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Rubber Ron’s Report
Happy New Year everyone! Last year seemed to be much better for those of us in the rubber world. In spring of 2002, I wrote a report worried about price escalations when oil was hitting $32 a barrel. Instead, the pricing remained stable. This was partly driven by a strong dollar and high quality imports that kept prices competitive in the US. A slow economy resulted in lower demand. Fast forward to January, 2005; oil is at $50 a barrel. Fabric has increased 30% in the last five months and belting prices have escalated 24%. The Dollar has been dropping since 2002. The value of the Dollar is now at an all time low against the Euro. With the guns and butter spending of Washington D.C.; the federal budget deficit is at $400 Billion.
Now that my employees consider me a “greybeard”, I still remember with a perspective of the 70’s. The U.S. Government declared a dollar devaluation. There were spot shortages of commodities, inflation, long deliveries and rapid price escalations. This all led to an early 1980’s recession with double digit inflation, unemployment and interest rates. Our U.S. standard of living is very high at present. It seems to be based in large part on our ability to borrow money from foreign investors. I hope we are not headed for the same type of scenario.
What I do know; the sky hasn’t fallen. While interest rates are increasing and deliveries are longer [12 to 14 weeks] belt prices are just back to 1988 levels. Product demand is up. I hope things start to stabilize this quarter. The rubber industry has had a period of buy outs and consolidations. Just like the automotive industry, it is becoming truly global. Product quality is often led by companies with headquarters outside the United States.
As this New Year begins, we will continue too keep you competitive with quality, value products and customer service. At Rubber & Plastics, we believe our customers are our most important asset.
Tech Notes - Impact Resistance of Straight Warp Belt
Situation
Recently I was asked to provide recommendations to an OEM for moving from a grinding application for green waste to a crushing application for construction and demolition. Instead of processing wood products they were now working with pieces of concrete, rebar and steel.
The Problem
The primary issue was that the impact from the new materials was breaking the fabric plies & punching holes in the traditional 3 ply conveyor belt.
The Solution
RPI has met with success when using a single ply belt in the recycling industry. This polyester carcass has straight warp yarn for low stretch and high strength. A binder warp locks the fabric together. In addition, fill yarns above and below the binder yarn makes for a high crimp fabric. The unique design offers a good rip and impact resistance and permits the use of small diameter pulleys.
Our experience has shown, single ply 440# tension rated with ¼” top cover with 1/8” bottom covers is the most bang for the buck. We also use RMA grade 2 covers. We pick this cover for impact and abrasion resistance over grade 1 and over MOR.
RPI has used this belt in concrete recycling, impact crushers and in steel scrap yard belts. These are all areas of impact and abrasion. Because vulcanization on small pulleys is not recommended the chosen splice was R 5 or #190 plate fasteners. The single ply also gives good flex around small pulley diameters. The minimum diameter is 16”. We have applications of 10” and 12” diameter being used, but not recommended.
The Result
For this impact application our OEM has standardized the single ply straight warp belt found in the picture below. They continue to use plied belt on lighter applications.
Call RPI for the best belt application recommendations in the industry.
Single Ply Straight Warp High Impact Tech Flex Belt
Single Ply 440 1/4 x 1/8 RMA II
Available in 48", 60", 72" Widths
Employee Profile
Donna Raymond
New to us in July, Donna is responsible for the customer service and sales desk. With over 11 years of experience at both Applied Industrial Technology and Berg Evans Chain she brings welcomed and impressive industrial power transmission experience to RPI.
Donna spent part of her last two years with AIT completing an AA in Business. In addition, she has 4 grown children, with one son serving in the US Army and her daughter is in the US Air Force. Her other two sons are working here in the States, one in Portland, OR and one in Springfield, MO.
Since her arrival at RPI, she has conquered most of the computer system programs and learned about conveyor belting. She looks forward to a long and happy future with RPI helping out with customer service and operations portions of the business.
Employee Profile
Chris Hungerford
With Rubber & Plastics for almost three years, Chris is responsible national roofing belt sales and the Midwest territory. He brings several years of industrial experience to RPI along with a determined approach towards sales and customer service. Chris “cut his teeth” on how to make a cold call and formed his whole approach to B2B telecommunication sales during his two year stint as a stock broker.
Chris earned a BA in Business from Portland State University and played both collegiate and professional overseas baseball. He also has two children, 7 and 10, that consume most of his time. In what little free time Chris can find he enjoys playing basketball and professional sports.
Since joining RPI sales in Chris’s territory have grown dramatically. His primary goal is to keep breaking his own sales records by keeping his current customers happy.
Humor - Financial Advisor Comic
Featured Accessories
48” & 60” Replacement Impact Bars
3” height x 4” width with 3/8” blue UHMW top. 4 bolts provided with 48” bar, 6 bolts provided with 60” bar.
Skirtboard Rubber
 
Packaging: 50 Foot Rolls
Specifications: Blended SBR/NR slit sheet, Plate Finish
Style SK60: 60 Duro hardness (Shore Durometer A)
General Properties of Skirtboard Rubber:
- Excellent abrasion-resistance
- Excellent weather-resistance
Polymer: Styrene-Butadiene and Isoprene Rubber
Natural
Color: Black
Common Name: Skirtboard Rubber
ISO/ASTM Designation: SBR/NR
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