Metal or Plastic
Selecting the Right Conveyor Belt for your Needs
There are many options to consider when choosing the right conveyor belt. An important decision to make is what material is suitable for your needs. Both metal and plastic conveyor belts have pros and cons, and an expert from Ashworth Bros., Inc., can help you decide what material is right for you.
"We can work with you to identify the best belt solutions for your needs," said Jonathan Lasecki, Ashworth's director of engineering. "We have the capability to offer the best of both worlds - metal and plastic belts. We’re not strictly a metal conveyor solution provider, we have the expertise to recognize what is best for whatever situation. Our priority is your challenge. It may be a metal belt, a plastic belt, or a hybrid of both."
Application
The first thing to consider is what application your products require. Metal belts are your go-to for cooking, smoking, frying, baking, or other applications where the belt will experience high temperatures. For colder applications, such as freezing, metal and plastic have specific advantages.
Metal has better thermal conductivity than plastic, meaning products can cool and freeze quickly on a metal surface. However, some products, such as those with high moisture content, may have trouble releasing from the metal surface. Metal's thermal conductivity can cause products to freeze to them (think licking a metal pole in winter). Plastic belts can help with this, as frozen products release from plastic easily due to their lower thermal conductivity and lower surface adhesion. Plastic belts can save money by preventing product loss but may increase refrigeration costs.
Metal and plastic also expand and contract differently when exposed to extreme temperatures. Generally, metal will expand and contract less than plastic through changing temperature. For this reason, plastic belts may require additional belting to make up for these changes.
Product
Lasecki also points out, "It also depends on what the product is" when considering metal or plastic for a conveyor belt. "Is it going to stick? Is it a large product? A small product?"
One benefit of plastic belts is they can weigh less and require less energy to move. However, this can also be a disadvantage when conveying oversized products, which may cause the belts to sag under the product weight. Ashworth's Advantage® belt was developed with this in mind as the industry's first metal/plastic hybrid turn curve belt. Plastic links with rigid stainless-steel rods provide the best of both plastic and metal belts. We recently introduced our latest all-plastic offering, the SpiralSurf® belt, which is lightweight and fully customizable, just like our metal belts.
Sanitation
Metal and plastic have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to sanitation. Bacteria are less likely to adhere to stainless steel's surface than plastic. Stainless steel is also less likely to scratch or crack—take for instance, our Omni-Grid® 360 Belt. It’s easy to clean and offers hygienic attributes with its buttonless weld. Plastic is easier to clean due to its lower surface adhesion but is more likely to crack or scratch, creating extra surfaces for bacteria to grow.
There are many factors to consider when selecting a conveyor belt; you don't have to figure it out alone. With over 75 years in the conveyor belt industry and a team of professionals dedicated to providing solutions, Ashworth is here to help. As the only major manufacturer of both metal and plastic conveyor belts, we at Ashworth are experts in helping you decide what belt is the best solution for you. Call us today at 1-800-682-4594 or request a quote on our website.
