Choosing the right conveyor belt material

When you glance at a belt conveyor system, the belt might look pretty straightforward. But here’s the thing – it’s arguably one of the most crucial components of the whole setup, defining how well everything performs and how reliable your operation will be. And it all comes down to the material used in the design which needs to work perfectly with your product, the environment your conveyor is working in and the mechanics of the conveyor itself.

At Dyno Conveyors, as conveyor system manufacturers and installers, we understand that material handling isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ game. Every application throws up its own unique challenges. Our approach is simple: we specify every belt to match your exact requirements, making absolutely sure it’s fit for purpose – from food-safe materials to heavy-duty rubber and modular options. With access to a huge range of belt types, we can match the right product to your exact process and operating conditions.

Environment, product and design: what drives belt specification

Selecting the right material comes down to answering three fundamental questions: What’s your operating environment like? What product are you moving? And what are the mechanical demands of your conveyor’s design? These factors tell us everything we need to know about the physical properties required.

These are the most common belt conveyor materials you’ll come across, each with its own strengths for different environments and products.

Understanding the mechanics behind your belt material

Things get really interesting when you consider how the belt physically interacts with the machinery. Your conveyor’s performance depends entirely on the precise relationship between the carcass (the internal strength layer) and the covers (top and bottom surfaces).

Strength and Carcass

The carcass is the structural backbone of the belt, absorbing all the tensile strain (the pull) from the motor. Its composition is basically material science, and comes down to mostly two types of materials:

• Fabric Ply: Built from materials like Polyester (E) running lengthwise (the warp) and Polyamide (P) running crosswise (the weft) – it is often called this EP fabric. This blend is ideal for high impact absorption and low elongation, meaning you’ll need shorter take-up adjustments.
• Steel Cord: This is what you want for the heaviest, most demanding jobs and the longest conveyors (like overland mining operations). Steel cords give you superior tensile strength and minimal stretch.

Friction and Wear (top and bottom plies)

The thickness and material grade of the rubber or plastic covers are specified to protect the carcass and manage how your product moves.

• Top Cover (on the product side): The material’s abrasion resistance and thickness are crucial when you’re looking at impact risk. Moving sharp, heavy aggregate? You’ll need a heavy-duty rubber cover. Handling light packaging? A smoother, non-abrasive polymer is the way to go. The surface profile material (whether it’s a high-friction rubber profile or smooth PU) determines the grip level, which is obviously vital for incline angles where you need to prevent rollback (especially with lighter product bags, such a bag of potato chips!).
• Bottom Cover (on the machine side): This surface is constantly working against the slider bed or return idlers. The compound needs to resist heat and wear from all the friction. We often specify a low-friction bottom material to reduce wear and cut power consumption, particularly on slider bed conveyors. The material’s rigidity also affects the smallest pulley diameter it can safely wrap around without misshaping the belt or wearing out prematurely.

Our commitment to fit-for-purpose specification

With so many material variables to juggle – from chemical resistance and high-angle transport to load stress – belt specification really is a precise science.

And your success depends on getting it right. Go with a generic material choice and you’re looking at failures, downtime and hefty replacement costs. At Dyno Conveyors, our expertise lies in translating the complexity of your operation into fully integrated, reliable conveyor solutions. We guarantee the belt material we specify will match your precise requirements for:

• Environmental resistance or fitness
• Load capacity and tensile strength
• Product contact and hygiene compliance
• Mechanical integrity (perfectly suited to your specified motor, pulleys and structure)

This focus on a completely fit-for-purpose specification ensures you get maximum uptime, energy efficiency and total compliance with all industry standards.

📞 Contact us today to discuss your next project. Let our experts design and install your complete conveyor system with the perfect belt material specification – engineered for reliability from the ground up.