What Is a Trough Belt Conveyor and Why You Should Use One

If you’ve ever been responsible for moving large quantities of goods and materials throughout an industrial site, you’ve probably heard of a trough belt conveyor. But what are they exactly? If you’re unsure of what a trough belt conveyor is and why you should use one, you can explore this breakdown of the system to learn its advantages in a modern market.

Trough Belt Conveyors

A troughed belt is one of the most commonly used conveyors in industrial and mining practices. It gets its name from the trough-shaped idlers that sit underneath the flat belt. The curved shape of the idlers means that the materials traveling on the conveyor are less likely to fall off the track and be damaged, destroyed, or lost.

Typically, these types of conveyors are used on horizontal surfaces or slight inclines that are no higher than about 25 degrees. This is because they won’t usually have the cleats necessary to hold materials on the track on steep slopes.

Their Advantages

Trough belts are used so often because their reliability and simplicity mean they are effective and require low maintenance. For mining operations, manufacturing facilities, or industrial sites, there is a need to move a high number of heavy materials at a constant and fast pace. Because of this, manual labor or individual short-distance hauling is impractical. This is why conveyor belts are vital to keeping up with the rapid production speeds of modern manufacturers.

When picking between different types of conveyors, trough belts are ideal because they allow for multiple drops points, little upkeep, and fast transportation.

What They Transport

Because of their simplicity, trough belts can be adapted to transport various raw materials, and different industries rely on them. The mining industry uses them to move raw stones quickly through a site. Recycling facilities use conveyors to move plastics, glass, rubber, and other materials. Lumber and construction companies use them to move wood pallets, logs, processed timber, and construction debris. Logistics businesses use trough belts to move packages through their facilities—and the list goes on. Any company looking for a method of efficiently moving a high number of materials needs the assistance of trough conveyor belts.

After checking out what is a trough belt conveyor and why you should use one, it’s easy to see the advantages that this mechanism would offer your business. To install a trough belt conveyor at your industrial site, the Redline Systems team of trusted experts is here to help!