Innovation and Italian leadership: how SIG is revolutionizing conveyor belt handling with SEALTEX rubber belts
Being the Italian leading brand in the rubber conveyor belts industry is surely a great pride to SIG: over the years, despite many different challenges that have risen on our path, giving up has never been an option, and we have always fought to keep improving meanwhile achieving great results.
Surely, developing high-tech products to match new and more demanding international market requirements is a daily task that forces SIG technical department to design items that can meet customers’ expectations. Thanks to an advanced research and development internal lab, every single day our work aims at setting up new reliable solutions offering end users a way to solve their problems.
In this development context, SIG technical department has been able to think of and later design a revolutionary product that could guarantee safe handling solutions avoiding dust and material spillage meanwhile protecting handled goods. This item, named SEALTEX according to SIG nomenclature, has completely changed the way of working, especially inside port terminals.
SEALTEX, self-supporting conveyor belts: design principles and installation guidelines
SEALTEX can be defined as “self-supporting conveyor belts for covering and sealing applications”, a sentence summarizing its special and high-tech construction meanwhile defining its function “in combination with” another main rubber conveyor belt. As a matter of fact, it always works “in support of” main items handling bulk goods.
This characteristic depends on the fact that once installed, SEALTEX is supported over lateral holders and thanks to its high transversal rigidity it stays over the underling conveyor, avoiding material spillage in this way. For this reason, this belt can be defined as a “self-supporting” item.
Design principles and installation guidlines of SEALTEX
When designing a conveyor system where SEALTEX will be installed, great attention must be paid to the distance between the two sides of lateral holders. This space must be wide enough to allow correct functioning of the below main belt when dropping on discharging tripper or in correspondence of loading hoppers.
At the same time, it is essential to ensure that lateral holders’ height and width should be enough to guarantee belt stability, normally following these recommendations:
- Lateral holders’ height (H) should always be equal or bigger than 40mm (H >/= 40mm)
- The distance between the two lateral holders’ sides on which SEALTEX is placed (W1) must be equal or inferior to SEALTEX overall width (W) less 300mm (W1 < or = W – 300mm)
- The global width of lateral holders (W2) must be equal or inferior to belt width (W) plus 100mm (W2 < or = W + 100mm)
Advanced SEALTEX carcass construction
Enhancing transversal deflection and durability for heavy-duty conveyor systems
SEALTEX carcass construction consists of a combination of EP fabrics and a double layer of special steel cables, with composition and position depending on specific structural calculations based on belt width and weight to be supported.
This special construction reflects the need of assuring maximum transversal deflection to let this belt adapt itself in the most suitable way to the conveyor system and to the potential need of being lifted to allow the passage of discharged tripper or loading hoppers.
Furthermore, when facing extremely demanding and heavy industrial applications or very wide belt, it is also possible to increase belt overall resistance using bigger and stronger steel transversal reinforcement ("breaker") placed in belt top cover.
Globally concerned, SEALTEX carcass construction can be considered a technologically advanced combination of EP fabrics and steel cords to guarantee maximum transversal deflection and good transversal rigidity.
SEALTEX Rubber Compounds
Tailored solutions for optimal conveyor belt performance
SEALTEX rubber belt is always installed in combination with a main underling rubber conveyor belt handling bulk goods to avoid any potential dust or material spillage. Therefore, this revolutionary item most important function is to prevent any material dispersion or loss in the surrounding environment.
To accomplish this task, SEALTEX must not only be manufactured with all the necessary mechanical characteristics such as transversal rigidity and deflection, but it also must be equipped with rubber covers having chemical properties matching handled goods. For instance, if the main rubber conveyor belt is handling such an abrasive material as bauxite, SEALTEX must be equipped with a superior abrasion resistance rubber compounds (having an abrasion loss equal or inferior to 50mm3) to avoid any potential belt early replacement which can be caused by bauxite dust.
Alternatively, if we think about flammable material, in this case also it is necessary to think of self-extinguishing rubber compound to be used, to avoid any potential fire explosion due to flammable dust dispersion in the surrounding area during handling. To summarize, SEALTEX top and bottom covers can be manufactured relying on:
- Abrasion-Resistant Rubber Compounds: available in standard (DIN 22102 Y), extra (DIN 22102 W), and superior grades (≤50 mm³ abrasion loss);
- Flame-Resistant Rubber Compounds:self-extinguishing materials compliant with DIN 22102 K standards for fire prevention;
- Heat-Resistant Rubber Compounds:designed to withstand continuous working temperatures up to 130°C and peaks of 150°C.
Which are the main advantages and structural features of SEALTEX ?
SEALTEX is SIG covering and sealing belt, mainly installed to avoid potential dust or material spillage in the surrounding area, so protecting environment. It is also possible to claim that this belt can be considered an environmentally friendly solution.
If we look at SEALTEX composition and its industrial applications, we can resume this belt main advantages as follows:
- double steel transversal breaker in the top cover, also protecting inner carcass;
- excellent transversal stiffness;
- high longitudinal flexibility;
- minimum lateral support required;
- UV & ozone total protection;
Case study: installation of a SEALTEX for a bauxite handling port terminal in West Africa
Introduction: efficiency and sustainability in port handling
The project to install a SEALTEX at a port terminal dedicated to bauxite handling in West Africa is a concrete example of how innovation and sustainability can coexist in the industrial logistics sector.
The main objective was to ensure a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly bulk material transport system, minimizing the dispersion of dust and materials during ship loading and unloading.
What is SEALTEX, and why is it essential in port terminals?
SEALTEX is a sealing and containment solution for conveyor belts designed to prevent material spillage during the handling of bulk goods such as bauxite, coal, minerals, and fertilizers.
Thanks to its flexible and resistant structure, SEALTEX ensures:
- reduction of material loss along the conveyor belt;
- dust containment for a cleaner and safer working environment;
- lower environmental impact by preventing contamination of the surrounding soil and water;
- greater operational efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.
The challenge: handling bauxite in extreme conditions
The port terminal involved in the project is in West Africa, in an area characterized by difficult climatic conditions and high volumes of bauxite handling.
It was therefore necessary to implement a customized sealing solution capable of ensuring mechanical resistance, durability, and sealing even in the presence of abrasive dust and atmospheric agents.
The technical solution developed by SIG
In collaboration with SIG's technical department, a SEALTEX casing configuration specifically designed for this port facility was approved:
- EP400/2 casing (width 1800 mm): Reinforced with two steel breakers for high transverse strength.
- EP800/2 casing: Equipped with a highly abrasion-resistant compound (loss less than 50 mm³); total length: 792 meters.
These specifications ensured optimal sealing, long life, and high performance even under the most demanding operating conditions.
Results achieved
After installation, the SEALTEX system demonstrated:
- zero material spillage during loading and unloading;
- significant reduction in dust emissions in the port environment;
- increased logistics efficiency and lower plant maintenance costs;
- satisfaction of the end customer, who now has a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable plant.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates how SIG's SEALTEX technology represents an innovative solution for handling bulk materials in port terminals, ensuring high performance, safety, and environmental compliance.
Thanks to its versatility and customization options, SEALTEX is the ideal choice for industrial applications that require reliability, containment, and durability over time.
SIG is the one and only Italian leading manufacturer of rubber conveyor belts and it must be your benchmark for special and technologically advanced industrial applications.
Don’t waste time, contact SIG today at sig@sig.it or +39 0331 36 51 35 to discover cutting-edge rubber conveyor belt solutions for your industrial needs.
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