Maintenance Tips for Extending the Life of Your Conveyor System

May 13, 2025

If you want to extend the life of your conveyor, you have to make sure you’re properly maintaining it. Conveyors are no different from any piece of capital equipment or major investment — they require proper maintenance if you want to maximize their return on investment and eliminate costly unplanned downtime.

In this post, we’ll explain the importance of conveyor maintenance and offer tips to help extend the life of your conveyor system. Read on to learn more or contact A-Lined today:

Importance of Regular Conveyor Maintenance

Routine conveyor maintenance is important for:

  • Extending equipment life
  • Improving conveyor safety
  • Reducing downtime
  • Saving money on costly repairs

Routine conveyor maintenance all comes down to reduced costs and extended lifetimes. For instance, when routine maintenance is performed, any potential issues can be easily caught and repaired before they become big, expensive ones. Additionally, routine maintenance minimizes the risk of unplanned downtime, which can kill productivity and squash profits. Finally, a conveyor that runs better also operates more effectively, which can streamline productivity and improve efficient operations.

Conducting Routine Inspections

Conveyors require daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance. It’s also a good idea to conduct routine inspections of the conveyor system to help catch any issues that could hamper productivity and lead to downtime. Some of the key components you’ll want to pay specific attention to are the belts, rollers, motors, and bearings. Some of the common signs of wear and tear include:

  • Rips and tears in the conveyor belt
  • Frayed or worn edges
  • Belt misalignment
  • Debris buildup on the belt
  • Worn rollers
  • Rattling or scraping sounds
  • Rust or corrosion

Lubrication and Cleaning Best Practices

Lubrication helps reduce friction and wear on the conveyor belt. While you should always refer to the manufacturer of your conveyor for proper lubrication intervals, consider that conveyors generally require lubrication to continue to operate effectively every 100 to 200 hours of usage.

Conveyor cleaning should also be incorporated into your weekly or monthly maintenance routine.

Identifying and Troubleshooting Common Conveyor Issues

We already ticked off some common signs of conveyor issues earlier in this post, but some of the problems that tend to cause more widespread disruption include misalignment and belt tracking issues, problems with the motor, and excessive noise and vibration when the conveyor is operating. Here’s more info:

  • For the conveyor to work properly, the belt has to be aligned. A misaligned belt is going to lead to uneven belt wear and increase the energy it requires to operate. Make sure you’re regularly inspecting belt alignment and realigning as necessary.
  • Problems with the conveyor motor are fairly easy to identify. The best way to avoid motor issues is with preventative maintenance and regular inspections. Proper lubrication, replacing worn or damaged parts in a timely manner, and following conveyor best practices (i.e., not overloading the conveyor) are other best practices.
  • Conveyor noise and vibration can result in accelerated wear and tear of conveyor components. Proper lubrication, load optimization and installing dampeners can help reduce noise and vibration.

Preventative Maintenance Strategies to Reduce Downtime

As we’ve noted throughout this piece, preventative maintenance is key to ensuring your conveyor works better for longer. Some preventative maintenance strategies to implement include:

  • Establishing a maintenance plan and sticking to it.
  • Using predictive maintenance technologies to help you stay on track with maintenance and identify issues.
  • Training your staff on proper operation and maintenance procedures.

When to Repair vs. When to Replace Conveyor Components

There comes a time when conveyors will reach the end of their functional life. When this occurs, it tends to make more sense to replace them rather than continue to fund repairs.

It’s important to evaluate repair versus replacement costs when it comes to your conveyor to ensure you’re getting the best value. For example, repairing is likely to be cheaper, but may not be more cost-effective long-term if repairs become too frequent.

Some signs to look for or take note of that could indicate systems are beyond repair include:

  • Your conveyor system is outdated, and parts are either no longer available or your conveyor is not as efficient as newer models.
  • Maintenance and repairs are becoming too frequent or intensive.
  • Your needs have changed, and your current conveyor is no longer the best solution.

Final Tips for Maximizing Conveyor System Lifespan

Maximizing your conveyor system’s lifespan by putting the time and effort into it. You’re going to get out of it what you put into it. On that note, keep maintenance logs and track its performance, work with professionals as needed to assess the system and make repairs, and stay up to date with the industry’s best practices.

Contact A-Lined Today

For more information on maintenance tips for extending the life of your conveyor system, contact A-Lined today.

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