There are two main ways to join the ends of a conveyor belt: mechanical fasteners and vulcanized (bonded) splices. Each has a place. The right choice depends on your belt, your downtime budget and how the conveyor is used.
Mechanical fasteners
Metal plates, hinges or lacing are fixed through or into both belt ends. Installation takes basic hand tools and can be done on site in a short time.
- Pros: fast to install, no curing time, easy to open again for repairs, low equipment cost.
- Cons: the joint is thicker than the belt, can wear pulleys and scrapers, and may let fine material leak through.
- Best for: light and medium-duty conveyors, lines where downtime is expensive, and belts that are changed often.
Vulcanized splices
The belt ends are stepped or skived, then bonded with rubber compound. Hot vulcanizing uses a heated press; cold vulcanizing uses a chemical bonding agent at room temperature.
- Pros: smooth, strong joint close to the belt's own strength, quiet running, no leakage.
- Cons: longer downtime, trained splicers and special equipment for hot splicing, curing time for cold splicing.
- Best for: heavy-duty and long conveyors, food and fine-material handling, belts that run for a long time between changes.
Where a belt clamp fits in
Whichever method you use, the belt ends must stay aligned and under steady tension while you work. That is the job of a belt clamp. A GrabUnity joiner holds both ends so one person can install fasteners or prepare a splice without a helper holding the belt.
Quick comparison
| Mechanical | Vulcanized | |
|---|---|---|
| Downtime | Short | Longer |
| Joint strength | Good | Very high |
| Equipment | Hand tools | Press or bonding kit |
| Smooth surface | No | Yes |
| Easy to reopen | Yes | No |
Find the right GrabUnity tool
Belts from 2" to 32" wide. Ships from Panama City Beach, Florida.