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Key Advantages of Belt Conveyors

31st October 2022

Belt conveyors are the material-moving standard for good reason, bringing several benefits to bulk material handling systems. In comparing belt conveyors and screw conveyors, the best fit is not always immediately clear, leading many buyers to opt for the less costly screw conveyor. However, they often discover later that a belt conveyor is much more suited to the job. 

There are several situations in which the belt conveyor provides a better handling option:

WHEN MATERIAL DEGRADATION IS A CONCERN

Belt conveyors promote gentle handling with very little material degradation; once loaded onto the belt, material is contained in the trough, with minimal agitation between loading and discharge. This keeps friable or fragile materials intact and ensures material or product arrives at its next stop in the precise condition intended. 

In contrast, since screw conveyors utilize a helical screw inside a trough or tube to advance material forward through contact with the blades, screw conveyors cause some friction and therefore degradation. As such, they are not a fit for materials requiring gentle handling or where friability is concerned, such as with granular fertilizers.

WHEN HANDLING HIGH THROUGHPUT

Capable of handling material at up to 8,000 TPH, belt conveyors can handle much higher capacities than screw conveyors. Belt conveyors are available up to 72” wide and can operate at speeds up to 600 feet per minute (FPM), making them the preferred choice for any type of high-capacity setting. 

WHEN HANDLING STRINGY MATERIALS

Both belt conveyors and screw conveyors are capable of handling a wide range of materials. Screw conveyors, however, are generally not a fit for conveying materials that are long and/or stringy, as they are likely to become tangled and cause blockages as a result of the horizontal screw motion.