ZIP CLIP® ready-to-fit conveyor belts are transforming recycling operations

Switching from vulcanised conveyor belts to Smiley Monroe’s ZIP CLIP® conveyor belts has significantly reduced maintenance downtime for Northern Ireland-based waste and resource management company, RiverRidge.

Manufactured by the Giants of Belting, Smiley Monroe, ZIP CLIP® is a mechanically fastened conveyor belt that’s transforming recycling operations due to its ease of installation. ZIP CLIP’s ready-to-fit system means conveyor belts can be fitted safely from ground level in under two hours, without the need for a specialist vulcanising team or equipment such as scissor lifts or scaffolding.

In the case of RiverRidge, ZIP CLIP® has replaced a number of the company’s traditional vulcanised belts. Making the switch has significantly reduced the company’s downtime for both planned and unplanned maintenance. In the case of a breakdown or planned replacement, RiverRidge’s team is now able to immediately fit a ZIP CLIP® belt from their stock and once fitted and tensioned, the belt can be run immediately.

“Given the greater variety of conveyed materials within recycling and waste management, there’s a greater risk of a range of conveyor belt damages within a shorter timeframe from installation. Rips, breakages and conveyor blockages are inevitable during the lifespan of a machine however the likelihood and frequency is significantly increased within recycling and waste management” commented Chris Jones, Head of Product Support at Smiley Monroe.

To put this in perspective, RiverRidge processes in excess of 400,000 metric tonnes of waste per year and lifts 23,000 bins across Northern Ireland. It’s a fast-paced operation with tight schedules, and machinery breakdowns can significantly disrupt operations.

As Jones notes on vulcanising conveyor belts: “When you bring a specialised team in to vulcanise a conveyor it usually takes all day to fit it and if it is cold vulcanised, there could be another twelve hours to twenty-four hours curing time.”

The significant reduction in downtime and ease of installation that the RiverRidge team benefits from with ZIP CLIP® helps directly improve operational efficiencies and keep their vital services running.

If you’re interested in how ZIP CLIP® can improve your operational efficiencies and minimise downtime, get in touch with Smiley Monroe’s team: [email protected]