Belt Line

12 2014

Vol. 13 Issue 5

A Publication of NIBA The Belting Association

The Value of the 2017 Joint Industry Summit with PTDA

By Laura Hoggan, 2014 Marketing Committee, Rubber & Plastics Inc

attended the 2014 PTDA Industry Summit in October to get

a feel for what value the NIBA membership will gain from
the Joint Summit and the challenges involved in combining the two events. Overall I left excited about how similar
the two summits are and what they can learn from each other.
The PTDA schedule was very similar to the 2014 NIBA schedule and a blend will be easily accomplished.
As a strictly belting distributor, it was valuable to meet other
distributors that have a focus other than belt that we can partner with in the future on applications that require the expertise
of a belting company and a power transmission company. For
distributors that sell some power transmission products but
dont specialize in it, this Joint Summit will be a great opportunity to meet more manufacturers and gain more knowledge
of the power transmission field. For the
distributors that have strengths in
both the belting and power transmission side, the joint summit will
be an ideal time for the specialist
on both sides to work together to
create more synergies and gain a
better understanding of the other
product lines.
For manufacturers that belong to both NIBA and PTDA, the
benefit of once convention versus two is obvious. The other
benefit is also having a wider range of decision makers present
at the joint convention. For manufactures that do not belong
to PTDA, the benefit will be a larger audience of distributor
members that may have an interest in your products that you
dont currently work with or have contacts at.
Affiliate members, like all the other member groups, will
benefit from a larger audience of potential customers, increasing the networking opportunities that we value so greatly. My
hope is that we can all walk away from the 2017 Joint Summit
with a few more friends.

Below are some highlights from my observations.

PTDA offers more opportunities for manufacturers to sponsor
parts of the convention, increasing their marketing potential.
These opportunities include the tote at packet pickup and various parts of the convention program.
The golf goodies are handed out on the course instead of
within a goodie bag. The advantage of this is that each manufacturer meets the various golfers and has the opportunity to
promote their company. The disadvantage is some goodies
were missed as golfers rushed from hole to hole.
The First Timers Reception format is similar for both organizations, PTDA provides numbered tables and hands out corresponding numbers to the First Timers to assist in the locating of
their assigned Mentor.
NEXTGEN PTDA celebrates the
under 40 crowd with their own special
after hours party, promoting the attendance of the next generation of business
leaders in our industry.
Business Meeting Like NIBA, PTDA holds their business
meeting with association and project updates and committee reports following the welcome breakfast and prior to the
Keynote Speaker. The intention of the 2017 Joint Summit is to
have separate business meetings for the two associations, after
which we will gather back together for the Keynote Speaker.
Workshops PTDA holds afternoon workshops following the
keynote speaker instead of one general speaker. Attendees
who choose to do so can attend two of the workshops during
the afternoon as the program. Other attendees use this time to
conduct business meetings or enjoy the amenities of the area.
At PTDA Hospitality Night manufacturers offering smaller onsite functions and large by-invitation-only off-site functions.
Joint Industry Summit with PTDA continued on page 3

Go for the Gold

Sponsors

Member to
Member

10

2015 Board
& Committee
Members

14

Conveyor Belting
Elongation vs.
Working Tension

6737 W Washington St, Suite 1300, Milwaukee, WI 53214 414.389.8606 FAX 414.276.7704 www.niba.org

Letter from the President

his association is successful because of you. Youre reading this because

youve given time or resources to NIBA over the years. You joined this association because you were curious, motivated, and focused on achieving
a goal. NIBAs mission is to deliver value to you as individual and as a business
leader. I want to recognize and thank a number of people who devote the time and
hard work to make NIBAs mission a reality.

Tom Wujek,
2014 NIBA President

NIBAs strength starts with an incredibly dedicated group of Committee leaders and
Committee members. Tom Pientok, Mike Cremeens, Ken Engelsmann, Doug Turk
and John Grasmeyer give untold hours to lead their committees with creativity and
focus. I am grateful for their effort, for their hard work, and I am so proud of what
the committees are achieving. Of course, the work on the committee only gets
done through the efforts of 45 committee members who also dedicate a tremendous
amount of time and effort to achieve NIBAs strategic objectives: continuing to find
new members along with producing events and content that provide value to our
membership.
Our NIBA technical seminar trainers donate even more time to NIBA for the growth
and development of NIBA member employees. 2014 NIBA trainers include: Mike
Cremeens, Dick McConnell, Dell Gutknecht, George Houston, Wes Tyre, Gregg
Hanson, Kip Kerby, Todd Miller, and Mike VandenAkker. These folks work closely
with our association management staff to prepare content, arrange seminar logistics,
deliver valuable training, and review feedback to constantly improve future seminars. I cant thank them enough for their time, for the great content that they deliver,
and for the tremendous positive impact their training has on the seminar participants. I speak for all members when I say thank you for the energy you put into this
service.

NIBAs logo, videos, written materials, etc.,

are proprietary material. Please submit a
written request to NIBA Headquarters to
receive permission for use in web sites,
catalogs, promotional materials, etc. All
articles in the Belt Line may be reprinted
with prior written approval from NIBA.

Belt
Line
Executive Director........ Jennifer Rzepka, CAE
Account Coordinators...................Sandy Kaye
Jen Murphy
Haley Rykowski
Graphic Designer.................... Dan Dudzinski
Digital Media Coordinator.......Christine Piela

Editing of all member submissions for

inclusion in the Belt Line is a NIBA Board of
Directors requirement. Generally, comments
regarding quality, value, cost, etc., will be
deleted.

I have a new appreciation and deepened gratitude to the individuals who have
served as President of this organization. Each one has had a hand in shaping what
NIBA is today and what this association can become in the future. Their personal
commitment deserves special recognition and thanks. I especially want to thank
John Green, NIBAs 2013 President for his advice, good counsel, and his leadership
for the past 5 years on the NIBA Executive Committee. As I reflect on my experience this year as President, I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to
serve. I have learned so much over the past 4 years, and I feel I have gained so
much more than Ive given through this experience.
I cant say enough about the
great Executive Committee
with whom Ive had the honor
to serve. John Shelton, Tom
Pientok, Jim Hill, and John
Green have provided tremendous support to me. These
individuals have inspired me
through their creativity and
intellect, they have contributed
greatly to NIBAs growth and
success, and they provided
good insight and perspective
when Ive needed it. I can
confidently say that the leaderLetter from the President
continued on next page

2014 NIBA
Membership
286 Members
154 Distributor/Fabricator
117 Manufacturer
15 Affiliate
Up 5.54% from this point last year!

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Executive Committee Update

By Tom Wujek, 2014 NIBA President, Flexco

t is with sadness that the NIBA Board accepted the resignation of Jim Hill, Veyance Technologies, as NIBAs current
Treasurer. Jim is moving to a new position unrelated to
conveyor belt and, as a result, stepped down from the NIBA
Executive Committee. On behalf of the entire NIBA membership, I want to thank Jim for his service to NIBA over the
years. Jim has been a great contributor to NIBAs growth and
development. His vision, dedication, and positive attitude
will be missed. We wish him the best of luck in his future
endeavors!
With Jims resignation, the current Nominating Committee,
chaired by John Green of Green Rubber-Kennedy Ag, was
reassembled to evaluate options to fill the vacancy that was
created. The Nominating Committee immediately started a
short list of candidates that had board experience, committee leadership, and understanding of the annual Convention
program planning process.

I am pleased to announce that the NIBA Board of Directors has voted to approve the nomination of Vernon Smith,
Universal Belting Resource, to the current position of NIBA
Treasurer. Vernon will very quickly be transitioning to 2nd
Vice President and Convention Program Chairman as of
January 1, 2015. He will work his way through the rest of
the Executive Committee positions, including acting as NIBA
President in 2017.
I owe Vernon a huge debt of gratitude for answering the call
of the Nominating Committee and for being willing to be
called into action on such short notice. I am confident that
with Vernons leadership and the support of our exceptional
Program Committee, the 2015 Annual NIBA Convention
in Indian Wells, California will be great as always. Furthermore, Vernons experience in the belting industry and
his demonstrated leadership capabilities make him a great
candidate for leadership of this organization. Please join me
in congratulating Vernon!

Letter from the President continued from previous page

ship of this association is in very capable hands in the coming
years. 2015 will be another great year for NIBA with John
Sheltons leadership.
I am also grateful to the staff at Svinicki Association Management, Inc. (SAMI), the association management firm that
provides all the behind-the-scenes support for NIBA. Jennifer,
Sandy, Jen, Haley, Jane and the whole team in Milwaukee work
tirelessly to execute all the great plans and programs that are
developed by the committees. They are on call day and night
to support member needs and to help the association grow,
execute and achieve. They do it all with little fanfare and not
nearly enough recognition.
Finally, I am grateful to you, the members of NIBA. The association exists because of members who want to participate, who
have the desire to network, and who want to grow and develop
their employees. This association is successful because you are
willing to come and contribute alongside your customers, your
suppliers, and even your competitors. You dedicate time, peo-

ple and resources for the betterment of our industry. I ask for
your continued commitment to NIBA through your membership
and by devoting time and resources as a committee member. It
is a rewarding experience and the additional networking can
have a direct impact on your sales.
As my year winds down as President of this great association, I
am overflowing with gratitude for the opportunities Ive had as
President, and for you, the people that make NIBA the great association that it is today. Have a great holiday season and I look
forward to seeing you again at the convention in Indian Wells,
California, next September.
Sincerely,

Tom Wujek
NIBA President 2014
Flexco

Joint Summit with PTDA continued from cover

The PTDA Run/Walk is a spouse only event held during the
Summit, whereas NIBAs Fun Run is an early morning event
with attendance from all registration groups.
The NIBA Expo and PTDA MD-IDEX will take some
creative work to blend to make the most effective use of
the time and meet the needs of all attendees. The PTDA

Belt Line December 2014

MD-IDEX format has 20 minute blocks of time for the

distributor to sit with the manufacturer and conduct a business meeting. Manufactures without a visitor are open for
walk-ups at any time. Some distributors use the format as
an Expo regardless of the intended format. Feedback on
the structure of MD-IDEX from distributors and manufacturers was mixed.

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Reminder! Donate to the NIBA

2015 Scholarship Funds with
your Annual NIBA Dues

By Beth Miller, 2014 Products &

Services Committee, Flexco

hrough generous member donations, NIBA was

able to award 18 scholarships to college students of NIBA members in 2014. This is a huge
member benefit for your employees and their families.
As you fill out your 2015 NIBA membership paperwork, dont forget to donate to the scholarship fund.
Your contribution will count toward the Annual Go
For The Gold and Cumulative Gem Level designation,
per the below requirements:

NIBA Presidents Club Welcomes

Twelve New
Members
All-State Belting LLC
Canadian Bearings Ltd
Industrial Rubber Specialties Inc
Industrial Supply Solutions Inc
J A Emilius Sons Inc
Knoxville Rubber & Gasket Co
Novex Inc
Power & Rubber Supply

Designation

Amount

Annual Contributions

RAM Enterprise Inc, Corporate Office

RGA - Rubber & Gasket Co of America

Go For The Gold: Bronze

$399 or below

Thaman Rubber Company

Go For The Gold: Silver

$400-799

Go For The Gold: Gold

$800 and above

Virginia Carolina Belting

Cumulative Contributions
Presidents Club

$1,500 and above

Gem Level: Ruby

$2,500-4,999

Gem Level: Emerald

$5,000-7,499

Gem Level: Diamond

$7,500 and above

They were honored at the Annual Convention for

donating a cumulative total of $1,500 each to the
NIBA Scholarship Fund. Presidents Club members
are noted in the NIBA Membership Directory each
year as well as on the Presidents Club plaques on
display at the Convention each year.

NIBA Past Presidents

Past NIBA Presidents in attendance at the 2014 Annual Convention at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel in Washington,
pictured from left to right (front row): Ray Borup, Roy Campen, Wayne Hoffman, Bruce Dieleman, Ted Lushch;
(back row): John P. Green, Chris McCarty, Don Garner, Jackie Robb Britt, Ren Morf, Tom Richardson

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Annual Go for the Gold!

See page 9 for a cumulative list

of companies at each Gem level.

Thank you to these companies for their contributions to the NIBA Scholarship Fund in 2014

Gold Sponsors
(Contribution of $800 or more in 2014)

Advanced Flexible Composites, Inc. (AFC)

AFM Industries
All-State Belting LLC
American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd
Ammeraal Beltech Inc
Belt Power LLC
Beltservice Corporation
Blair Rubber Company
Chiorino Inc
Flexco
Forbo Siegling LLC
Friesens Inc-Conveying Solutions
Green Rubber - Kennedy Ag
Habasit America
Industrial Rubber Specialties Inc
Industrial Supply Solutions Inc
Knoxville Rubber & Gasket Co
LewisGoetz
Nashville Rubber & Gasket Co Inc
Nitta Corporation of America
Probelt Global Limited
Quality Belt Maintenance Ltd
Reichel-Korfmann Co Inc
Shanghai YongLi Belting Co Ltd
Shaw Almex Industries
Vaughn Belting Company Inc
Veyance Technologies Inc

Silver Sponsors
(Contribution between $400-$799 in 2014)

AccuPad Inc
Accurate Industrial Inc
BEHA Innovation GmbH
Belt Corporation of America Inc
Coal Control Gesellschaft fr
Automation mbH
Colmar Belting Company Inc
Depreux (COBRA America)
Great Lakes Belting & Supply Corp
ICE-Trade sa International Conveyor
Equipment & Trading
J A Emilius Sons Inc
Martin Engineering
Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Co
Motion Industries Inc
Novex Inc
Passaic Rubber Company
RAM Enterprise Inc, Corporate Office
Sparks Belting Company
Thaman Rubber Company
Universal Belting Resource

Belt Line December 2014

Silver Sponsors (continued)

Virginia Carolina Belting
WAGENER Schwelm GmbH & Co
William Goodyear Company

Bronze Sponsors
(Contribution of $399 or below in 2014)

Aarubco Rubber Co
AirBoss Engineered Product Inc
Amerimex USA Inc
Apache Inc
Applied Power Products Inc
ASGCO - Complete Conveyor Solutions
Ashmus Belting Inc
Bailey-Parks Urethane Inc
BDI Belt Network
Belt Tech Industrial Inc
Belterra Corporation
Belting Industries Co Inc
BMG Latin America Inc
BRECOflex CO LLC
Bullitt County Belting & Supply
Cambelt International Corp
Canadian Bearings Ltd
CBT
Chemi-Flex
Chemprene Inc
Cog-Veyor Systems Inc
Conveyor Accessories Inc
Conveyor Belt Service Inc
Conveyors & Equipment Inc
Conviber Co Inc
D E Shipp Belting Company
Derco B V
Duecker Rubber Service
Dunham Rubber & Belting Corporation
Dyson Conveyor Maintenance Inc
Epperson & Company
Equipment & Supply (W.I) Ltd
F. N. Sheppard & Co
Fabricated Extrusion Company, LLC
Fenner Dunlop Engineered Conveyor
Solutions
Forbo Movement Systems Transtex
Belting
Gates Mectrol Corp
Global Belting Technologies
HBD-Thermoid, Inc - Corporate Offices
Hebei Haode Rubber & Plastics Co Ltd
IMTECH Rubber Products
Industrial Conveyor Belt Systems LLC
Integrated Distribution Inc
J B Industrial Sales Inc

Bronze Sponsors (continued)

Jason Industrial Inc

Jerry Bros Industries Inc
JTE Machine Systems, Inc
Kaman Industrial Technologies
Khosla Profil Pvt Ltd
Konus Konex Ltd
Maxi-Lift Inc
McLeod Belting Co Inc
Mihlfeld & Associates
Mulhern Belting Inc
New England Belting Company
Newtech Trans (India) Pvt Ltd
NILOS GmbH
OLBO & MEHLER Tex
Optibelt Corporation
Oriental Rubber Ind Ltd
P & S Textiles Ltd
PANG Industrial
Polytech Design Inc
Pooley Inc
Power & Rubber Supply
Precision Pulley and Idler
Price Rubber Corp
R/W Connection Inc
Ram Belting Company Inc
REMA TIP TOP - NA
Rematech-Division Bremo Inc
RGA - Rubber & Gasket Co of America
Richmond Supply Co & Rubber Div
Rocua Internacional, S.A. De C.V.
RPM Incorporated
Rubber & Accessories Inc
Rulmeca Corporation
Sampla Belting s r l
San Antonio Belting & Pulley Co Inc
Shingle Belting Company
SIT Indeva
Splawn Belting Inc
Stroup & Son Ltd
Tapco Inc
Texas Rubber Supply
Troy Industrial Solutions
U S Rubber Corporation
Uniband USA
VIS USA LLC
Volta Belting Technology Ltd
Voss Belting & Specialty Company
Vulcanisation CRM Inc
Western Belting Ltd
Xpress Service & Sales

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Thank You to these companies for their

Gold Sponsor support of the NIBA Scholarship Fund in 2014

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

MEMBER TO MEMBER

In Memorium
James Stinson Howell passed away November 15, 2014
after a short illness. Beloved husband of 65 years to Patricia E. (Mason) Howell; loving father of Linda (Peter) Weyand (formerly Kirby) and the late Donna Murphy. James is
survived by his grandchildren, Tera Murphy and her twin
children Aurora and Dakota Carter, Christina (Adam) Kloepfer and their son Caden, Jeremiah, Daniel (Amy), Josiah and
Leah Kirby, seven step-grandchildren and three step-great
grandchildren, predeceased by his three sisters. Due to the
weather, the family will now be present on Sunday from 2-4
and 6-8 PM at the (Amherst Chapel) AMIGONE FUNERAL
HOME, INC., 5200 Sheridan Drive (corner Hopkins Road)
where a Funeral Service will be held on Monday at 11 AM.
Share condolences online at www.AMIGONE.com

Newsworthy Items
Maxi-Lift announced today that its management team has
approved a new mission statement for the company. MaxiLifts ongoing mission is to Create Innovative Plastic Solutions with Empowered People. Maxi-Lift affirms its forty
year commitment to solving customer problems by offering
plastic alternatives to wood, paper, wire, and metal. By
working closely with our customers, we help them work
more efficiently, more reliably, and with greater throughput
than ever before, by using innovative plastic products like
our elevator buckets, supplement tubs, flooring systems, and
pallets. These plastic products give our customers longer life,
and better long-term value, says Paul Phillips, President of
Maxi-Lift, Inc.

New Products
Belting BVBA is proud to present their new website www.
belting.be. Here you can find more information about their
Hot Vulcanized Cleats and guides on rubber belts. They also
produce Rubber Calibrate belts for the potato industry.
Flexco introduces the Novitool Amigo for splicing
monolithic belts. The Amigo joins solid polyester and polyurethane conveyor belts to produce high-quality splices in
a fast, safe manner. The Amigo was engineered for precision belt splicing, featuring a contactless heating process
that splices the belt in less than one minute. The pre-heat
function removes moisture from the belt ends, avoiding unwanted pinholes in the splices. Complete with an integrated
belt cutter, it produces straight cuts with the right amount
of excess material needed for excess clash in the finished
splice. Interchangeable belt templates ensure precise pitch
splicing across various belt styles.

Belt Line December 2014

Flexco recently introduced the FGP Food Grade Precleaner

to its line of light-duty belt conveyor products. The easy-toinstall, easy-to-maintain food grade cleaner can be disassembled in less than a minute for regular cleaning and
sanitation. The simple design of the FGP Precleaner features
stainless steel components and FDA-approved, food-grade
materials that limit negative spaces and crevices, which can
encourage bacteria growth. The FGP Precleaner is designed
to meet strict sanitary guidelines and has been certified by
the USDA for use in meat, poultry, and dairy operations.
Cleaner blades are available in both white and blue.
The new Habasit Saniclip is an innovative rod retention
system that makes belt assembly and dis-assembly possible in only seconds. The Habasit Saniclip is an innovative
device for quick belt opening and easy belt sanitation. This
unique rod retention system is specifically designed to work
with our Micropitch M0870, M0885 and M1185 belts. The
Saniclip allows for simple rod installation/removal for applications where frequent belt sanitation is required. Saniclip
has a tactile, non-slip surface for easy removal in wet and/or
fatty environments. Multiple Saniclips can be installed on a
single belt to allow for easy opening in several locations.
Reveyron is proud to present one of the heaviest lightweight
PU belts on the market for cutting and recycling processes.
Its weight of 1.23 lbs per Sq Ft, its gauge of 0.2 and 0.075
thick red 85 ShA PU top cover with a 3 plied construction is a unique solution. Its carcass has been developed to
withstand and absorb the pressure of cutting blades, as well
as heavy and sharp loads which needs to be conveyed and
processed in recycling industries. The construction resists to
loads up to 1700 lbs/in and is of extraordinary lateral stiffness, ideal for precision cutting.
Rultrans, a Megadyne Group company whose products are
distributed in the Americas by Jason Industrial, has recently
changed the carcass structure for its PUCON line of belting. The primary advantage of the new carcass is smaller
required pulley diameters. Rultrans now offers ten PUCON
constructions which are suitable for nosebar applications.
Please contact Frank Fullerton at 704-905-9366 for more
information.

Used Equipment for Sale

D.E. Shipp Belting Co is selling a Shaw portable water
cooled press PRO60-1956t3 with control box and automatic
water system. Bought new in 2007 cycled 8 times. Bought
New $17,200 asking 12k. For more information and pictures please email Chase.Sligh@ShippBelting.com
D.E. Shipp Belting Co is also selling a Charles Walker High
Speed Press. CFHSP 600 high speed 110v press with self
contained control box and case; asking $4750. For more

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

MEMBER TO MEMBER
information and pictures please contact Chase Sligh
chase.sligh@shippbelting.com

Nick has also been a volunteer construction worker with

Habitat for Humanity in DeKalb County.

Shingle Belting has several used Habasit presses for which

we are willing to consider the best offer. The presses are: (1)
F100; (2) PT103S/6; (1) PT100; and (1) P300/6. All of the
presses are in good working condition. The P300/6 is virtually unused. They are available on a first come, first serve basis. Contact our office at 800-345-6294 if you are interested.

New Facilities

Personnel
American Eagle Manufacturing is pleased to announce the
appointment of Jason Powell as North East Sales Territory
Manager. He will cover states in the NE from northern Virginia to Maine. Jason will use his extensive industry experience
to work through an existing network of American Eagle distributors who serve the mining, aggregate, coal, power, pulp
and paper and bulk shipping industries. Jason can be reached
at jpowell@eagleedgeusa.com or on his cell: 570-242-4818

Luff Industries is proud to announce the opening of a new

warehouse location in Nashville, Tennessee. Driven by strong
growth throughout the United States in 2014 Luff recognized
the need for a larger space and increased inventory. The new
warehouse will allow Luff to stock more products and better
serve the increased demand of customers in the surrounding
areas. The new facility will open January 2015.

Welcome New
Member!
Sempertrans
Belting Manufacturer
Primary Contact: Bertrand Heckel
1 Bis Rue Colange
Levallois-Perret 92593 France
Phone: +33-0-1-7-64-70-70
Fax: +33-0-1-57-64-70-94
sempertrans@semperitgroup.com
www.sempertrans.com

Chiorino SpA is pleased to announce the addition of Harry

Cardillo as Consultant/Director for Chiorino Inc. In his role, Mr. Cardillo will
assist in developing Chiorinos business
in the American Market. He comes to
Chiorino with a vast background in
Belting, including CEO of both Globe
International and Habasit America.
Flexco recently hired two Territory
Sales Managers to service the Ohio,
Kentucky, and Indiana territory. Luke
Coleman is responsible for light-duty
product sales while Tim Statzer focuses on heavy-duty product sales.

Luke Coleman

Take the NIBA

Membership Survey!

Flexco welcomes Chad Winterhalter

to its North American sales team as a
Territory Sales Manager. Chad will be
responsible for sales in the Michigan/
Ohio territory.
Habasit America would like to welcome to the team Nick Tataseo as our
newest Applications Engineer. Nick
has been in industrial manufacturing for
10+ years and most recently with Intertek where he collaborated on a global
level to bring continuous improvement
to the clients he worked with. Nick
graduated from Georgia Institute of
Technology with a BSME in Mechanical
Engineering and also studied Tribology
and Mechatronics as secondary fields.

Tim Statzer

ake your voice heard! NIBA is conducting a

survey of the membership to help determine
the best products, services and trainings to
offer in 2015. The survey will take just ten minutes of
your time.
Take the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NIBA14
Thank you for your input. Watch for exciting new
offerings in 2015 based on your feedback.

Chad Winterhalter

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

2014 Gem Levels

Thank you to these companies for their contribution to
the NIBA Scholarship Fund.

Diamond Level
(Companies who have cumulatively contributed over $7,500)

Chiorino Inc
Derco B V
Flexco
Industrial Mining Supply Company Inc
Jerry Bros Industries Inc

Emerald Level
(Companies who have cumulatively contributed between $5,000 - $7,499)

Advanced Flexible Composites, Inc. (AFC)

Blair Rubber Company
Fenner Dunlop Engineered Conveyor Solutions
Habasit America
Martin Engineering
Nashville Rubber & Gasket Co Inc
Shaw Almex Industries
Veyance Technologies Inc

Ruby Level
(Companies who have cumulatively contributed between $2,500 - $4,999

AccuPad Inc
AFM Industries
American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd
Apache Inc

Ruby Level continued

Atlanta Belting Company Inc

BEHA Innovation GmbH
Belt Corporation of America Inc
Belt Power LLC
Beltservice Corporation
Conveyor Accessories Inc
D P Brown of Detroit Inc
F. N. Sheppard & Co
Forbo Movement Systems Transtex Belting
Forbo Siegling LLC
Friesens Inc-Conveying Solutions
Great Lakes Belting & Supply Corp
Green Rubber - Kennedy Ag
Knoxville Rubber & Gasket Co
LewisGoetz
Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Co
NILOS GmbH
Nitta Corporation of America
Passaic Rubber Company
Quality Belt Maintenance Ltd
Reichel-Korfmann Co Inc
REMA TIP TOP - NA
Rubber & Accessories Inc
Shanghai YongLi Belting Co Ltd
Sparks Belting Company
Universal Belting Resource
Voss Belting & Specialty Company
William Goodyear Company

Be a Part of the Conversation

Join in the conversation on NIBAs social media networks:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NIBABeltingAssn

Twitter: twitter.com/NIBABeltingAssn

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1994384&mostPopu
lar=&trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas%3Aniba%2Cidx%3A2-1-4

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

NIBA-The Belting Association Board of Directors for 2015

OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DISTRIBUTOR DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT
John Shelton
President
Belt Power
LLC

1st VICE
PRESIDENT
Tom Pientok
President &
CEO
Apache Inc

2nd VICE
PRESIDENT

Dell
Gutknecht
General
Manager
ReichelKorfmann Co
Inc
Brian
Schachner
President
Vaughn
Belting
Company Inc

Bo Fisher
Vice President
of Sales/North
America
Maxi-Lift Inc

Tom Wujek
EVP/COO
Flexco

Jonathan
Morgan
Applications
Engineering
Manager
Forbo Siegling
LLC

Rohan Christian
Prabhakar
Director
International Rubber
Tech Pvt. Ltd.

TREASURER

IMMEDIATE
PAST
PRESIDENT

Glenn Siemer
President
Accurate
Industrial Inc

MANUFACTURER DIRECTORS

Vernon Smith
President
Universal
Belting Resource

Bill Hornsby
Global Product
Manager
Habasit
America

Laura Hoggan
Sales Manager
Rubber &
Plastics Inc

EDUCATION/TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE CHAIR

Joe Haen
Manager,
Rubber
Products
Kaman
Industrial
Technologies

MARKETING COMMITTEE
CHAIR
Ken
Engelsmann
Vice President/
Sales &
Marketing
Beltservice
Corporation

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
CHAIR
Doug Turk
President
Midwest
Rubber
Service &
Supply Co

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

COMMITTEE CHAIR
John
Grasmeyer
VP of
Operations
Sparks Belting
Company

Most Board of Directors photos are courtesy of Ren Morf

10

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

NIBA 2015 Committee Members

Thank you to the following members who have volunteered to serve on one of NIBAs standing committees in 2014.
EDCUATION/TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE
Joe Haen, Chair
Kaman Industrial Technologies
Jessica Burgess
Stroup & Son Ltd
Stephenie Davis
BMG Conveyor Services of Florida Inc
Doug Gilg
Veyance Technologies Inc
Dell Gutknecht
Reichel-Korfmann Co Inc
Gregg Hanson
Apache Inc
George Houston
Richwood
Kip Kerby
Great Lakes Belting & Supply Corp
Todd Miller
Beltservice Corporation
Jonathan Morgan
Forbo Siegling LLC
Michael Schmidt
Ammeraal Beltech Inc
Don Sublett
Fenner Dunlop Engineered Conveyor
Solutions
Wes Tyre
Shaw Almex Industries
Mike VandenAkker
Sparks Belting Company
MARKETING COMMITTEE
Ken Engelsmann, Chair
Beltservice Corporation

Laura Hoggan
Rubber & Plastics Inc

Scott Holquist
LewisGoetz

John Kroll
Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Co

Bill Hornsby
Habasit America

Kerry Meacham
Flexco

Jeff Leach
Passaic Rubber Company

Pamela Putnam
LewisGoetz

Linda Saunders
Canadian Bearings Ltd

Jackie Robb Britt

Rubber & Accessories Inc

Ron Schuring
Precision Pulley and Idler

Travis Wilson
Belt Power LLC

Mike Stein
Flexco

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Doug Turk, Chair
Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Co

PRODUCTS & SERVICES COMMITTEE

John Grasmeyer, Chair
Sparks Belting Company

Craig Lemonds
Great Lakes Belting & Supply Corp

Bo Fisher
Maxi-Lift Inc

Mandy Lushch
Jerry Bros Industries Inc

Rich Holderman
LewisGoetz

Susan Moir
Shaw Almex Industries

Chris Jacobs
Power & Rubber Supply

Glenn Siemer
Accurate Industrial Inc

Mark Jadwin
Midwest Industrial Rubber Inc

Gene Torres
Chiorino Inc

Beth Miller
Flexco

Mike Wieland
Mulhern Belting Inc

Ren Morf
VIS USA LLC

Chip Winiarski
Flexco

Rohan Christian Prabhakar

International Rubber Tech Pvt. Ltd.

Shannon Zirkle
International Rubber Tech Pvt. Ltd.

Brian Schachner
Vaughn Belting Company Inc

PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Vernon Smith, Chair
Universal Belting Resource

James Smith
Universal Belting Resource

Mike Francis
Dunham Rubber & Belting
Corporation

Terri Boyle
AccuPad Inc

Paul Hirschmann
Habasit America

Paul Drechnowicz
Forbo Movement Systems Transtex
Belting

Belt Line December 2014

11

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Vulcan Charlotte Plant Hosts 3T

By Dick McConnell, 2014 Education/Technical Committee, Flexco

he 2014 installment of Track Train and Troubleshoot

was successfully conducted at the Crown Plaza in
Charlotte, NC. Traditional classroom topics on industry
standards such as belt construction, rated versus operational
PIW, tracking, transition distances, load points, housekeeping
and drive influences were augmented this year with the addition of lagging types and expanded splice considerations.
The keystone of the seminar was being hosted by Vulcan materials at their 1.5 million ton per year granite quarry where
attendees were offered an up close inspection of real world
application of the previous days information exchange. The
event concluded with lively discussion on the contrast between recommended and operational principles.
3T could not be successful if not for the pro-active participation from NIBA membership. Special thanks go out to Accurate Industries, Apache, Beltservice, Conveyors and Equipment, Flexco, Industrial Supply and Solutions, ITW Polymers,
Rema Tip Top, Rubber and Accessories, and Stroup and Son.
These NIBA members are the very core to making this years
installment a highly evaluated success. In addition, this
years event was attended by one of the premier conveyor
OEMs in North America, Kolberg Pioneer out of Yankton, SD.
This is the second training in which they have participated.

And, as always, the support of the NIBA board members and

SAMI continues to provide the sourcing necessary to continually improve and expand the content of the program.
The impact of 3T has for the first time has gone beyond the
annual event traditionally held in October. With the unwavering assistance of George Houston, Richwood, an eight
hour training time was secured in St. Louis at the Coal Handling and Storage Expo where an abbreviated version of 3T
was conducted under the NIBA banner. It is hoped that such
efforts will bring expanded recognition to our organization as
a leader in the industry.
As a final thought, Mike Cremeens and I are humbled by the
recognition so generously afforded us at this years Seattle
convention. It is profoundly heartwarming to be able to play
a small role for the benefit of such a great organization such
as NIBA. We could not do it alone. Many have supported
us conducting these training events. Most recently, Del
Gutknecht/R-K Rubber, Wes Tyre/Almex, and George Houston/Richwood have stepped up to assure successful input and
implementation of these seminars. It is with this collective
toolbox of support that allows for the heavy duty training
events to continue prospering.

Get the NIBA Discount on the UID Program!

NIBA Members save $1,000 when registering before January 14!
Rates before 1/14/2015:
Members of NIBA: $995.00
Non-members: $1,995.00
Rates after 1/14/2015:
Members of NIBA: $1,195.00
Non-members: $2,095.00
The newly re-named University of
Innovative Distribution (UID) is a
concentrated educational program
focused on the unique needs of
the wholesale distribution industry.
2015 marks the 22nd year that UID
has been serving the supply chain.
Known worldwide for excellence in
education, UID is sponsored by the
leading distribution professional associations, in cooperation with the

12

University of Innovative Distribution

March 8-11 Indianapolis, IN
Department of Technology Leadership
and Innovation of Purdue University.
Working together, these groups take
great pride in providing a superior
learning experience.
The classes at the 2014 University of
Innovative Distribution have helped
me be a better business leader. The
curriculum was diverse and I learned
techniques to improve profits, develop
successful marketing strategies, and
effectively manage inventory. I plan to
return in 2015 to further expand my
skill sets.
Mandy E. Lushch
General Manager
Jerry Brothers Industries, Inc.

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Ways
hree To r ain
3T Heavyweight Training

Track, Train and Troubleshoot

in house...
NIBA training courses educate and add real world
value for those who are in the business of providing
solutions to operational problems on conveyors.
Available for in house training in DVD format, the
course can be used to instruct new employees or as a
refresher for industry veterans.

online...

Train online for easy access to courses that can be

effortlessly shared throughout your company and
across multiple locations. Buy one, two, or all three
segments of our most up-to-date materials, and have
continuous access to any updates. Additionally, all
participants who complete the online course will
receive a certificate of completion.

live...

In-person trainings are offered once a year at

convenient locations around the country. Our live
course provides an interactive format with hands-on
learning and immediate answers to questions.
Participants experience real world situations with
on-site visits and demonstrations.

NIBA The Belting Association 6737 W Washington St, Suite 1300 Milwaukee, WI 53214
Phone: 414-389-8606 Fax: 414-276-7704 E-Mail: staff@niba.org

Belt Line December 2014

13

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Conveyor Belting Elongation vs. Working Tension

By Michael VandenAkker, 2014 Education/Technical Committee, Sparks Belting Company Inc
Definitions:
Elongation - increase in length, expressed as a fraction or
percentage of initial length in conveyor belting, it is useful for us to know the amount of force required for specific
elongation.
Working Tension - stress on the belt when the belt is loaded
with conveyed material and moving.
Allowable working tension (AWT) - is the maximum amount
of force (stress) that can be applied to a belt.
Concepts to consider in belt selection:
Less tension will result in less elongation
More stress will result in more elongation.
Too much elongation could exceed the take-up adjustment
of the conveyor system.
To varying degrees, most fabrics will stretch, and this is
desirable and necessary to conform to the crown on a
conveyor pulley which assists in tracking the belt to run
straight and true.
Allowable Working Tension is a figure that was commonplace in the North American belting (thermoset) community for years, and is still used by many manufacturers and
distributors. When a manufacturer of solid woven PVC
recommends a 120 pound belt for an application, they are
identifying that the belt is rated for a Maximum 120 pounds
per inch of width. Since most manufacturers would prefer a
cushion, if an application is close to the rated AWT (in this
case 120 pounds), they would prefer that you go to the next
higher rated belt. While it is not typically a published figure,
all manufacturers using the AWT system know what the
expected elongation percentage is at that amount of tension.
You will generally have to contact the belt manufacturer if
you want to know elongation percentage for forces below the
AWT.
Force / Elongation is the system used by European belting
manufacturers (thermoplastic) It is typical in this system to
identify the amount of force required to elongate (stretch) a
belt 1% Since it is generally expected that a conveyor will
have sufficient take-up to accommodate 1.5% of TOTAL BELT
LENGTH, the 1% figure can be meaningful in belt selection.
The manufacturers of this style of belting also provide maximum force and maximum elongation figures, which are useful to determine the upper limit of a belt style being selected.
REMEMBER, AWT OF A BELT IS THE UPPER LIMIT OF
FORCE THAT THE BELT CAN WITHSTAND. THE 1% FIGURE
OF THERMOPLASTIC BELTS DOES NOT REPRESENT AN
UPPER LIMIT, BUT SIMPLY A TOOL TO BE USED IN BELT
SELECTION.

14

We addressed the effect of AWT and 1% elongation with

respect to the available take-up on a conveyor. Lets now
discuss the installation and tensioning of a conveyor belt.
In the U.S., the installation and tracking of conveyor belts has
typically been very rudimentary. The belt is installed, it is tensioned to no specific tolerance, the belt is started, and then
additional tensioning is applied to prevent slippage when the
load is introduced.
The thermoplastic manufacturers recommend a specific
pre-tension when installing one of their belts. While this can
range from 0.4% - 0.7%, a pre-tension of 0.5% acceptable.
In basic terms, if you put two marks 100 apart on the belt
surface when it was in a relaxed condition, you would tension the belt until the marks were 100.5 apart. As before,
when you start the conveyor and introduce the load, additional adjustments can be made. The pre-tension concept
prevents the belt from being over tensioned when installed.
Keep in mind that we are talking about a 0.5% pre-tension,
and we have addressed the amount of force required for 1%
elongation. This is why it is imperative to keep in mind that
the 1% figure is not an upper limit. If it were, this means we
would only have another 0.5% elongation available to us,
which may not be enough in some applications. Make sure
you get the Maximum force and Maximum elongation figures
for belts you are considering.

Save 20% on
On-Line Training
We had a great response to the free online training promotion in October and are offering a
20% discount to NIBA members who purchase
any of the online training by the end of the year.
Interested? Click the links below, or contact the
NIBA office to learn more at (414) 389-8606/
staff@niba.org.
3T Heavyweight online training: http://niba.org/
training/3T-Heavyweight/
Lightweight Basics online training: http://niba.
org/training/Lightweight-Basics/
BizLibrary: http://niba.org/training/bizlibrary/

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Sustainability: Eliminating Waste

By Johnathan Morgan, 2014 Products & Services Committee, Forbo Siegling LLC and
Brian Schachner, 2014 Products & Services Committee, Vaughn Belting

long with all the buzz words you hear in todays market
place including, Green, Recyclable, Eco-Friendly
and so on, there is an underlying current that is leading
all industries inevitably to the same place: Sustainability. Sustainability is in essence a mathematical equation. Similar to the
Conservation of Energy principle, you put a certain amount of
resources into a process/good and then get the same amount out.
In the world of conveyor belting, sustainable waste management
solutions are taking form in the area of co-processing. Coprocessing is nothing more than taking waste materials, breaking
them down and using them as components in the manufacturing
of other products, such as cement. Specifically, the co-processing
of cement takes belting waste and processes them in very high
temperature kilns. The ash that is created is used along with
sand, limestone and other components to make the cement.
This reduces the cost to the cement manufacturer to produce
their product and eliminates the belting company placing it in a
landfill. The idea is to get the cost of co-processing belt waste to
be a lower cost than that of landfilling it. Thats a win-win all the
way around!
Governments around the world are buying into sustainability
and the sciences that surround it. In the US, LEED and other
government programs are ensuring that companies invest time
and resources to these Green initiatives. LEED is Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design and certifies Sustainable Product credit in the areas of Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency,
Water Efficiency, & Reclamation Sustainable Reuse or End of
Life Management. In 2005, $10 billion dollars was credited for
residential and commercial programs. In 2010 that grew to $60

billion! This is not a fad as some would argue and will become
an important part of everyones business at some point, including
conveyor belting companies.
One of the many challenges facing this process is in regards to
waste size. It must be in smaller pieces as it enters the kiln for the
co-processing to work properly. Since most belt waste is in the
form of rolls and can vary greatly in length and width, a method
for breaking the product down must be used. Most co-processing
plants use shredders to do this. Shredders come in all shapes and
sizes and some outfits utilize single shredders or possibly (2) or (3)
in-line shredders to continually reduce the waste size down to the
feasible level.
A second issue is transportation. The belt waste must be accumulated and transported to an appropriate site for shredding and
burning. Freight costs can be prohibitive to this program so it has
to be done efficiently for it to work.
Finally, there is the subject of waste volume. It takes a tremendous amount of belt waste to make the co-processing profitable
for the cement producer. A single belting manufacturer would
not be able to produce enough belt waste to accommodate this
process long term, much less a belting distributor. Most experts
believe it would take multiple belt manufacturers along with
distributors to produce enough belt waste to allow this solution to
be profitable for all parties involved. A large commitment!
There are many ongoing challenges facing our industry in regards
to this process but over time and with the right guidance it may
turn out to be more than feasible. Bright minds and eager souls
needed!

SAVE THE DATE

2015 Annual
Convention and Expo
Thursday, September 17
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa
Indian Wells, California
Room rate: $165/night
Visit the NIBA website to make
reservations online
http://niba.org/events1/convention/
Or call 800-446-9875
and mention you are with NIBA
for the special rates.

Belt Line December 2014

15

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Register Today
Key Principles & Best Practices
of Lightweight Belting

March 24-25, 2015

Atlanta, GA

IBAs new and improved Key Principles & Best Practices of Lightweight Belting course offers employees
new to your organization or less experienced in
lightweight belting the opportunity to become acclimated
with fundamental principles and essential techniques in a
focused, two-day classroom setting.
Upon completion of this class, attendees will have a practical understanding of lightweight belting. They will learn
the composition and general manufacturing process of the
belts. They will be exposed to assorted fabrications which
enhance the value and functionality of the product. Instructors will present key features and benefits of the various
styles of lightweight belting, discuss common industry standards, as well as offer tips on trouble shooting, belt tracking
and how to avoid common and costly failures in the field.
Attendees will also have the opportunity for ample Q&A
with top industry professionals.

NIBA training courses educate and add real world value for
those who are in the business of providing solutions to operational problems on conveyors. By combining knowledge
of lightweight belting, explaining features and benefits of
the products, conveyor system design attributes and requirements, as well as trouble shooting skills, this valuable learning opportunity is great as an introduction to the industry or
a refresher course to an industry veteran. Classroom interaction among participants enhances learning opportunities
and provides attendees with valuable industry relationships.
Our course provides an interactive format with hands-on
learning and demonstrations, as well as immediate answers
to questions. Make plans now to attend this dynamic, interactive seminar, but hurry, space is limited.
Register at www.niba.org

Membership Renewals
By Doug Turk, 2014 Membership Committee Chair, Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Co

y now you should have received your 2015 NIBA

membership renewal information. The value you find in
NIBA will assist in making your continued support and
participation a vital link to the world of belting. NIBAs Membership Committee is asking that you take the time to update
your Primary and Secondary contacts listed in the directory
and your classification as to Heavyweight Belting or Lightweight Belting. Our members have often tried to assist custom-

ers in territories they do not serve and may not immediately

know who they can refer.
Renewals are due back to the NIBA office by December 31,
2014 with a deadline for listing in the printed directory of
January 31, 2015. Note: dues may be renewed online at
www.niba.org. Should you have any question please contact
the NIBA office at staff@niba.org or 414-389-8606. Thank you
for your continued membership.

Important Information for Canadian Members

Because of the new Canadian Anti-Spam Law, we need your
consent to continue sending you emails such as the Belt Line
newsletter. Opting-in is quick and easy. Just follow the link to
give your consent and well continue sending you updates:
niba.org/membership2/update-your-subscription/

16

The Belt Line newsletter is emailed five times a year and contains news about NIBA, the belting industry, technical articles,
and member information on topics including equipment for
sale, personnel, facilities and products. Members also receive
the monthly Newsblasts with brief updates on NIBA news
and member benefits as well as periodic emails regarding the
Convention and other timely events.

Belt Line December 2014

A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

TRAINING MATERIALS ORDER FORM

Non-member prices are 50% higher than prices shown. Non-member orders must be prepaid.
Quantity

Price

Total

DVDs
#14 *3T: Track, Train, Troubleshoot for Heavyweight Belting (3 DVD set-2011)
#15 *Lightweight Basics (3 DVD set-2012)

x
x

$650
$650

=
=

x
x
x

$125
$125
$199

=
=
=

x
x
x
x
x
x

$15
$13.50
$12.75
$12
$25
$55

=
=
=
=
=
=

CDs
#16 *Lightweight Training CD (2006) - choose language: ___English ___Spanish
#17 *Heavyweight Training CD (2006) - choose language: ___English ___Spanish
#18 SPECIAL COMBO DEAL! Both Lightweight & Heavyweight Training CDs above

PUBLICATIONS
Introductory Guide to Belting - choose language: ___English ___Spanish

1-4
5-10
11-20
21+

(quantity discount)

#19

#20 (Extra Copy) NIBA Membership Directory (ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS)

#21 (Extra/New) NIBA Membership Plaque (ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS)
*For online training, visit www.niba.org
Order Price = S/H

All sales are final. For orders outside the continental United States, contact
staff@niba.org for shipping and handling charges. Shipping/handling is by UPS Ground.
For International Customers: Duties and customs charges may be assessed by your
country after your order arrives to you. You are responsible for paying these charges that
the delivery company may request before delivering your shipment.
NIBA DOES NOT and CANNOT include these charges when your order is processed.

$0.00
$20.01
$100.01
$250.01

$20.00 = $5
$100.00 = $7
$250.00 = $10
$300.00 = $15

Orders over $300 add 5%

Subtotal
Shipping
Total

Submit orders by e-mail: staff@niba.org / Fax: 414-276-7704 / Phone: 414-389-8606 or mail:

NIBA-The Belting Association / 6737 W. Washington St. / #1300 / Milwaukee, WI 53214
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Belt Line December 2014

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17