PU Belting
Cleanable, controlled surfaces for food handling, inspection, processing and hygiene-sensitive applications.
Explore PU belting →
Conveyor belting for African operations
Belting selected for the product, process and real duty
Conveyor Supplies Africa supplies PU belting, PVC belting and modular belting for processing, packaging, food handling, agriculture, warehousing and general industrial conveyor applications.
Application-first selectionMatched to product behaviour and operating conditions.
Fabrication-readyCleats, guides, sidewalls and joining options.
Maintenance-awareSelection shaped around tracking, cleaning and spares.
Africa-wide supportPractical supply for South Africa and cross-border sites.
Belt families and capabilities
A clearer way to choose conveyor belting
Three core belt families cover most industrial applications. The surrounding bento blocks show the technical decisions that make the chosen belt work properly.
PVC Belting
Versatile industrial belting for packaging, warehousing, logistics and general product movement.
Explore PVC belting →Modular Belting
Interlocking systems for wash-down areas, curves, drainage and predictable section repairs.
Traction & Surface
Smooth, rough-top and patterned surfaces should control the product without creating unnecessary cleaning or drag.
Control without over-gripping
Fabrication
Cleats, guides, sidewalls and joining methods turn a standard belt into an application-specific solution.
Built around the duty
Selection process
How we narrow the right belt
The correct choice comes from four practical inputs. This replaces the usual ritual of copying the old belt and hoping the previous failure was merely decorative.
STEP 01
Product behaviour
Weight, base shape, packaging, stability and whether the product slips, tips, rolls or marks.
STEP 02
Operating environment
Water, oils, food residue, chemicals, dust, temperature and the actual cleaning routine.
STEP 03
Conveyor geometry
Inclines, curves, pulley diameter, transfer gaps, support style and tracking behaviour.
STEP 04
Maintenance plan
Splicing, planned replacements, compatible modular parts and sensible standardisation across lines.
Practical belting guide
Plan Belting around the application, not the catalogue
Use this guide to compare belt families, identify the factors that control reliability, and prepare the information needed for an accurate quotation.
Clean handling
PU belting
Commonly selected where cleanability, controlled product handling and consistent surface behaviour matter. Moisture, incline angle, product contact and cleaning routines still determine the correct surface and fabrication.
Explore PU beltingGeneral industry
PVC belting
A practical option for packaging, warehousing, logistics and general conveying. Smooth, rough-top and patterned surfaces can be matched to the product, support bed and required traction.
Explore PVC beltingWash-down & repairs
Modular belting
Interlocking modules suit many wash-down areas, curves, drainage duties and applications where section repairs are valuable. Pitch, sprockets, guides, wear strips and modules must remain compatible.
Explore modular beltingTransfers and change points
Many repeat failures begin where products enter, leave or change direction. Large gaps, incorrect heights and poor alignment can destabilise products, pull the belt sideways and damage edges. Photos of loading and discharge points help identify the correct belt flexibility and transfer arrangement.
Traction and cleaning
More grip is not automatically better. Deep textures may hold residue and increase cleaning time, while aggressive surfaces add drag. The preferred surface is the least aggressive option that still controls the product in normal wet, oily or inclined conditions.
Support, pulleys and tracking
Slider beds, roller supports and pulley diameter change belt behaviour. Incorrect backing can increase heat and power draw, while poor roller spacing or alignment can cause bounce and drift. Edge wear often points to alignment, guiding, tensioning or transfer problems rather than the belt alone.
Fabrication and containment
Cleats control rollback and spacing on inclines. Guides support tracking. Sidewalls improve containment and reduce spill zones. Splicing affects flexibility, installation time and smooth running. These features should be specified with the belt, not added after commissioning.
Related products and support
Continue to the most relevant CSA resource.
Belting supply and support across Africa
Cross-border operations benefit from consistent belt families, fabrication rules and documented spare parts. Conveyor Supplies Africa supports non-mining operations in South Africa and other African markets with practical selection, standardisation and replacement planning.
Technical selection essentials
Belting specifications that protect uptime and service life
A reliable result depends on more than belt width and length. Product behaviour, conveyor construction, transfers, cleaning and maintenance access all influence the final construction and fabrication.
Product contact and surface choice
The carrying surface must suit the product base, packaging and required movement. Smooth surfaces can support easy cleaning and gentle handling, while rough-top or patterned surfaces add control on inclines. The correct choice is the least aggressive surface that prevents slip without creating unnecessary drag, marking or residue traps.
- Product weight, footprint and base condition
- Required grip during acceleration and stopping
- Risk of marking, tipping, rolling or sliding
Pulley diameter and belt flexibility
The smallest pulley or nose-bar diameter can eliminate otherwise suitable constructions. A belt that is too stiff for the pulley may flex poorly, generate heat or fail around the joint. Tight transfers often require a construction designed for repeated bending, particularly where small products must cross narrow gaps without snagging.
- Drive, tail and tensioning pulley diameters
- Nose bars and knife-edge transfers
- Direction changes and reverse operation
Slider beds, rollers and backing
A slider-bed conveyor creates different friction and heat from a roller-supported conveyor. The underside construction must suit the support method, operating speed and load. Incorrect backing can increase power demand, temperature and wear. Roller spacing and alignment also affect stability, tracking and product bounce through loading zones.
- Support material and bed condition
- Roller pitch, alignment and free movement
- Motor load, speed and operating hours
Tracking, tension and edge wear
Persistent drift is rarely solved by applying more tension. Common causes include frame or pulley misalignment, contaminated pulleys, uneven loading, poor guide setup and damaged transfers. Excess tension can increase bearing load and shorten service life while hiding the actual mechanical problem. The complete conveyor should be checked before a replacement is specified.
- Pulley alignment and surface condition
- Loading position and direction of travel
- Guide arrangement and tensioning travel
Cleaning, moisture and chemicals
Cleaning methods should be included at quotation stage. Water, oils, fats, detergents, sanitisers and temperature changes can affect traction, materials and joint performance. Deep textures may improve grip but increase cleaning time. Hygiene-sensitive applications also require accessible conveyor geometry so residue is not trapped around supports and transfer components.
- Wash-down frequency and water temperature
- Cleaning agents, oils and product residue
- Drying time and operation while wet
Fabrication, joining and spare planning
Cleats, guides and sidewalls should be designed with the incline, product and transfer arrangement. The joining method affects installation time, flexibility and emergency repair options. Continuous belts may require a planned replacement length or emergency spare, while modular systems need compatible modules, pins and sprockets identified before a breakdown occurs.
- Cleat pitch, height and product spacing
- Guide position, sidewalls and containment
- Splice type, installation access and spares
Useful background: general definitions of a conveyor belt and material handling provide neutral context. Final selection should still be based on the actual product, environment, conveyor geometry and maintenance plan.
Industries and applications
Belting for real operating environments
We support non-mining conveyor applications across processing, production, packing and distribution.
01
Food & Beverage
Cleanable surfaces, controlled handling and practical wash-down planning.
02Agriculture & Packhouses
Sorting, grading, bagging and seasonal product workflows.
03Warehousing
Cartons, totes, staging, picking and dispatch movement.
04Packaging
Stable infeed, transfers, inclines and end-of-line handling.
05Manufacturing
Reliable movement between production stages and work areas.
06Pharmaceutical
Clean, controlled movement for hygiene-sensitive workflows.
Need help choosing the correct conveyor belt?
Send belt dimensions, product details, operating conditions and photographs. We will help narrow the options and identify what is needed for an accurate quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Conveyor belting questions
How do I choose between PU, PVC and modular belting?
Start with the product, environment and conveyor geometry. PU belting suits many cleaning-focused duties. PVC belting is widely used for industrial and packaging applications. Modular belting supports wash-down areas, curves and section repairs where compatible sprockets and guides are installed.
What information do you need for a belt quotation?
Provide belt width, loop length or centre distance, smallest pulley diameter, conveyor speed, product details and photos of transfers. Include incline angles, cleaning methods, moisture, oils, chemicals and temperature where relevant.
Why does conveyor belting drift or wear on the edges?
Common causes include pulley or frame misalignment, incorrect tensioning, worn components, poor guiding and transfer geometry. Replacing the belt without correcting the cause often repeats the same failure.
Can belts be supplied with cleats, guides or sidewalls?
Yes. Fabrication can include cleats, tracking guides, sidewalls and suitable joining or splicing options. The correct arrangement depends on incline angle, product behaviour, transfers and cleaning requirements.
Can you supply conveyor belting outside South Africa?
Yes. Conveyor Supplies Africa supports customers across Africa with belt selection, fabrication guidance, component standardisation and practical spares planning.