Conveyor belt designed for hygiene needs

Cambridge International says that the new Duraflex belting offers a hygienic alternative to existing light duty belts currently being-used on factory conveyor systems, while also allowing for movement of heavier products. This feature makes it well suited for a number of applications including breading, battering, coating, frying and even baking, the company says. Consistency ​ Barry Voshell, director of the group's market and business development unit, claimed that the belts strength is consistent even at the points where it has been spliced together, helping to ensure longer running times and reducing maintenance needs. Despite this robust design, the belt can still be easily modified by workers with splicing of the conveyor belt possible in about 30 seconds in some cases, according to the group. "It unrolls easily and is incredibly easy to splice,"​ said Voshell. "No special tools or special wires are needed."​ Easy cleaning​ As part of the product's design, Cambridge says that Duraflex uses a replacement rod that can be slid into the edge of the belt for modification. The rod is hooked over a small tab on the sides and the belt is then ready for use. The product also uses wider openings across its surface in a bid to ensure that onsite cleaning and maintenance is easier to perform, said its manufacturer. Aside, from the purported hygiene benefits, the manufacturer says that the belt is also designed with smaller diameter drive rolls required to move food products along. This according to the group's own testing can reduce the damage that occurs to products on the line, even for particularly delicate products. According to the group, the product is also compatible with a large number of support beds currently being used in food processing-based conveyor systems.