Why the Silicone Conveyor Belt Is the Go-To Choice for High-Heat Applications!

 In modern manufacturing, the demand for precision, durability, and efficiency is higher than ever—especially in production lines where heat plays a prominent role. Whether you're baking food products, molding plastics, curing chemicals, or processing electronic components, your equipment must withstand intense thermal conditions while maintaining optimal performance. In such cases, choosing the right conveyor belt is critical to ensure production continuity and safety. Enter the Silicone Conveyor Belt — the industry’s preferred solution for high-heat applications.

At Shanghai Puteken Transmission System Co., Ltd., we specialize in industrial conveyor systems and advanced belt technologies tailored to manufacturing environments where heat, hygiene, and resilience are paramount. Among the various belt materials available, the Silicone Conveyor Belt stands out due to its exceptional thermal stability, non-stick surface, and chemical resistance — making it a perfect fit for temperature-sensitive or high-temperature operations.

Silicone Conveyor Belt

However, many plant operators and procurement professionals often overlook the importance of selecting the proper belt material. A poor choice in belt construction can lead to expensive breakdowns, throughput loss, product contamination or even damage to equipment. That's why understanding the unique advantages of silicone-coated conveyor belts can provide a significant edge in streamlining your production process.

What Is a Silicone Conveyor Belt?

A Silicone Conveyor Belt is a transmission or conveyor belt coated with a layer of silicone rubber—either on one or both sides. It is built to handle applications that require:

  • High-temperature resistance (typically from -70°C to +220°C)
  • Non-stick processing surface
  • Soft surface contact with products
  • Resistance to chemicals, oils, and microbial growth

The backbone of these belts typically consists of fabrics like glass fiber, polyester, or aramid, which enhance tensile strength and dimensional stability. Made for continuous operation under high loads and thermal loads, silicone belts excel in industries where traditional PVC, PU, or rubber belts cannot cope.

Top Benefits of Using Silicone Conveyor Belts in High-Heat Applications

1. Superior Temperature Resistance

The hallmark feature of a Silicone Conveyor Belt is its ability to perform reliably in extreme heat. Most standard belts lose their tensile strength, deform, or degrade quickly when exposed to prolonged heat. In contrast, silicone belts deliver:

  • Operational stability up to 220°C (428°F)
  • Resistance to thermal aging
  • No significant warpage or expansion under heat stress

This makes them ideal for industrial ovens, post-processing lines, drying systems, and heat tunnels.

2. Non-Stick Surface

Silicone inherently repels sticky residues such as adhesives, food substances, glues, or plastics. This non-stick property:

  • Prevents product buildup and material loss
  • Ensures cleanability and hygiene
  • Helps eliminate costly downtime for cleaning operations
  • Reduces the need for cleaning chemicals

For this reason, silicone belts are popular in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as plastic extrusion and lamination processes.

3. Chemical and Oil Resistance

Where some conveyor belts absorb oils and degrade upon contact with solvents, a Silicone Conveyor Belt maintains integrity and flexibility. They resist:

  • Industrial oils
  • Cleaning agents and alkaline cleaners
  • Food-grade lubricants
  • Chemical vapors in curing and coating environments

This resilience is critical in production lines that use lubrication, release agents, or chemical coatings.

4. Gentle Product Handling

Silicone belts offer a soft-touch surface that is perfect for handling fragile or sensitive items:

  • Laminated goods
  • Thermoformed trays
  • Blister packs
  • Heated substrates (films, seals, or polymers)

Their smooth, cushioned surface minimizes marking, warping, or scratching—making them ideal for electronics, printing, and packaging applications.

5. Hygienic and FDA-Compliant Choices

Silicone is naturally resistant to fungi and bacteria, and several food-grade silicone belts are compliant with FDA and EU food safety standards. This makes them the top belt choice for:

  1. Baking lines
  2. Dough sheeters
  3. Chocolate coating lines
  4. Ready-meal processing
  5. Conveyorized heat-sealing zones
  6. Industries That Rely on Silicone Conveyor Belts

The combination of heat resistance, a non-stick surface, and chemical resilience has made silicone belts a staple across many high-heat industries:

  • Food Processing & Baking
    Ideal for bread ovens, toaster conveyor lines, biscuit cooling, and pastry forming.
  • Textile & Nonwoven Industry
    Used for heat-setting, printing, dyeing, or thermoplastic bonding.
  • Plastics & Thermoforming
    Conveys heated sheets, thermoforms, laminated films, or parts with adhesive coatings.
  • Printing, Paper & Packaging
    Perfect for ink curing zones in UV/IR dryers, label applicators, and heat-sealing areas.
  • Electronics & SMT (Surface Mount Technology)
    Used in soldering, IR reflow ovens, and heating units for electronic boards.
  • Chemical & Pharmaceutical
    For conveying pouches, tubes, or containers through drying tunnels and heat-activation tracks.

Selecting the Right Silicone Conveyor Belt

Every application’s demands are different. When choosing the ideal Silicone Conveyor Belt, several key factors come into play:

1. Temperature Rating

  • Standard silicone belts tolerate up to 180°C
  • Advanced high-temp silicone belts reach up to 220°C+

Choose the rating that matches your sustained operating temperature, not just momentary highs.

2. Belt Thickness and Ply Count

Thicker belts support heavier loads but reduce flexibility. A typical thickness range is 1.0 to 5.0 mm, while 1-ply or 2-ply refers to strength and reinforcement layering.

3. Fabric Reinforcement

Common options include:

  • Glass fiber fabric: Great for heat and expansion control
  • Polyester fabric: Ideal for flexibility
  • Aramid (Kevlar): Used for extreme high-temp operation and dimensionally critical wear

4. Surface Coating Type

Some belts feature:

  • Smooth silicone coating for easy release
  • Textured surface for grip-oriented vertical applications
  • Fabric-inside, silicone-outside configurations for belt traction

5. Food-Safe or Industrial Use

Check for FDA/USDA certifications or specify whether your belt will contact edible products.

6. Color

Silicone belts are often available in:

  • White: For hygienic or food production
  • Red/Orange: For high-visibility and signal value
  • Blue: For diagnostics and color-coding

Customization Options at Shanghai Puteken

As a leading silicone conveyor belt manufacturer, Shanghai Puteken offers custom solutions tailored to your process:

  1. Belt widths from 50 mm to 2000 mm
  2. Endless splicing or mechanical fastener options
  3. Perforations, edge guides, or cleats
  4. Multi-zone material combinations
  5. Laser-engraved surface for better tracking or product handling
  6. Custom printing for production lines, branding, or zone alerts

Our engineering team can even reverse engineer your current system to supply compatible replacement belts.

Get Ahead with the Right Belt for the Heat

When high temperature, hygiene, and process precision are your top priorities, the Silicone Conveyor Belt offers unmatched performance and longevity. Whether you're baking bread, printing packaging, or heat-sealing pouches, silicone belts ensure reliable product handling under intense thermal demands.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What’s the maximum operating temperature for Silicone Conveyor Belts?

A: Most silicone belts perform up to 220°C continuously. For peak temperatures above this, consult with our engineers for reinforced silicone options.

Q2: Are silicone belts suitable for food-grade applications?

A: Yes. We offer belts made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone for use in bakeries, confectioneries, and meal processing plants.

Q3: Can silicone conveyor belts be spliced on site?

A: Some belts can be hot-spliced using specialized tools. However, endless pre-spliced belts provide the strongest performance and are recommended for high-torque zones.

Q4: Do silicone belts stretch over time?

A: Silicone has minimal stretch, especially when reinforced with fiberglass or aramid fabric. Proper tensioning helps avoid alignment issues.

Q5: What’s the typical shelf life of a silicone belt?

A: When stored in a cool, humidity-controlled environment, a silicone belt can be preserved for 1–2 years before installation. In-use lifespan ranges between 1 to 3 years, depending on application and care.

Q6: Can silicone belts be used with metal detectors or X-ray systems?

A: Yes. We offer metal-free and sensor-compatible belts for food and pharmaceutical processing.

Location: Fengxian District, China, 201400

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