Sparks Belting and Mol Belting Systems are proud to announce the launch of Sparks Mol, a unified brand bringing together decades of experience, innovation, and trusted service.
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Innovative Solution for Leading Pharmaceutical Company Boosts New Products, Enhanced Sanitization, and Revenue Growth.
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Sparks Belting has been a leading supplier of slicer feed belts to the OEM industry for many years and is now making them available to all end users.
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Sparks Belting is now offering a variety of top-of-the-line OEM replacement curve belts for the logistics industry.
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There are two common constructions for transmission belting and Sparks offers a full line of each product measuring between 3-6mm in thickness. Understanding the features and benefits of each offering will increase your value to maintenance teams working with high-speed folder gluers.
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Fire damage is expensive no matter where it rears its ugly head. Manufacturing plants and fulfillment centers are no exception.
Read MoreSparks Belting recently launched the synchronous permanent magnet pulley in a larger size, the Dura-Drive SPM is now available in a 5.38” diameter. It is a compact and robust All-in-One drive component that can be used with all types of belt conveyor systems, including plastic modular belt systems. The Dura-Drive SPM is highly energy efficient, exceeding IE4 efficiency limits, and is designed to meet IE5 requirements. The Dura-Drive SPM delivers high torque and belt pull that remains constant over a wide range of operating speeds.
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Sparks would like to announce the 2021 scholarship recipient Mario Varela-Rodriguez.
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Conveyer solutions manufacturer relocates to larger plant that will pave the way for increased production during its milestone year
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As large rolls of paper produced on paper machines are initially put into production to turn them into corrugated boxes, they start out on the corrugator machine. This critical machine creates flutes in the paper and glues it to liners, one layer at a time. These layers are then stacked, cut, and then ultimately scored before transporting large bundles throughout the facility to various converting machines.
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A large food manufacturing company has been using a newly installed conveyor belt for pig intestines at its processing facility. The new belt includes key features, specifically the new system is equipped with synchronous drum motors. Regardless of the repetitive daily pressure cleaning with hot water, the conveyor has been running consistently for more than a year without downtime or maintenance.
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The 6,300-employee-strong leading global provider of advanced processing systems and services to the poultry, meat, and fish industries, Marel, sees an increasing demand for more hygienic designs and thus wants to increase the use of motorized pulleys on the conveyors they supply to their food processing customers. The German company Momentum Technologies, with its US partner Sparks Belting, is one of the partners to support this design choice with their new oil-free synchronous motorized pulleys, which are the coolest and strongest currently available.
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Sparks Belting shows how punctual its service is by using an unconventional shipping method to help get a dairy plant back up and running in Wisconsin.
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Heavy Duty Incline Conveyors
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Dura-Drive SPM Pulleys and Heavy Duty White Urethan Belts with Cast Urethane V-guides
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Dura-Tech Timing Belt with Mechanical Pin Splice. Application: Timing belts used on the “assembly line” conveyor for cakes.
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A document shredding company in North Carolina was having cleat issues on their primary incline belt when the heavy load of the hopper full of papers would bend the cleats over and the cleats would not carry the product up the incline. Sparks' R&D department was able to develop a custom solution to solve the issue.
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Sparks Belting Company has announced the development of a new cartridge seal for its Dura-Drive Plus product line. The new seal system has been designed to improve oil retention over traditional seals. It also replaces three existing seal components with a single, one-piece cartridge seal.
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Sparks Belting Company invited students from Grand Valley State University to come up with creative solutions on how to better handle access belting materials.
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Here comes the sun! Sparks Belting has teamed up with Solar Landscape to bring solar power to our facility in Fairfield, NJ. This not only makes us a greener organization but helps reduce our carbon footprint.
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As the National Sales Manager of Sparks Belting, I can attest that Sparks Belting is committed to providing the highest form of a total customer experience within our industry. As our industry grows and evolves, suppliers within our industries will be facing new challenges and opportunities to improve cost savings, production output, and serviceability.
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A tire retread facility in Covington, Georgia reached out to Sparks Belting to help solve a slipping issue with their conveyor belts. The company is a leader in the tire retread industry with millions of tires on the road across North America.
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An international automobile tire manufacturer in the southern USA came to Sparks Belting to provide their conveyor belting for a new plant they were opening. Committed to quality and innovative technology, this tire manufacturer is one of the largest in the world.
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Sparks Belting Company, a Grand Rapids based conveyor belt manufacturer and supplier, is pleased to announce the acquisition of D&D Belt Service, LLC. The Atlanta, Georgia, based company provides fabrication and installation services for heavy-duty rubber conveyor belting to the aggregate, recycling, paper/pulp, and lumber processing markets.
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It is not uncommon for companies to stock extra belts in their plant in case of belt failure. No replacement belt is closer than the one you keep in storage. It is very important that these extra belts are stored properly.
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Conveyor belts are the driving force in conveying operations. There are many different types and materials for the abundance of applications in the market. However, there are a few different textiles that serve an important purpose in conveyor belting.
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A baking company in Illinois was having tracking issues when their v-guides would separate from the belt before the life of the belt ended. Sparks worked to provide a custom solution to solve this issue.
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Louisiana Pacific Corporation is a leader in the engineered wood products industry. They were having issues with their building materials slipping on their conveyor belt. Sparks was able to come up with a solution to solve their issues as well as save them downtime.
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An artisan bakery on the east coast was experiencing issues with high costs and long lead times on their conveyor belts. The long lead times were causing delays in production.
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Sparks Belting Company, a Grand Rapids based conveyor belt manufacturer and supplier, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mitch Mittlestadt as President. In this role, he will work to support the company’s continued growth and development.
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Accurate squaring of the belt ends prior to lacing is essential to correct belt tracking and helps distribute stress evenly throughout the joint.
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A vegetable supplier in Illinois was experiencing issues with frayed edges on their conveyor belts. The rough, frayed edges were causing issues during their Safe Quality Food Audits.
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To assist with positive tracking, a guide strip(s) is often used on the pulley side of conveyor belts. V–guides are the most common shapes used. However, square and rectangular shapes are also available. In addition, Sparks has designed and developed round dot guides for traveling over very small pulleys.
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Durometer is one of several measures of the hardness of a material. It can be identified as a material’s resistance to a permanent indentation or it can be identified as a material’s resistance to penetration of a sharp object.
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A citrus processing group in San Bernardino, California was having difficulty resolving a major design issue related to a rough dump station of citrus at their offloading dock which was under construction.
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Some conveyor belting is manufactured with one ply of fabric. This fabric layer can be coated with rubber, polymer, or elastomer. Yet, most conveyor belting is manufactured using two or more plies of fabric that are adhered to each other by using inner layers of rubber, polymer, or elastomer.
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Static electricity is defined as electrical charge at rest. It can be caused by the triboelectric effect and can be accumulated by inductive and conductive charging.
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When it comes to applications involving extreme temperatures it is important to give special consideration to the type of conveyor belt being used. High temperatures can cause serious damage to a conveyor belt making selecting the correct thickness of the cover a necessity.
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One of the best things you can do for your conveyor belt is to take proper care of it. Doing this will ensure a long life for your belt, lessening downtime and saving you money. Here are 6 simple tips for maintaining your conveyor belt to keep it in top shape.
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If you are in the woodworking industry, chances are you are using wide belt sanders or planer sanders for your wood finishing needs. Wood is sent through the machine via a conveyor belt, then high-speed sanding heads or planer blades trim the wood to meet certain specifications.
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For over 130 years, the induction motor has been the workhorse of the industry. However, the inefficiency of the induction motor and the increase in energy costs are increasing the cost of ownership at a rapid rate. Luckily, with new technology comes improved efficiencies, cost reduction, increased safety standards, and much more. The new Dura-Drive SPM oil-less motorized pulley from Sparks Belting offers all of the above. Here we list 5 ways the Dura-Drive SPM oil-less pulley can cut your costs and increase efficiency.
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Understanding a basic conveyor belt calculation will ensure your conveyor design is accurate and is not putting too many demands on your system.
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Aligning and controlling a belt so it maintains its desired path is often difficult to do. Many factors influence the belt's ability to track correctly.
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Sparks Belting recently launched the all-new synchronous permanent magnet pulley, the Dura-Drive SPM. It is a compact and robust All-in-One drive component that can be used with all types of belt conveyor systems, including plastic modular belt systems. The Dura-Drive SPM is highly energy efficient, exceeding IE4 efficiency limits, and is designed to meet IE5 requirements. The Dura-Drive SPM delivers high torque and belt pull that remains constant over a wide range of operating speeds.
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Collecting and earning documented cost savings from vendors is a reality in today’s competitive manufacturing environment. Buyers are often faced with the difficult task of saving a fixed percentage on their MRO spend year on year. Belting is an ideal product to save money on due to the wide variety of materials available, specialty fabrications, and how it interacts with your product and conveyors. Sparks is an industry-leading expert in providing cost savings to a wide variety of industries.
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Like most products in the marketplace today, the list of available conveyor belts seems limitless. Although many applications require specialized belts to run properly on the conveyor, there are five belts that will handle most tasks. This do-it-yourself survival guide will point you in the right direction to select the best belt for your conveyor.
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There is a science behind selecting the correct conveyor belt for your conveyors. Conveyor belt specification is both a process of elimination and, at the same time, honing in on the critical and fixed variables associated with your conveyor. This guide will steer you on the right path to selecting a better conveyor belt for your conveyor.
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Unlike a conventional drive system, motorized conveyor pulleys have no chains or V-belts to tighten or replace; no sprockets to align, clean, or lubricate; no bearings to grease, and don't require chain guards that need replacing.
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The purpose of a crowned pulley (or tapered pulley) is to assist with belt tracking. In most operating conditions, a belt will follow the path of highest tension. So, it makes sense to have the diameter of the pulley larger in the center than at the edges.
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As an international conveyor belt distributor and manufacturer, Sparks offers customized conveyor belting, modular plastic belting, urethane timing belts, and motorized pulleys. But with so many conveyor belt distributors to choose from, Why choose Sparks?
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Conveyor belt fasteners are manufactured in two styles—hinged and solid plate. Hinged belt fasteners are applied as individual segments to a belt end and then connected with a hinge pin. Solid plate fasteners span opposing belt ends that have been butted together, forming a tight, sift-free splice.
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Training a conveyor belt to run centered on your conveyor requires patience and a strong understanding of how conveyors work. Following this 4-step conveyor belt tracking process will help reduce downtime, extend your belt life, and save money.
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Properly tensioning a conveyor belt is a critical step in tracking conveyor belts. Getting the correct amount of tension reduces splice failures, excessive stretch, and wear on the side of your frame. Luckily, there is a simple procedure to achieve the proper tension on a belt.
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Maintenance personnel and managers need to be in agreement as they consider various factors impacting the timing and necessity of conveyor belt repair.
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Auto stamping conveyors can be an extremely challenging environment for conveyor belts, making it difficult to keep belts functioning properly and productively.
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Increased demands for less downtime put maintenance managers in a catch-22. Although maintenance teams are charged with finding new and better products for their plant, sometimes the risks don’t outweigh the potential rewards. Since they have a history of how their existing belts perform, managers can develop a plan to change them without disrupting production.
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High temperatures and abrasive environments prove to be the most challenging applications for conveyor belt manufacturers. Oftentimes, the temperature exceeds the limits of traditional urethane or rubber belting. Kevlar belts continue to fill a specialized niche in the industry.
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With countless options on the market, selecting the right conveyor belt for your food processing needs is crucial. Stable and efficient belts result in increased profits in the long run. The correct conveyor belt can help improve operations in several areas including:
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Aligning and controlling a belt is always a common challenge for plant maintenance. Although its path is imperative to all floor operations, there are many factors that influence a belt's ability to track correctly.
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Metal stamping applications offer a wide range of difficult challenges in selecting the proper conveyor belt. Belts are often coated in cutting oil, gauged and cut with sharp corners, and are heavily worn on the top surface. These challenges are ideal for urethane conveyor belts.
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Cleated conveyor belts are necessary in a variety of heavy-duty incline applications in order to move product efficiently throughout the manufacturing process. Historically, welded or glued cleats have been the weakest spot on a belt and often a frustrating source for failure. As the cleats begin to separate from the belt, product now cascades down the conveyor and before you know it, it’s time for a costly replacement.
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Oven take-off conveyor belts are one of the most demanding applications in the cookie and cracker industry. When these belts fail, it shuts down the entire production line and costs a tremendous amount of money. Luckily there is a solution that can lead to substantial cost savings!
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Packaging fragile fruits and vegetables is a delicate process. As we all know, tomatoes, apples, and oranges bruise very easily. At the store, the cosmetic characteristics of all these products is critical because customers will not buy “ugly food”. Since many of these delicious products are round or odd-shaped, conveying them from bulk shipment bins to the finished package throughout your facility produces a unique challenge.
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Automotive stamping conveyors are some of the most demanding and abrasive conveyor belt applications in the industrial world. Belts must withstand sharp edges, oils, slicing, and cutting. It's common for parts to get caught between pulleys or stacking tables and create major damage as a result. Safety and ergonomic conditions also factor into the decision to create transfer points with an absolute minimum spacing.
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The short answer is a resounding, “No”. Lightweight food-grade conveyor belts are made with almost endless variations of key features which allow them to be custom fit to your unique application. The food in which they convey always plays a critical role in the proper selection of these belts. Some of the variables include:
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Managers and maintenance personnel need to be on the same page as they weigh the various factors when considering conveyor belt repair.
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As we all know, conveyor belts eventually wear out and have to be replaced. Here are answers to some of the common questions we get about conveyor belt replacement.
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The Right Food Conveyor Belt is Critical to Producing High-Quality Bread
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There are several factors to consider when choosing replacement conveyor belts, including:
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Whether handling dough, cooling baked products, cutting, molding, or packaging, Sparks has a complete range of products for the bakery, biscuit, and snack processing industry.
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A common challenge for plant maintenance is controlling and aligning a belt so it maintains its desired path. Many factors influence a belt's ability to track correctly.
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Getting the right food grade conveyor belt for the right application is critical to producing high quality products.The confectionery industry requires the handling of various chocolates, sweets, candies and chewing gum, each requiring a conveyor belt with the right properties to handle their application.
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Conveyor belts generally break in the middle of demanding production runs when downtime simply isn’t an option. Ordering a new replacement belt at this point is going to cost hours-if not days of additional downtime before you can begin to install it on your conveyor. Luckily, there are a few proven conveyor belt repair practices that will get you up and running faster.
Read More5 factors to consider when selecting a replacement conveyor belt.
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Getting the right belt for the right application is critical to producing high-quality bread.
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More and more, machine designers are using endless urethane timing belts in place of flat belts in their equipment design for the accurate movement of product. But, changing timing belts on many machines can be very time-consuming. Quite often, the design of these machines does not allow for the replacement of endless belts without significant disassembly of the machinery, causing considerable downtime and lost production.
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Keeping a bakery running efficiently can be complicated. One of the most frequent challenges plant maintenance technicians have to deal with is conveyor belt tracking. Aligning and controlling a belt so it maintains its desired path is often difficult to do. So many factors influence the belt's ability to track correctly. Here are a few areas to consider when attempting to troubleshoot a mistracking conveyor belt.
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