A major environmental services company in Singapore faced ongoing issues with wet sludge accumulating on its conveyor belts. This buildup caused frequent downtime, manual cleaning, and higher labour demands, while also resulting in loss of material.

To address these challenges, SLS Bearings, in partnership with Flexco Singapore, implemented the Flexco EZOE Belt Cleaner — a robust conveyor belt cleaner engineered to handle wet, sticky materials used in various industries and applications. The Flexco EZOE Belt Cleaner meets market demands for innovative and efficient cleaning solutions, helping companies maintain a competitive edge.

In waste processing operations, sludge carryback was a recurring problem, leading to belt contamination and increased maintenance. Sludge often accumulated at the head pulley and other critical points in the conveyor system and made these areas particularly challenging to keep clean.

Key issues included:

• Persistent sludge accumulation on return belts and in the area around the head pulley.
• Repetitive manual cleaning tasks that increased workload and downtime.

The company needed a durable and low-maintenance industrial belt cleaner that could operate effectively in industrial environments.

The SLS Bearings technical team collaborated with Flexco Singapore to evaluate site conditions and identify the best-performing belt-cleaning solution. During the evaluation, the team determined that the EZOE Belt Cleaner was the optimal belt cleaner solution based on key features such as its innovative designs, high cleaning efficiency, and robust structure. 

Prior to installation, the SLS Bearings team conducted joint assessments with Flexco Singapore to analyse each conveyor line’s operating conditions and sludge behaviour. These assessments helped the teams understand the extent of the carryback, belt alignment, and environmental factors affecting performance, enabling them to recommend a suitable conveyor belt cleaning system solution that integrates conveyor belt systems and brush components for enhanced cleaning efficiency across a variety of belt sizes and speeds. Advanced conveyor belt cleaning systems were integrated across different conveyors in the facility, ensuring high standards of hygiene and operational efficiency.

Following the evaluations, SLS Bearings implemented the Flexco EZOE Belt Cleaner across multiple conveyor lines. During installation, the SLS and Flexco technical teams provided full on-site support, ensuring optimal setup, correct blade tension, and smooth operation. The teams jointly monitored the belt cleaning system’s performance over the initial period, focusing on carryback reduction, belt wear, and ease of maintenance.

The results demonstrated clear performance improvements, leading the client to expand the solution across additional lines. SLS Bearings continued to provide after-sales support and periodic checks to ensure consistent operation, helping the customer maintain efficient, cleaner, and safer conveyor systems with a fully integrated system that reduces maintenance needs. 

The EZOE Belt Cleaner delivered immediate improvements. Sludge buildup and carryback along the conveyor return path decreased sharply, keeping belts cleaner and reducing spillage. These conveyor belt cleaning systems not only minimised carryback but also reduced dust accumulation, helping to maintain a safer work environment and lowering the risk of slips and airborne particles.

The customer reported that the belt cleaners:

• Improved efficiency and productivity due to shorter cleaning cycles and lower manual workload, which also helped reduce energy costs and extend the life of the conveyor belt systems.
• Enhanced workplace safety and cleanliness as workers spent less time near moving components, with less dust present and a safer work environment overall.

“The new belt cleaners have made a notable difference in our operations. The sludge carryback is much less, and our team spends less time having to clean up the lines. This has improved efficiency and eased our daily workload,” noted the client.

In addition, the conveyor belt cleaning system’s simplicity and reliability also contributed to better uptime and overall cost efficiency, improving the client’s productivity and working environment. The reduction in material loss and spillage further protected product value and minimsed loss.

The success of this case study was built on close teamwork between SLS Bearings, Flexco Singapore, and the client’s maintenance team. SLS provided end-to-end support from assessment to installation and post-project evaluation. This was to ensure that the EZOE Belt Cleaner delivered consistent, long-term results.

Through this collaboration, SLS Bearings demonstrated its commitment to helping customers overcome challenging industrial problems with durable, high-performance conveyor belt cleaning solutions. By leveraging Flexco’s reliable belt-cleaning technology, SLS helped the client achieved cleaner conveyor belts, reduced downtime, and safer, more efficient operations.

Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you enhance performance and efficiency in your industrial processes today.