Belt Line

6 2017

Vol. 16 Issue 2 A Publication of NIBA The Belting Association

Build relationships for powering thoughts/conveying

ideas at NIBA/PTDA Joint Industry Summit
I ts no secret the NIBA Annual
Convention delivers powerful
networking for belting indus-
try leaders. This year, the value
doubles as PTDA and NIBAThe
Belting Association come together,
delivering an opportunity to learn
from, network with and conduct
business with twice as many chan-
nel partners. In addition, there are
high-caliber educational programs
all with one goal in mind: to re-
energize you with information,
ideas, resources and data to move
the needle on your business activi-
ties going into 2018. Finalize your
plans to participate in the NIBA/
PTDA Joint Industry Summit on
September 27-30, 2017, at The
Diplomat Beach Resort in sunny Networking is one of the biggest benefits of participation. The Joint MD-IDEX/Expo provides
Hollywood, Florida. distributors the opportunity to not only schedule appointments with exhibitors but also browse
displays and product exhibits.
Powerful business
awareness of the incredibly rewarding careers to be found in
networking industrial distribution.
Building business opportunities from networking with
industry peers continues to be one of the main benefits. Its The networking kicks into high gear on Thursday afternoon
a setting where you dont have to explain what you do for a with joint specialty receptions for Women in the Industry
living, because everyone already knows. The most exciting (WITI), Spouse/Companions and Next Gen-ers (those age 40
news for 2017 is that distributors and manufacturers from and under). Each association will host a separate gathering
the belting industry will also be participating, providing you for its own first timers and new members as well.
with even more business opportunities moving forward.
Everyone comes together again for the Joint Welcome
The networking events kick off with the ICP Golf Outing on Reception, where the sound of business being done,
Thursday, September 28. Take advantage of the opportunity relationships being forged and plans being made, ensures that
to network with your peers from both the belting and PT/ the NIBA/PTDA Joint Industry Summit gets off to a great start.
MC industries over two golf courses at the Fort Lauderdale
Country Club. Not only that, all net proceeds benefit the Formal, scheduled networking happens on Saturday
mission of the Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) to build during the Joint MD-IDEX/Expo. Structured pre-scheduled
continued on page 3

Calculating a Sale: NIBA Memorial FAQs about the Joint Summit

4 Asking the right

questions
6 Scholarships
Awarded
11 Joint Industry
Summit 12 Sponsor and Expo
Opportunities

22 N. Carroll St., Ste 300, Madison, WI 53703 608-310-7549 FAX 608-251-5941 www.niba.org

Vernon Smith,
2017-18 NIBA President
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............ Michael Battaglia
Graphic Designer.....................Jeanne Rosen
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.
Connect Today!
Letter from the President
W ith six months already in the books for 2017, it feels like NIBA has experi-
enced a full years worth of activities already. But wait theres more!
Planning for our Joint Industry Summit with PTDA is in full swing and were
expecting a truly memorable experience this September. Thank you to all NIBA
members who have registered early (about 100 NIBA attendees confirmed so
far) and especially those companies who have purchased Expo booth space
and/or sponsorship opportunities. Your support goes a long way in driving the
organization forward and this year we aim to deliver double the value as we
establish a direct line to our colleagues at PTDA. There will be many peer-to-peer
and networking opportunities in the schedule, with an emphasis on both formal
conference settings and the more informal social events. Dont miss this unique
opportunity to further your brand recognition within the industry and potentially
add new customers.
The Program Committee continues to evolve and strengthen our convention
by working with PTDA on this years event, in addition to benchmarking and
confirming details for 2018 and 2019. The Membership Committee has made
great strides in increasing Distributor/Fabricator members and retaining current
members. The Ed/Tech Committee is working on new programs for members, in
addition to supporting technical training, the Belt Line and other publications.
NIBA has also hosted two very successful technical trainings this year:
Vulcanized & Mechanical HW Splice Training on April 4-6 at Price Rubber Co in
Montgomery, Alabama and Key Principles & Best Practices of Lightweight Belting
on April 18-19 at Flexco in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In both cases, the events
were sold out and our trainers received some very positive feedback. Thank you
to the trainers, administrators and attendees for your participation. In this issue of
Belt Line, you can read more about each event.
Also this spring, NIBAs new management company, AMPED Association
Management, has been transitioning the organizations operations to their own.
The process has been seamless so far. As of May 1, AMPED is now fully integrated
and members have started receiving communications from the new office. Those
of you who attended the technical trainings also had the chance to meet some
of the new staff. With a diverse client base, AMPED understands the culture of
trade associations and Im confident they will help ensure a successful future.
The team has extensive experience in helping other associations achieve similar
goals, such as accelerate member growth and satisfaction, grow revenues and,
put together highly successful and memorable conventions. Join me in welcoming
AMPED to our organization, as I know they are looking forward to working with
our members.
Looking forward, the NIBA Board of Directors will convene at the conference
venue this month for our annual Board meeting to focus on goals identified in last
years strategic planning sessions, reveiw committee activities, and discuss future
convention plans.
This is an exciting time for NIBA and we hope to see you in September to deliver
more progress. Dont forget to register by July 26 to save $130!
Vernon Smith
NIBA 2017-18 President
Universal Belting Resource
 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association
NIBA/PTDA Joint Industry Summit continued from page 1
20-minute business meetings allow you to meet many
important business contacts and you can browse
manufacturer exhibits and product displays.
This is a great opportunitya time to discuss increasing
market share, to raise business concerns, to drive new
business. Anything is open for discussion, said PTDA
President Tom Clawser, director reliability services, Brown
Transmission & Bearing Co., Delta Reliability Div.
Distributors from NIBA and PTDA can participate in up to
nine scheduled business meetings with a wide variety of
participating manufacturers during MD-IDEX, delivering a
return-on-investment that can be definitively calculated.
Networking opportunities are rounded out with a variety of
joint networking lunches and breakfasts and the fabulous
Joint Closing Reception & Dinner: Havana Nights to
celebrate a successful conference and the possibilities ahead.
Powerful education sessions: The IML Talks
NIBA is pleased to introduce its members to the IML Talks
(for Inspire. Motivate. Lead) continues for a third year, as, an
efficient format to deliver powerful ideas during a short time.
You will hear from John OLeary, a man who has literally
risen from the ashes of an incredibly painful journey to talk
about Seven Choices to Ignite Your Radically Inspired Life.
Also on stage will be Molly Fletcher, a trailblazing sports
agent who has represented some of the worlds most famous
and talented athletes to help you Transform Your Business
Relationships.
Wrapping up the educational program is Dr. Alan Beaulieu,
Institute for Trend Research (or ITR Economics). Dr. Beaulieu
delivers an economic forecast that is historically 98 percent
accurate, allowing you to plan for future success with
foresight and confidence.
Who should participate?
Traditionally, top executives of distributor and manufacturer
companies attend, as well as up-and-coming executives who
can connect with other Next Gen leaders. Many companies
bring multiple team members to create a shared learning
experience because so much is offered in such a few short
days. Those who attend benefit from expanded relationships
with supplier partners and gain valuable industry insight,
knowledge and experience.
This meeting has been three years in the making, and its
the biggest event either organization has had in a while.(it)
adds more value to attending from personal growth, business
growth and industry growth perspectives, said NIBA
President, Vernon Smith, Universal Belting Resource.
Register today at NIBAPTDA.org.
Belt Line June 2017
The theme for this years joint convention is
Powering Thoughts Conveying Ideas. By joining
NIBA and PTDA members in a one- time mega
convention, we hope to gain many new Thoughts
and Ideas that would not be possible without
each other.
Two organizations that have operated very
successfully by themselves will surely reap the
benefits of this unique event. Hollywood, Florida is
a beautiful setting that features a world class hotel
and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. You
will be joined by other members hoping to form
new business relationships as well as saying hello
to old friends.
The ability to see so many Manufacturers,
Distributors and Affiliate members in one location
will undoubtedly be of benefit to all of us.
By now, you have probably seen three (3) letters
written by Past Presidents Tom Wujek, John Green
and Tom Pientok (watch for a fourth letter coming
soon). Each of them have led our wonderful
organization in the past and are very excited to see
what can be achieved at this years historic event.
Each mentioned how The Diplomat Resort has
many wonderful amenities. One of my favorites
is the picturesque view from the remodeled foyer
that leads to a large bar area that overlooks the
pool!
Multiple restaurants will give you
on-site choices that will satisfy all
tastes. The pool area is huge and
features multiple levels, cabanas
and of course a bar area. The
Diplomat also features a first-class
spa and fitness center to help you
unwind or get fit during or after the
Brian Schachner,
event.
Joint Industry Summit
Planning Committee
I look forward to meeting you in
September. I cant wait!
Download the conference brochure
from NIBAPTDA.org to get even more
details on one of the biggest events
ever planned by both NIBA and
PTDA: Over 1,000 delegates and over
430 companies are expected to attend.
3
 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

Calculating a sale:
Asking the right questions so you can determine the right belt
by Wes Tyre, Sempertrans Head of Sales North America

T he phone rings in your office on a Monday morning, a

prospective customer is looking for a new belt. The Sun-
day shift had a crusher issue and a rock destroyed the belt
on their system. You think to yourself Perfect, first sale of
the week. You are unfamiliar with the specifics of the plant
and this particular conveyor, but its a brand new customer!
appropriate belt. Using the tables provided in your NIBA
Heavyweight Engineering Manual and the 3T package
(Track, Train and Troubleshoot material is available on the
NIBA website) to complete this equation and calculate
the Full Motor Tension of the belt.

You now start with some questions to make certain that

the belt you offer is up to the task as well as suited for the
application. The obvious first question is What belt do
you have on the conveyor?. Unfortunately, the reply goes
Calculated with the information given by the customer the
something like this Its about 3 wide and a couple hundred
Full Motor Tension is 458 PIW. Keep in mind that this is a
feet long and I think it is 9/16 or 5/8 thick, but Im not
simplified method of determining belt tension but is one
real sure... This may not be the easiest first sale of the week
that is easily used and generally useful for lower tension
after all, luckily there are several specific questions that can
textile conveyor belting. A much longer and more extensive
get you to a solution that will result in a happy customer
calculation will yield different results. If you are unsure refer
with a new belt installed. In this case, you will rely on the
to the full calculation or consult your manufacturer for their
information that the customer gives you, but you should also
recommendation. (The full method is available in the NIBA
explain that their information must be accurate to ensure
Heavyweight Engineering Manual).
proper belt selection.
7. Carrying Surface. Idlers or slider bed, troughed or flat
1. Length. In this case, ask the customer to provide an
idlers, idlers angle. 35 troughing idler (5 ) with 10
exact length of the belt. They should be able to either
length of flat impact idlers at the load zone.
measure center to center of the conveyor and give you
pulley diameters and take-up length, previous purchase 8. Environment. Operating temperature, dust suppressant
lengths, or design drawing length. The answer, in this chemicals (if any), and oils. Any other conditions that
case, is 250 total length of conveyor belt. may influence operation. 18F to 100F and no oils or
chemicals.
2. Width. This should be simple enough if they know how
to operate a tape measure. 36 belt width. 9. Loading Rate and Material. Amount in Tons per Hour
(TPH) that the conveyor handles, and the lump size (and
3. Speed. How fast does the conveyor run? There are
type) of the material. 400 TPH, 12 Limestone.
several methods to gather this information. Pick the
safest method. 300 per minute. 10. Height. Elevation difference between tail pulley and
head pulley in feet required for long version tension
4. Pulleys. Diameters, face width, number of pulleys,
calculations.
wrap (how many degrees of 360), and lagging (bare or
lagged). 30 head pulley (lagged), 24 tail pulley 11. Splice Method. Mechanical fasteners or vulcanized
(bare), 3 pulleys in the automatic take-up 24 (bare). splice? Vulcanized. Youre keeping your splice crew
busy.
5. Horsepower (HP). Ask for the recorded horsepower on
the motor nameplate. 100 hp. Whew! In this case the customer could answer these
questions and no site visit is required. We can work this out
6. Belt Tension. The customer has only provided us with
from the office. If they are unable to provide the information
a guess of the overall thickness of the belt, you will
over the phone it may be necessary to survey the conveyor
need more information then that to correctly select
in the field and collect this information personally. The NIBA
and recommend. Full Motor Tension Calculation is
Heavyweight Engineering Manual provides a Conveyor Belt
a quick and easy calculation that you can do with
Data Sheet for collecting and recording this information
the information already provided to come up with an
(NIBA Heavyweight Engineering Manual pg. 4).

4 Belt Line June 2017

 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

After reviewing all the information, we now need to
determine the belt we will recommend to put on this
conveyor.
Limestone is 90-100 lbs/ with a 12 lump size. You review
the table in the Engineering Manual and determine that a
3ply 600PIW belt is an appropriate carcass specification
(NIBA HW Eng Man. pg. 12).
Next determination is Load Support in this case MW =
45. The table in the NIBA Engineering Manual indicates that
a 3/600PIW belt has more than enough load support for this
application, HW Eng Man. pg. 13.
We now turn to belt troughability, a belt that lacks transverse
flexibility will not sit in the conveyor idlers properly which
can lead to a series of problems including poor loading,
tracking and premature belt failure. Basically, dont select a belt
that is too stiff to sit in the idlers while its empty. In this case the
Manual indicates that with 35 idlers, a 36 3/600 fits within
the recommended troughability range, HW Eng Man. pg. 11.
Splicing: In this case you and the customer determine
that a vulcanized splice is best for their application,
however, this is not the only choice. Mechanical fasteners
are also an excellent choice for splicing a conveyor belt.
Splicing method is a decision that should be based on
several factors: down time available to the customer and
installation crew, vulcanizer availability and suitability,
manufacturer recommendations, staff competency and cost
considerations.
Finally, we determine a cover thickness and suggest a
complete belt specification. Based on information that you
have from your belt manufacturer and the CEMA manual you
determine that 3/8 x 1/8 ARPM GI is a suitable cover for cut
and gouge. You are recommending a 3ply 600PIW 3/8 x 1/8
ARPM GI belt, CEMA Engineering Manual pg. 276.
The customer is happy to agree with your recommendations
on belt selection, splicing and pricing. The first sale of the
week is complete, and your crew is now mobilizing to get
a satisfied new customer up and running again. Both of
you have confidence that the replacement conveyor belt is
suitable for the application because you have been thorough
in gathering information and making the selection.
The NIBA Edu/Tech committee has the Heavyweight
Engineering Manual and other technical resources available
free for all members online, they contain a wealth of
information to assist with conveyor belt selection and
application. ARPM makes their Engineering Manual
available to NIBA members at a reduced rate and is full of
excellent reference material. The CEMA Belt Conveyors
for Bulk Materials manual is an excellent resource as well.
Additionally, NIBA, provides two Heavyweight education
sessions per year, our 3T session in the fall and our
Heavyweight Splice session in the spring. These are always
well received and attended, they help to expand on the
material in the manual in a real world, hands on manner.
Finally, your selected conveyor belt manufacturer should and
likely provides excellent resources to help with belt selection
and engineering questions and should be consulted and
considered the final word in any recommendations for the
correct application of their product.

HD Splice School: New Host, New Attendee Mix, Terrific Interaction

by Dick McConnell, Flexco

The 2017 installment of NIBAs Heavy Duty Splice Seminar was successfully held, April 4-6, with the tremendous support of Price
Rubber Corp in Montgomery, Alabama. Due to the re-location of the traditional training facility in Atlanta, Price Rubber stepped up
to offer their services. Even with the difficulties associated with moving presses, tools, work tables, and testing devices, all the pieces
came together to provide 27 attendees with 2-1/2 days of detailed vulcanized and mechanical splice training.

Overall, the class was made up of a variety of experience levels: from less than 60 days to over 32 years working with conveyors. A new
first: two different end user producers had sought out training to find this school on the NIBA website. Their input was very beneficial
to the class. All through the content, which included belt construction, operational forces, operating and rated PIW, vulcanizing
chemistry, and mechanical splice overview, the collective interaction of all participating kept the flow of information engaging.

The facilitators of this years installment included Mike Cremeens, Almex; Dick McConnell, Flexco; Del Gutknecht, R K Rubber;
Gary Dech, Almex; and assistance by Ron Schuring, PPI. We would like to extend our gratitude to the team at Price Rubber for their
enthusiastic support. And a special note of thanks to the SAMI team for their role in organizing, facilitating, and following through on
filling the seats throughout the years.

Belt Line June 2017 5


Ten NIBA Memorial Scholarships awarded
Applicants must be an employee, or the child of an employee, in an active NIBA company.
E ach year, NIBA The Belting Association honors the
memory of past officers, directors, and committee mem-
bers for their strong dedication to the NIBA organization,
with $2,000 scholarships for employees and children of
employees of NIBA Distributor/Fabricator and Manufacturer
member companies who make a difference in their commu-
nities, their churches, and their schools, through service.
NIBA received 82 applications for the Memorial Scholarship
this year. Of these, ten individuals were awarded $2,000
education scholarships.
Raven Corbett
Industrial Supply Solutions
Incorporated
Raven Corbett applied through Rocky
Corbett of Industrial Supply Solutions
Incorporated and is attending East
Carolina University. Corbett helped establish a new club
at ECU called the American Association of Public Health
Dentistry, and has served for the Christian Medical Dental
Association, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Pre-Dental Club, and Ronald McDonald House and more.
Community service for her new club includes oral health
education through the local health center and in local
middle and high schools. My future plan is to work in rural
North Carolina in a federally qualified health center, said
Corbett, providing care to Medicaid patients and to others
who would not otherwise be able to afford it.
Stephanie Knechtly
CBT Company
Stephanie Knechtly applied through
Steven Knechtly of CBT Company
and will be attending the University
of Cincinnati. Knechtlys community
service work includes involvement with
ArtsWave, the American Cancer Society and missions such
as Matthew 25 Ministries, Wesley Chapel Mission Center,
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and
more. With ArtsWave, she created and donated architecture
artwork for a fund raiser, developed a way-finding map, and
assisted in design work for the Paint the City Red campaign.
The most transformative service experiences I have had
were the week long summer mission trips with my church
youth group, she says. It was eye opening to come to
the realization that a decade had passed and yet so little
6 Belt Line June 2017
A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association
had been done to improve the living situations for many
families.
Adrian Landstrom
Continental Contitech
Adrian Landstrom applied through Brad
Landstrom of Continental Contitech
and will be attending The University of
Texas at Austin. Landstrom has been very
involved in her community, working with
initiatives such as Texas Rockstar Cheerleading, Gateway
Community Church KidsTown, St. Bernadettes Summer
Schoolabaloo, Mums for Missions and more. As the Show
Team Head Coach, I lead their practices, communicate
with parents, organize and attend competitions, and teach
the girls teamwork, confidence, and how to live a healthy
lifestyle, she says.
Adrianna Perdomo
ASGCO Group
Adrianna Perdomo applied through
Alejandro Perdomo of GASGO Group
and will be attending [School Name].
Perdomos service activity includes a
leadership position for HOPE (Helping
Out Peers at Epiphany) and missions to the Dominican
Republic. She also works with third grade girls to deliver
curriculum encompassing Christian virtues through
Honeybees. Leadership was never a status I pursued but
rather a reality that recurred, she says. It wasnt until my
second year of high school, when I was elected to student
council, that I assumed my fate wholeheartedly. I flourished.
It revealed the principle behind this tendency: people feed
off my passion.
Marshall Schoth
Lewis-Goetz
Marshall Schoth applied through Joseph
Schoth of Lewis-Goetz and Company and
is attending Louisiana Tech University.
Schoth has been very involved as an
underclassmen leader for the Lambda
Sigma Sophomore Honor Society, as well as the Louisiana
Tech Engineering and Science Association, Louisiana
Tech University Leadership Council and the University
Orientation Student Leaders. He has helped students arriving
to campus, participated in events to support troops overseas
and helped promote a sense of community among the
 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association
students of all engineering and science disciplines. He says
about fulfilling his potential, This perseverance I learned
from my father combined with his career involved with
industry has led me to my true calling as an engineer.
Katelyn Stanley
Baldwin Supply Company
Katelyn Stanley applied through James
Stanley of Baldwin Supply & Lightweight
Belting and will be attending the
University of Minnesota or the University
of St. Thomas. Stanley has been involved
in the National Honor Society and as well as Crow River
Soccer Club, Ysleta Lutheran Mission and the Carver County
Library. She wants to pursue law and says of her future
If I could help someone sort out a very tough situation
through law, not only would it be extremely gratifying, but it
would likely make their lives a lot brighter. After a while of
being a general prosecutor, my ultimate dream is to pursue
environmental law.
Casey Stencil
Applied Industrial Technology
Casey Stencil applied through Frederick
Stencil of Applied Industrial Technology
and will be attending Saint Josephs
University. Stencil has been a leader of
Alpha Phi Omega, where she planned
Belt Line June 2017
weekly and monthly service events, served as the captain for
the Relay for Life team, and organized community service
outreach projects in the Greater Philadelphia area. She also
participated in immersion programs in Peru and Guatemala.
She plans to study international relations. I wish to preach
that there is a world full of thousands of cultures and
languages, she said, and in order to expand international
interconnectedness, we must interact and learn with and
from each other, despite any barriers.
Sydnee Wilke
Industrial Supply Solutions Incorpo-
rated
Sydnee Wilke applied through Mark
Wilke of Industrial Supply Solutions
Inc. and is attending The Ohio State
University. Wilke has volunteered
for various political campaigns through Starboard
Communications and also worked at Lexington High
School Key Club and LICS (a local food pantry). Receiving
this scholarship would help foster the experience needed
to pursue my future career in diplomacy, said Wilke.
Being able to go to Russia and study abroad would help
me become proficient in Russian, aiding in my dream of
becoming a diplomat and working for a U.S. embassy.
7
 Annual Go for the GOLD!
Each year, NIBA The Belting Association awards educational
scholarships to children of parents employed by NIBA member companies.
Show your commitment to education contribute to the NIBA Scholarship Fund today!

Annual Go for the Gold

Highlight your collective company
contributions at the Annual Convention.

Gold 2017-18 contribution of $800 or more

Each attendee will receive a gold ribbon on their

name badge, and the company name and logo
will be projected during the general session.

Silver 2017-18 contribution between $400-$799

Each attendee will receive a silver ribbon on

their name badge, and the company name will
be projected during the general session.

Bronze 2017-18 contribution up to $399

Each attendee will receive a bronze ribbon on
their name badge, and the company name will
be projected during the general session.

Donation Amount
q I would like to make a contribution of $_______ to achieve _______________ status.*
q would like to add enough to my current contribution to bring my total to $800 to reach Gold status for 2017-18.
q Ive already reached Gold status for 2017-18 but wish to additionally contribute $_______.
*Your companys cumulative contributions count towards your overall status in the Presidents Club and towards gem levels

Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

q Check coming by mail or q Please bill my credit card (information below)
Card Number: __________________________________________________________________________Exp. Date:__________
Cardholder Name:__________________________________________________________________________________________
Cardholder Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________________

NIBAThe Belting Association

22 N Carroll St., Ste 300 Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-310-7549 Fax: 608-251-5941 staff@niba.org
 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association
MEMBER TO MEMBER
Do you have an item to contribute to NIBAs
Member to Member News? Send your Press
Releases to staff@niba.org or fill out the form
at niba.org/members/submit-news
Newsworthy Items
Flexco recently launched a new careers website at careers.
flexco.com. On the site, visitors can find out more about
the companys Great Company, Great People, Great Culture,
and Great Rewards and check out the newest available
positions.
Shingle Belting has acquired Southeastern Conveyors
Driver Pad and Driver Pad chain product lines. With this
acquisition, Shingle Belting will now offer the Southeastern
black driver pad along with the Shingle yellow driver pad.
As a result, the Shingle yellow driver pad resin has been
modified to improve its performance. The hole spacing
and alignment and the profile shape have also undergone
significant improvements.
Tribute, Inc. will be holding their annual users group
meeting, TribNet, June 23-25 at the Cleveland Marriott
Downtown at Key Center.
The 33rd users group meeting will feature guest speaker
Alicia Booker, VP of manufacturing at Cuyahoga Community
College, who will discuss strategies for working with local
agencies and educators to develop partnerships that will
benefit employers looking for skilled help in manufacturing.
The two and a half day conference will be full of training
sessions on both TrulinX and Tribute Software systems and
networking opportunities for the users. Customers say that
the informative sessions and the ability to talk with other
users of the software and meet Tribute staff face to face are
invaluable benefits of attending the conference.
New Products
ASGCO has added a Semi- Ceramic Pulley Lagging to
their pulley lagging product line, featuring 40% coverage.
The addition of this Semi-Ceramic Lagging allows ASGCO
to offer a semi-ceramic product range to provide customers
with a choice between full ceramic coverage with our
Arrowhead Ceramic Pulley Lagging for high tension
drive pulleys, as well as less than full ceramic coverage
with ASGCOs new Semi-Ceramic Lagging for smaller
pulleys, non-drive pulleys and bend pulleys. ASGCOs Almex is announcing that it has relocated its Mexican
Semi-Ceramic Pulley Lagging provides the solution when
conventional rubber lagging fails to correct belt slippage and
wears prematurely.
Belt Line June 2017
Flexco is excited to announce the release of the Impact Bed
Calculator. This tool simplifies the specification of impact
beds by allowing users to enter belt and application specs to
generate recommended impact beds. Log on to www.flexco.
com/calculators for more information.
Flexco recently announced new workshop stand solutions
for the state-of-the-art Novitool Aero Splice Press. For
easier handling in the workshop, the Aero Workshop Stand
is available for 625, 925, and 1225 press widths. Using the
stand helps improve workshop efficiency, yet the press is
easily removed from the stand for job site use.
Almex has acquired EMSYS GmbH of Marl, Germany.
EMSYS specializes in SmartWire technology for belt rip
detection and Smart powered systems for belt tracking.
EMSYS also features a unique rip detection system for fabric
belts. EMSYS systems have been installed globally at some
of the largest mining sites.
Almex has launched its new HPH line presses for conveyor
belt manufacturing. These hydraulically actuated presses
for both steel cable and fabric belt production are offered
up to 3 meters wide and 17 meters in length. Complete
turnkey belt manufacturing lines are available and can be
customized to a customers specific needs.
New Promotions
Flexco is pleased to offer the Flexco Belt Conveyor Products
(BCP) Training School Sept. 11-13 in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. Review common belt conveyor maintenance
issues such as carryback, spillage, and mistracking, while
looking at safe solutions to help increase uptime and make
your belt conveyor system more productive. Experienced
staff will show you how Flexco products can help eliminate
belt conveyor problems while demonstrating their ease of
installation and service maintenance with classroom and
hands-on training. For more information, please log on to
www.flexco.com.
New Facilities
On May 1, Almex opened a new manufacturing and
distribution facility in Huntington, West Virginia. This
facility will specialize in rubber molded parts and conveyor
components and accessories. Almex will be utilizing robotic
automation and advanced manufacturing processes to
produce in North America with competitive pricing. George
Houston will be responsible for this new facility.
operations from Mexico City to Leon. This new facility
is double the size of the previous location and will have
cranes and material handling capability for large conveyor
belt rolls. Almex will also be installing local production of
lagging products and adhesives.
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 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association

MEMBER TO MEMBER
ASGCO is proud to announce that it has relocated its Maryland office
to expand available inventory capacities and to increase capabilities.
This full branch location is staffed with service crews and stocked with
our product line and belting, with belt slitting capabilities. This new 2017 NIBA
Membership
8,000 square foot facility spans seven acres to stock more belting and
cut down on service time for our mid-Atlantic customers.

ASGCOs central location just off of Route 70, west of the Capital
Beltway provides quick access to all major corridors to give our
experienced service fleet faster response time. Our new Maryland
254 Members
location is fully stocked with a complete line of both ASGCO products 130 Distributor/Fabricator
and distributed products. In addition, this new location can provide 111 Manufacturer
belting in any belt length and width requirements.
13 Affiliate
For more information on the full ASGCO product line and services,
just visit ASGCO.com

Personnel
Flexco is proud to announce the promotion of Franklin Moore and Todd
Stewart, who will both serve as industry managers for the company.

Almex is pleased to announce that Robert Mullen has joined Shaw

Almex as the vice president, Fusion Systems. Mullen has most recently
held senior positions with ThyssenKrupp, Superior Industries and Fenner
Dunlop. Ross Currie will assume the role of vice president of business
development, Fusion Systems.

Lightweight Belting session held at Flexco

by Mike Francis, Dunham Rubber & Belting Corporation

The 2017 spring session of Key Principles and Best Practices of Lightweight Belting was held April 18-19 at Flexco in
Grand Rapids, Michigan. This was a new venue for the class as in past years it was held at Saw Almex in Georgia.

The spring class had 31 participants from distributors and manufacturers, both. This new venue offered hands-on training
covering roller lacer, staple fastener, thermoplastic finger splice, thermoset flat belt splice, and thermoset round belt
splice. Over three hours, participants worked at three stations, performing each splice and asking questions.

The Key Principles and Best Practices of Lightweight Belting class is a great opportunity for someone new to NIBA to
learn about belting design and applications. Experienced people can also gain new perspectives.

I would like to thank Beth Miller from Flexco for allowing us use of the Flexco facility, as well as the instructors Steve
Fournier from Apache Inc. and Michael VandenAkker from Sparks Belting. This class was a success because of your
efforts.

10 Belt Line June 2017

 A Publication of NIBAThe Belting Association
FAQs about the Joint Industry Summit
More information at www.nibaptda.org
MD-IDEX and Expo
Whats the PTDA MD-IDEX?
MD-IDEX, which is short for Manufacturer-Distributor Idea
Exchange, is the signature formal fast-networking event held
at the PTDA annual meeting. Traditionally, MD-IDEX is an
appointment-only event with tabletop-only product displays.
Whats the NIBA Expo?
The Expo is NIBAs traditional trade show which allows
product demonstrations, booth backdrops and other
marketing material displays.
What is the Joint MD-IDEX/Expo?
In 2017, this event will blend both the MD-IDEX style of
appointment-only fast networking with the NIBA Expo style
of traditional trade show displays. The room will be open
to all attendees between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
to browse through all exhibits. All pre-scheduled twenty-
minute MD-IDEX appointments will be conducted in the
morning hours between 8:30 a.m. -12 p.m.
What is the Joint MD-IDEX/Expo setup?
Every registered (and paid) exhibitor will be assigned one 8
by 15 booth with two 6 skirted tables-one to be used for
appointments with distributors. Each exhibitor is allowed to
decorate their booth space to meet their needs within the
exhibitor guidelines provided. Booths are assigned first-
come/first-served, based on the date and time stamp of the
booth application and processed payment.
Are NIBA members allowed to schedule appointments
during MD-IDEX?
Yes. Both NIBA and PTDA members may schedule
appointments with members of either association using the
designated online scheduling software during the allotted
scheduling time frame. Please carefully read the scheduling
policies for dates, deadlines and tutorial opportunities.
Are PTDA members allowed to bring products and set
up displays?
Yes. Both NIBA and PTDA members will be allowed to bring
products and set up displays during the Joint MD-IDEX/
Expo. Please see the policies for what is allowed.
Belt Line June 2017
Sponsorships
Does my sponsorship fee pay for the entire cost of the
event Im sponsoring?
No. Sponsorship fees do not cover the entire cost of the
event. The fee helps your association offset the event costs.
What does it mean when it says there are exclusive
sponsorships? What if I want to sponsor that event but
dont want to be the exclusive sponsor?
There is a grace period in which anyone wishing to be an
exclusive sponsor has the opportunity to do so. Sponsorships
go on sale March 1, 2017, 10 a.m. Central. Members will
have until March 31, 2017, to decide if they would like
to be the exclusive sponsor (but act fast as it is first-come,
first-served!). After March 31, the sponsorship is no longer
offered at the exclusive level. Only three sponsorships are
offered at the exclusive level the Joint Welcome Reception,
the Joint Welcome Breakfast and the Joint IML (Inspire.
Motivate. Lead.) Talks. These three events have traditionally
been the most popular to sponsor.
Why are there limits on the number of sponsors for
an event? For example, ten sponsorships are being of-
fered for the Joint Closing Reception and Dinner.
If there are too many sponsors, the sponsorship becomes
watered down. It becomes difficult for a company logo to
stand out among the crowd if there are too many logos in
one place.
Is there any way to know if a sponsorship is sold be-
fore I send in my form?
Sold sponsorships will be updated weekly on the NIBA/
PTDA Joint Industry Summit website page (NIBAPTDA.
org). Sponsorships are sold on a first-come/first-served basis
when the sponsorship is paid in full. A list of comparable
alternatives will be provided should a companys first choice
no longer be available.
Can I sponsor something thats not listed on the form?
The only sponsorships available are those listed on the
Sponsorship Opportunities form. These sponsorships
have been reviewed and approved by each associations
leadership.
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