Ashwini Khunte, Regional Head – Sales and Marketing, Martin Engineering, discusses conveyor maintenance with advanced belt cleaning technology, which delivers durability, efficiency and safety for cement plants.

In every cement plant, a conveyor belt system forms the critical artery that moves material from raw feed to end product. That means conveyor performance is key to productivity and profitability.
Given that a cement plant can have well in excess of 100 conveyors, keeping belts running efficiently demands that they are well-maintained and remain free from carry-back, spillage and build-up that would otherwise cause excess wear and unscheduled down time.
Conveyors are also among the most dynamic and hazardous machinery within any processing plant, and manually inspecting and maintaining each component of a conveyor belt system across a wide area can also be time-consuming, labor intensive and, crucially, involves significant exposure to risk.
Even though the entire cement operation depends on conveyor performance, the importance of clean belts to overall productivity is rarely understood or prioritized by busy plant maintenance teams. Fortunately help is at hand, with specialists from Martin Engineering in available to help Indian cement producers to identify the root causes of their pain points and recommend innovative solutions that are proven to work.
As the world leader in bulk handling solutions, Martin Engineering recently marked 80 years of product innovation, engineering expertise and global growth. The company’s flagship Center for Innovation in Neponset, Illinois, USA is a hothouse for engineering research and technological advancement. As a result, Martin Engineering has become synonymous with the development and manufacture of innovations that deliver cleaner, safer and more productive bulk materials processing.

Unmatched belt cleaning
One of the many products by Martin that’s unique in the marketplace is the revolutionary CleanScrape® range of primary and secondary belt cleaners. In virtually every situation, CleanScrape outperforms all conventional scrapers, setting unrivalled standards for endurance, efficiency and reliability.
Featuring unique patented technology, CleanScrape is the most durable belt cleaning system available, delivering superior cleaning, whole-life cost reductions, and guaranteed to last four times the service life of conventional cleaners with a fraction of the maintenance time. Indeed, there are many cases where a much longer performance lifespan is achieved.
Installed diagonally across the discharge pulley, the blade forms a three-dimensional helix with a highly-effective but low contact pressure between belt and cleaner. The ‘blade’ is comprised of a matrix of tungsten carbide tips and is tensioned against the belt by cables, typically resulting in the removal of up to 95 per cent of stubborn material stuck to the belt.
Engineered for belt widths up to 120 in. (up to 3000 mm), speeds up to 1500 fpm (7.5 m/s), and pulley diameters of up to 78 in. (2000 mm), the cleaner’s groundbreaking design mean it requires minimal space for installation and also make it suitable for use on mechanical splices – put simply it’s the best performing and most versatile belt cleaner on the market.
The CleanScrape® Secondary Cleaner is a fully stainless steel assembly featuring independent 6-inch-wide blades with carbide tips. Each tip is supported on spring-loaded arms at both ends. The load springs allow independent blade rotation back and forward as well as up and down. This range of motion provides equal load pressure across each blade, absorbs obstructions, conforms to ever-changing belt undulations, and is able to arc safely in the event of belt rollback.
When used in combination, the CleanScrape® range of primary and secondary belt cleaners offers unparalleled belt cleaning performance. Carry-back, spillage and build-up are virtually eliminated, ensuring plants can run for way longer without stoppages, and maintenance frequency is much reduced allowing teams to focus on other priorities. But before jumping to conclusions about material handling problems, it’s always best to take a holistic approach. Martin Engineering’s team of experts work alongside maintenance teams and contractors to identify the root causes, specify the right solutions and deliver a return on your investment in improvement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ashwini Khunte, Regional Head – Sales and Marketing, Martin Engineering, brings experience from previous roles at Martin Engineering and Move Tech Conveyors. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering.