Most conveyor belts are designed to withstand harsh conditions, but some applications can quickly wear down even the sturdiest equipment. Impact beds are essential components of any material handling and conveying system, especially in mining, agricultural, construction or wood processing applications. Below is an overview of how impact beds can extend equipment life and reduce your maintenance costs.

What Are Impact Beds?

Douglas manufacturing in Pell City, Alabama, makes impact beds (www.douglasmanufacturing.com). An Impact bed consists of arms composed of high-strength aluminum alloys and impact absorbing rubber covered with a special UHMW to help materials move. Impact beds are often placed at a loading or feeding point of the conveyor. This can cause additional flex of the belt and conveyor system which can cause premature wear. These components extend belt life by absorbing impacts from falling aggregate, rock, and other materials that might damage the conveyor equipment.

While impact beds may run the entire length of a conveyor belt, they’re often used at key transfer points. Without them, your material handling and conveyor system can quickly break down under the constant pressure of heavy objects falling onto the belt.

What Are the Benefits of Impact Beds?

Minimize Damage & Maintenance

Most conveyor belts don’t have the tensile strength to withstand constant impacts from concrete, gravel, and scrap metal. Businesses in the mining or manufacturing fields often have to stop production to repair or replace belts damaged by high-mass material. Impact beds can add years to the useful life of your belts by absorbing much of this force.

Reduce Product Spillage

Even the strongest material handling and conveying products will bend and twist when heavy weight is unevenly distributed across the belt. Impact beds create a solid surface to take the initial impact of a load, helping to distribute the load uniformly. This minimizes spillage, eliminating a significant amount of product loss and reducing the time your crew spends cleaning and repairing.

For over 40 years, agricultural, sand and gravel, mining, and petroleum companies throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan have relied on Industrial Component Sales Inc. to keep their materials moving.  For more information or for a link to Douglas Mfg., visit Icsreps website ,to view their product lines, or call (651) 270-0151 to reach their Bemidji, MN, location with questions.