As with conveyer belts, folder gluer belts are variable in cost and there are a lot of cost drivers that can change this cost. Despite the obvious cost drivers such as freight, selling expense, and overhead, the more features that one is to get on their belt, the more the belt will cost. The features on the belt are usually due to the material being processed in the machine. One of the most common features is a “glaze resistant” belt. These belts allow for the correct; antistatic properties, tracking properties, dimensional stability, abrasion resistance, and coefficient of friction when folding material that causes glazing. Another example of a feature that might be the sticky cover that is used in the feeder belts.
Another time that Folder-Gluer belts might get relatively pricey is when you are running these belts under extreme conditions. Examples of these conditions are high speeds, high loads, and longer lengths and we will usually recommend a belt with increased durability. As seen in the Folder- Gluer Blog Post 2, there are several ways to get increased durability. The first is a thicker nylon core (Like Nitta’s XH-750 series), which will have a higher cost than the regular nylon core. When there are severe conditions when using smaller pullies, you will need a belt that can handle increased tension without compromising the increased durability. This is usually done through a finger spliced belt with a thicker core such as Nitta’s XH-8E series. In the Feeder section of the machine, you may need an SEB (seemingly endless belt). This depends on the section’s need for a tight tolerance essential for dimensional consistency and stability. These belts are also truly endless and do not have a splice which also increases durability. With all that being said, these belts are generally more than the cost of normal nylon core belts.
Lastly, some folder gluers require compression belts. These belts are generally made of PVC or urethane. Urethane is more expensive but this is due to its abrasion resistance and longer life span. It is always important to consider these cost drivers to make an educated purchase of your next folder-gluer belt.