News

Longer lengths and wider elevator belts with new belt cutting machine

The processing speed of bulk goods has become increasingly important and the dimensions of elevators are getting bigger and bigger. The dimensions are changing in order to achieve maximum capacity. Muller Beltex is moving with this trend which is why we have introduced a number of modifications in our production process to meet this demand and provide you with even better and quicker service. The arrival of a new belt cutting machine means we are able to accurately manufacture belts measuring up to two metres wide and 300 metres long, according to requirements.

Using our unique CNC punching/drilling machine, we are able to punch an 1800 mm wide punching pattern in elevator belts of up to 1900 mm wide. All this means we are now able to offer you a seamless total package so that your order can be ready for assembly in the shortest possible time.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our specialists.

Increasing sustainability of concrete, sand and gravel plants

Concrete, sand and gravel are usually rough and sharp. When handling such raw materials, wear frequently occurs to various parts of your plant. To reduce cost and optimise service life, we offer the correct protection for increasing sustainability.

Muller Beltex offers the solution by applying high abrasion-resistant Kryptane® polyurethane liners in a range of “Shore A” hardnesses. These patented polyurethanes guarantee stronger, tougher and more elastic liners than other polyurethanes. This enables us to offer the right solution for a wide variety of wear issues.

In “Solids Processing”, Muller Beltex has shared its knowledge with regard to wear in bulk and processing industries. Read the full article by clicking on the “Article” button below. You can of course refer to our “Abrasion-resistant polyurethane liners” brochure (click on ”Abrasion-resistant…”). Or obtain individual advice on extending the service life and reducing the maintenance cost of your plant.

ARTIKEL SOLIDS PROCESSING

Increase your knowledge and expertise at the Muller Beltex Academy

In recent months, Muller Beltex has set up the “Muller Beltex Academy”, a knowledge and workshop institute in Pijnacker. We invite our business friends for discussion, training and exchange of knowledge. We use theory and practice as a basis on which to share our experiences. The Academy is also used to train our own employees & distributors and hold workshops given by our specialists.

Workshops on how elevators work, the application of process monitoring (including ATEX) of your plant, making elevator belts endless and the use and installation of Kryptane® for reducing noise and wear are among the available options.

The purpose is the joint enhancement of knowledge and transfer of expertise to maximise the potential of your plant and create a safe and durable workplace. We take you from theory right through to installation and carrying out correct maintenance, enabling us to help you extend the service life of your components. Please contact us for more information.

“METALLAG” bucket elevator pulley lagging for high heat applications

In belt/bucket elevators the design and condition of the pulleys is of crucial importance to the life of the belt. In elevators handling very hot material the belts are heat resistant, e.g. type Polysur T150.

However, the rubbers used as friction layer on the drive pulleys, the lagging, are only available in low heat resistant qualities. The result is that in many elevators handling hot material, such as occurs in elevators handling hot minerals, cement and fly ash, the pulley lagging needs to be replaced frequently during the lifetime of a belt. Once a lagging is affected by the high temperature reigning in the elevator, it crumbles and is lost and when that happens the belt rides over an uneven surface leading to tracking problems and wear to the belt.

Muller Beltex has designed and supplied “METALLAG” all metal bolted on pulley laggings, with a tracking crown for high heat applications. The current practical results show that in severe cases handling product of +165°C. where laggings and pulleys were replaced every 6 months, the investment was earned back after 1.5 year, during which replacement of pulleys and laggings was avoided. The condition of the belts after this period of time have clearly improved, compared to the previous situation.

The life expectancy of the “METALLAG” all metal lagging is 3-5 years. The material is very abrasion-resistant and offers a very positive grip on the belt avoiding belt slip.

Would you like to have more information? Please contact one of our specialists on the telephone number mentioned below.

Advice about problem elevators

Muller Beltex has many years of experience and global expertise in the bulk and process industry. That is why we, as a renowned knowledge and service provider, are often approached by equipment manufacturers and end users who are encountering problems with their equipment.

Their questions may involve durability, the wish to reduce excessive wear or capacity issues. In this article, we will enter into a specific problem we often come across in more older elevators used in the agricultural sector, which is product taken down again in the return part of a bucket elevator, so called “back-legging”. What does this mean?

Product that is not correctly or not discharged from the elevator bucket and is therefore dropped back into the down-going elevator leg. This may be because the elevators were designed for example in the nineteen eighties for a capacity of 70 tons per hour at a certain belt speed and the elevator was fed in the up-going elevator leg. At the time, only one type of product was transported with the elevator in question. However, over the following decades, the tonnage may have been increased to perhaps 100 tons per hour, transporting multiple products with a variety of densities at the same belt speed.

In addition the feeding of the elevator could be both in the up-going and also in the down-going leg of the elevator. Because the product is ending up in the elevator boot section, the buckets need to dig up the product from the boot of the elevator, which leads to unnecessary wear and additional stress on the bucket elevator components and the required capacities are no longer realised.

Extensive inspection of the installation allows us to study the problems. We analyse the existing situation and draw up a plan of approach in consultation with our engineering department. This plan of approach is presented to our customer, together with a specified quotation.

Expert calculation of the correct drive and return pulley, elevator bucket, bucket formation, belt speed, and if applicable, adjustment of the construction itself allows us to successfully solve complex problems like the one described above.

Do you have a question or problem for which you would like our support? Please do not hesitate to contact us. Our telephone number is listed below.

Inspection of wheat elevator to prevent stoppages

Muller Beltex regularly performs inspections on elevators in order to monitor their status. By carrying out inspections, we can prevent many stoppages caused by calamities. After completing an inspection, we draw up an extensive report explaining the situation to the client. This is followed by a comprehensive quote including a work plan describing what actions are required. Based on a phased plan, the actions are performed in a controlled way and all associated risks are identified to ensure that the work is performed safely.

During this inspection of a wheat elevator, for example, a tower crane was needed to replace the drive roller. The inspection was performed while the drive roller at the top of the elevator was being replaced.

Eventually, the elevator belt will need replacing during the second half of this year due to drying out. We can then replace the worn fasteners on the belt at the same time. The photos clearly show that the lip over which the product is tipped into the hopper is also showing excessive wear and tear. This will be covered with Kryptane® polyurethane.

Reconstruction of rapeseed bucket elevator according ATEX guidelines

At worlds largest oil seed processing company in Gent (Belgium), Muller Beltex reconstructed a 1000 m3/uur rapeseed elevator in accordance with ATEX guidelines. The elevator, 50,2 meters high, was equiped with a elevator belt of 1400 mm broad with 1250 mm broad steel elevator buckets mounted on it which needed frequent replacement because of breaking. To equip the bucket elevator according the current ATEX guidelines was an additional wish of our customer.