Enhancing Material Handling Efficiency with Enclosed Conveyor Belts
Enclosed conveyor belt is an airtight material handling system that is equipped with a conveyer belt and two or more pulleys to facilitate efficient and safe transport of finished products, intermediaries, and raw materials. This enclosed structure prevents pollutants and other contaminants from spoiling the products, thus ensuring the quality of stored items. Moreover, it helps to maintain an optimal environment and minimizes the risk of damage due to temperature fluctuations. Commonly used conveyer belts include inclined belts, cleated belts, and flat belts. Among these, inclined belts are majorly used in the construction and manufacturing sector as these belts are inclined, which enable easy transport of heavy and bulky upward and downward.
Enclosed Conveyor Belts Industry Overview
How Enclosed Conveyor Belts Improve Worker Safety
Allied Market Research published a new report with latest insights of the enclosed conveyor belts industry. The sector is expected to reach a revenue of $1,029.6 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.4% from 2024 to 2032. In 2023, it garnered $646.8 million, which reflects that the demand for enclosed conveyer belts is increasing rapidly. This is attributed to multiple benefits associated with converter belts. They boost improve efficiency and speed, exhibit superior versatility, and serve as a cost-effective solution. One of the major benefits of enclosed converter belts is that they significantly enhance worker safety. With exponential increase in population and rapid expansion of the construction and mining sectors, worker safety has become a major concern. This has heightened the need for enclosed converter belts.
Traditional open conveyor belts had several challenges, exposing workers to risks like getting caught in moving parts or injuries from hazardous spills. The International Labour Organization claims that approximately 6,400 deaths are reported on a daily basis due to occupational accidents and about 860,000 individuals are injured on site. Such alarming rise in work-related accidents and injuries encouraged manufacturers to develop advanced and eclosed conveyer belts. The enclosed structure, also known as barrier guards, covers the moving parts and mitigates the risk of accidental trapping and exposure to hazardous materials. Moreover, the enclosed system prevents the fall of heavy and bulky materials, thus minimizing accidents caused by slip and fall. Furthermore, these belts are equipped with emergency stop mechanisms that facilitate immediate shutdown of the system. Advanced sensors are integrated in emergency stop systems that detect glitches such as mechanical malfunctions, unusual vibrations, and overheating, which automatically enforces shutdown in necessary situations.
Not only do they safeguard laborers from accidents, but they are also intended to reduce physical strain that can lead to long-term musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain or tendinitis and fatigue, which are commonly prevalent among workers. The ergonomic design of these belts features automatic loading and unloading systems, which ease transport and minimize the need to perform repetitive tasks, thus reducing physical strain. As a result, by integrating attributes such as ergonomic design, barrier guards, and emergency stop mechanism, conveyer belts reduce the risks associated with industrial processes and enhance worker safety.
Martin Engineering Leading the Enclosed Conveyor Belts Industry
Martin Engineering, the world’s leading provider of conveyer belts and bulk material flow technology, introduced its six new designs of advanced conveyor belt cleaners at the MINExpo 2024 in Las Vegas, held from 24th to 26th September. To celebrate its 80th anniversary it rolled out Martin® ECOSAFE™ Primary and Secondary Cleaners XHD, Heated CleanScrape® Primary Cleaner, Martin® UBX Secondary Cleaner, Martin® SQC2S™ Cleaner with Orion HD and XHD Blades, Martin® Magnetic Inspection Door, Martin® Urethane Skirting. These products will improve the service life of equipment, enhance safety, and minimize maintenance. They not only make installation and servicing safe and easy but also contribute to reducing environmental waste. With the introduction of such advanced products, Martin Engineering sets a higher standard in efficiency, sustainability, and worker safety in material handling.
Closing Note
The demand for enclosed conveyer belts has heightened significantly due to increase in focus on enhancing worker safety in the material and construction sector and safeguarding products from environmental impact and pollutants. With integration of features such as dust extraction and control mechanisms, the systems improve efficiency and prevent accidental risks. Manufacturers are further focusing on automating industrial processes to minimize handling time and manual labor, which is expected to boost the demand for enclosed conveyer belts in the coming years.