Hiratsuka, Japan—The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced today that it has launched a new conveyor belt in its highly regarded FLAME GUARD series of flame-retardant conveyor belts. The new addition, the FLAME GUARD SWR-70, is a super-wear-resistant addition to the flame-retardant series.

FLAME GUARD SWR-70 was developed for use on sintered ore and coke transport lines at steel mills and coal transport lines at coal-fired power plants. In addition to being flame retardant (self-extinguishing), a quality for which demand has increased in recent years as line operators seek to enhance safety, FLAME GUARD SWR-70’s super wear resistance lengthens the belt replacement cycle, reducing running costs and contributing to stable line operation.

The FLAME GUARD series’ self-extinguishing capability has been achieved by use of a special rubber compound developed by Yokohama Rubber. The series includes a wide lineup of conveyor belts with various quality combinations, starting with the basic flame-retardant belt and including flame-retardant & super-wear-resistant belts, flame-retardant & heavy-oil resistant belts, flame-retardant & medium-temperature heat resistant belts, and flame-retardant & high-temperature heat resistant belts. In addition to using technologies cultivated during Yokohama Rubber’s development of its Tuftex α conveyor belt with the world's top level of abrasion resistance, FLAME GUARD SWR‐70 features a newly developed rubber compound that enhances abrasion resistance of conventional flame-retardant & super-wear-resistant conveyor belts (FLAME GURAD SWR) by 30%.

Yokohama Rubber is currently implementing its Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023) medium-term management plan for fiscal years 2021–2023. The plan calls for the MB Segment to concentrate its resources in its two strongest business domains—hose & couplings and industrial products—as it aims to become a growth driver capable of generating stable profits. The MB segment’s industrial materials business aims to establish a dominant presence in the conveyor belt market, where it has had considerable success in the past.