Get the Facts about Mechanical Belt Fasteners
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About Conveyor Belt Splicing Techniques GET THE FACTS

2 Mechanical Belt Fasteners or Endless Splicing? No matter what you’re moving, minimizing downtime and maximizing output are always top priorities; so choosing the best method of splicing a belt is an important decision. Mechanical fasteners can be installed by a variety of on-site, easy-to-use tools. Presses are used to create endless splices through a combination of heat, pressure, and time. Depending on certain factors, one of two methods of splicing may be preferred. The two methods are: • Mechanical Belt Fastening – the process of joining belt ends with metallic or non-metallic...

3 • All splices wear over time. Mechanical fasteners can be visually monitored, often allowing you to anticipate maintenance. Endless splice wear is more subtle, making predictive replacement more diffi cult. • Both mechanical and endless splices can be effective ways to join belt ends. The condition of your belts, the environment they perform in, the demands of your system, and the amount of downtime your operation can afford are all factors that must be considered when deciding which method to use. Recycling Agriculture Airport Baggage Handling Food & Sanitary Handling Package & Parts...

4 Mechanical Belt Fasteners: Real Benefi ts for Your System Mechanical belt fasteners combine easy installation and low-profi le designs to withstand loads for light- and medium-duty applications. Fact: Mechanical fasteners are easy to install, which helps reduce downtime. Most mechanical fasteners can be installed in minutes, using only your on-site crew. They require less belt preparation and splicing can typically be handled right on the conveyor. Plus, Flexco offers a complete line of portable, time-saving installation tools to make mechanical splicing even more effi cient. Fact:...

5 The way belts are manufactured has evolved over the years — and so have mechanical belt fasteners. Because today’s belts tend to be thinner and made of synthetic materials, Flexco has designed fasteners with lower profiles that grip almost any belt carcass. Our fasteners achieve their holding power by penetrating the carcass fibers without damaging them. They feature teeth that literally “push” the fibers aside, passing between them to embed the fastener in the belt. HOW DO MECHANICAL FASTENERS WORK? Hybrid splice Fact: Mechanical splices work in almost any application and some operations...

6 Alligator® Lacing Features: • Interlaced fastener strips that create an exceptionally smooth joint • Available in continuous lengths to fi t any belt width • Ideal for transmission belts and other less demanding, low volume applications Hammer Installation Materials: • Steel and Stainless Steel Recommended for: • Package/parts conveying, food/sanitary operations, agriculture harvesting, recycling, and wood products Installation: • Requires no special tools – only a hammer Exclusively From Flexco Metallic Fastening Systems Alligator® Ready Set™ Staple Features: • One-piece fastener strips...

7 Non-Metallic Fastening Systems Alligator® Plastic Rivet Features: • One-piece fastener with beveled edges that create a smooth, low-profi le splice • Suitable for pulleys as small as 1-1/2” (38 mm) and belts up to 1/8” (3.2 mm) thick Materials: • UV-resistant black, FDA-accepted white and blue plastic Alligator® Spin-Set™ Tool Recommended for: • Pharmaceutical and food processing, metal stamping, and operations with metal detectors or X-ray equipment Installation Tools: • Alligator® Spin-Set™ – automated tool that welds the rivet heads of the fastener through heat and friction Alligator®...

8 Fact: Endless splicing creates a smooth and seamless splice. Endless splicing is ideal for food and sanitary handling or other applications with small residue. There is no danger of particles sifting through the splice or bacteria growing in fastener penetration points. And, because the splice is smooth and seamless, it won’t wear on the conveyor system or the product being moved. Fact: Endless splicing creates a strong, long-lasting solution that can help save money in the long run. When properly installed, an endless splice produces an extremely durable bond with enough strength to...

9 HOW DOES ENDLESS SPLICING WORK? Endless splicing bonds two belt ends together by applying pressure with heat, allowing the thermoplastic material to flow and then bond together for a strong splice as the material cools and re-hardens. Alternate methods for use with rubber belts typically involve a chemical bonding and curing process to create the splice. In the past, thermoplastic endless splicing would require the services of an experienced crew. Once the crew arrived on-site, the splicing operation could take several hours from start to finish – hours where your productivity would be at...

10 Flexco Endless Splicing Systems Novitool® PunM™ Finger Punch Features: • Manually operated fi nger punch system that doesn’t need electricity or air pressure • Easy to set-up and use on location • Punching force of 11,000 lbs. (50 kN) Punched fi ngers Recommended for: • Preparation of belt ends for fi nger or fi nger-overlap-fi nger splices • Any belt width can be punched due to the open-end design of the Pun M • Punchboards available for 50x20 mm, 70x15 mm, and 80x20 mm fi ngers Novitool® Aero™ Portable Splice Press Features: • A quick, 8-12 minute total splice cycle time • Integrated...

11 When a splice needs to be made, decide which method will work better for you based on environmental and working conditions around the belt. As mentioned, temperature, moisture levels, residue, the material you’re carrying, and the amount of belt slack you have can all come into play. Both splicing methods can be reliable options, but one may work better over the other in certain scenarios. For any splicing challenges or needs, Flexco has the solution. Our comprehensive line of mechanical belt fasteners and endless splicing presses will keep you up-and-running – with the least amount of...