increase the costs, but can also stall the production process. The dust materials escaping from the conveyor can also become a health hazard to your workers. With skirt board rubber, you can reduce the amount of material and dust escaping from the conveyor, helping to cut down related health risks, unexpected shutdowns, and the cost of cleanup.

Increases the Efficiency of your Conveyor Belt System

With a good skirt board rubber installed in a conveyor belt, you expect the belt, roller, and shafts, and sprockets, among other parts, to run smoothly. This means there will be fewer obstacles on the rollers, the belt will slide, and debris buildup will cause no delays. This efficiency is likely to result in elevated productivity, lower cost of operation and more profits.

As you install skirt board rubber to improve the efficiency of your conveyor belt, make sure also to focus on other parts of the system. For example, are you using the right motor to drive the conveyor belt? What about the rollers, chains, and sprockets? It is also crucial to have the right tools and maintain the conveyor in top condition for optimal performance.