YOKOHAMA's Technology
Yokohama Rubber’s special rubber compound design technology has made it the leader in the conveyor belt industry Technology used in recently developed belt enhances flame retardance & super-wear resistance
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Conveyor belts are indispensable "transportation arteries" used by industries around the world to transport coal, ore, and many other materials. Conveyor belts, like tires, are made from rubber and steel cords, and have been one of our core businesses since our founding that makes full use of Yokohama Rubber's special rubber compound design technology. This article introduces our latest conveyor belt technology, which responds to various needs such as flame retardance and wear resistance and have made Yokohama Rubber the No.1 supplier of conveyor belts in Japan.
Steel cord conveyor belts used in the harshest environments
Conveyor belts are broadly classified into two types: fabric belts with polyester or nylon as reinforcement materials (cores) and steel cord belts reinforced by steel cords, and they are composed of a coating rubber and cushion rubber that enhance their adhesion and a protective cover rubber. In 1963, Yokohama Rubber succeeded in commercializing Japan’s first steel cord conveyor belt, providing the high durability needed for use in the harshest environments. We now have a wide lineup of conveyor belts, including the FLAME GUARD series with excellent flame-retardant properties, the ECOTEX series that delivers superior energy-saving performance, and the Tuftex series of highly durable conveyor belts.
Recently developed belt achieves flame retardance & super-wear resistance
The recent addition to the FLAME GUARD series is the FLAME GUARD SWR-70. Launched in 2023, FLAME GUARD SWR-70 was developed using a special rubber compound design technology that adds super-wear resistance to the superior flame-retardant quality of the FLAME GUARD series. FLAME GUARD SWR-70 is designed for use on sintered ore and coke transport lines at steel mills and coal in coal-fired power plants. The specially formulated rubber compound generates a non-flammable gas when the cover rubber catches on fire that deprives the flame of oxygen, resulting in a self-extinguishing, oxygen-deprived environment. In combustion tests using a flame-emitting burner, ordinary cover rubber ignites within a few seconds and continues to burn until completely burned through even after the burner is removed. However, the cover rubber used in FLAME GUARD belts extinguishes the fire after the burner’s removal, and the flame does not reignite.
Highly wear-resistant rubber compound technology significantly enhances wear resistance
Conveyor belts used in harsh operating environments, such as steel mills and coal-fired power plants, must be highly durable in addition to running safely. By incorporating the highly wear-resistant rubber compound technology used in Tuftex α, a Yokohama Rubber conveyor belt known for its world-class wear resistance, FLAME GUARD SWR‐70 features a new compound design that further optimizes wear resistance. This new compound’s more optimal ratio of various polymer types, carbon black, and vulcanization compounding agents, increases the wear resistance of the earlier developed FLAME GUARD SWR by approximately 30%. The new belt’s combination of flame retardancy and wear resistance not only lowers running costs by reducing the frequency of belt replacement but also lowers the risk of unexpected line stoppages.
Yokohama Rubber will continue to develop new rubber compounds to create a lineup of conveyor belts that not only contributes to the stable conveyance of goods and materials but also helps users of our belts meet the many challenges they now face, including reducing energy consumption and their impact on the environment, increasing the useful lifespan of their conveyor belts, preventing disasters, and contributing to safe operations. In this way, Yokohama Rubber aims to be a partner that provides value to its customers by providing products that not only help them improve the performance of their conveyor belt operations but also contribute to the solution of many other on-site issues.
