Belts

Optibelt Belt Selection Guide: 16 Types for Peak Industrial Efficiency

Optibelt’s product line is grouped by performance and construction: Wrapped Belts, High-Performance Maintenance-Free, Raw Edge Cogged Belts, and Kraftbands (Banded Belts).

I. Wrapped Standard & Wedge V-Belts (The Workhorses)

Wrapped belts are encased in a protective fabric layer, offering excellent wear resistance and smooth running in standard pulley grooves.

Belt Type Application How to Choose Material & Construction Comparison/Key Difference
1. Optibelt Wedge Belts to BS 3790 High-power industrial drives, fans, pumps, compressors, and general mechanical engineering. Choose for new drives requiring 50% more power than classic V-belts of the same top width. High-grade Chloroprene rubber compound, low-stretch polyester tension cord, wrapped fabric jacket. Standard Wedge Profile: Offers a higher power capacity and a more compact design than Classic V-Belts.
2. Optibelt Wedge Belts (SK Series) General industrial machinery, heavy-duty applications like stone crushers and mills. Select when replacing older V-belts (A, B, C, D profiles) for a significant power upgrade or designing cost-effective, compact drives. S=C Plus (Set Constant) feature ensures all belts in a set are match-free and low-stretch. Higher Power: Transmits approx. 50% more power than a classic V-belt, adhering to DIN/ISO standards.
5. Optibelt VB / VB-LC V-Belts to BS3790 Versatile, general-purpose drives, older equipment, agricultural machinery, and V-flat drives. Ideal for drives needing a reliable, traditional belt or when standardized replacement according to BS/DIN is required. Rubber core, polyester cord, high-quality fabric wrap. Available in classic profiles (Z, A, B, C, D, E). Classic V-Belt: The original drive belt standard. Lower power capacity and larger drive footprint compared to Wedge Belts.
6. Optibelt LD Light Duty V-Belts Light-duty industrial use, fractional horsepower (FHP) motors, domestic appliances, and small machines. Use for low-power requirements where cost-efficiency and flexibility are prioritized over maximum power density. Standard rubber and cord construction suitable for lower loads. Lower Load Capacity: Specifically for FHP or light-duty drives where heat buildup and extreme loads are not a factor.

II. High-Performance & Raw Edge Cogged Belts (Maximum Power & Efficiency)

These belts feature raw-edge construction (no fabric wrap on the flanks) and often have cogs for enhanced flexibility and power transmission.

Belt Type Application How to Choose Material & Construction Comparison/Key Difference
3. Optibelt RED POWER II High Performance Wedge Belts Heavy-duty machine building, compressors, high-shock drives. Drives where re-tensioning is difficult or costly. Choose for maintenance-free operation. Provides up to 50% higher performance than standard Wedge Belts and requires no re-tensioning over its entire service life. High-grade EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber. Special Polyester tension cord with low-stretch treatment. Maintenance-free (M=S and Set-Constant). Maintenance-Free (Polyester): High power, exceptionally low maintenance, and 97% efficiency. Excellent price/performance ratio.
4. Optibelt BLUE POWER High Performance Wedge Belts Extremely high-power density applications, limited space, high temperature environments, and drives with sudden high impact loads. Select when the absolute highest power output is required, often allowing the use of one less belt or smaller pulleys. High-grade Chloroprene rubber compound. Aramid tension cord—offering extremely low stretch and almost twice the breaking strength of polyester cords. Ultimate Power (Aramid): The strongest Optibelt V-belt. Higher initial investment, justified by maximum power transmission capacity and minimal stretch due to the Aramid cord.
7. Optibelt Super X-POWER M=S Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Wedge Belts Compact drives, small pulley diameters, high-speed applications. Choose when needing the performance of a wedge belt combined with the flexibility and heat dissipation of cogs. Raw edge, moulded cogged profile. EPDM or Chloroprene rubber. M=S (Matchable Set) for set installation. Cogged Wedge: Combines the high power of a Wedge profile with the flexibility/heat reduction of a cogged design.
8. Optibelt SUPER TX M=S Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge V-Belts Drives requiring improved flexibility over classic wrapped V-belts, smaller pulley diameters (for A, B, C profiles). Ideal replacement for classic V-belts on drives with smaller pulley diameters or higher speeds, ensuring cooler running. Raw edge, moulded cogged classic V-belt profile (ZX, AX, BX, CX). M=S (Matchable Set). Cogged Classic V: Offers greater flexibility and heat dissipation than the wrapped VB belt while still matching the classic profile standards.
9. Optibelt SUPER VX Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Variable Speed Belts Variable speed drives (VSD) and specific industrial machinery requiring precise speed ratio adjustments via variable pitch pulleys. Select based on the geometric requirements (width and top width) of the variable speed pulley system. Special compound rubber designed to handle the high lateral pressure and friction characteristic of VSDs. Raw-edge, moulded cogged construction. Variable Speed Specific: Designed with a wider top width and thinner cross-section to smoothly operate in adjustable V-groove pulleys.

III. Kraftbands (Banded Belts) & Specialty Belts

Kraftbands are multiple V-belts joined by a high-strength, non-separating top band, solving drive instability issues. Specialty belts address unique application needs, primarily conveying.

Belt Type Application How to Choose Material & Construction Comparison/Key Difference
10. Optibelt KB Kraftbads with Wedge Belts Drives prone to high pulsating loads, strong vibration, high center distances, or vertical shafts, where individual belts may whip or turn over. Use the Kraftband version that corresponds to the required power profile (e.g., Wedge Belt profile). Multiple standard wrapped Wedge Belts (SK) connected by a highly durable jointed top plate. Solves Instability: Prevents single belts from whipping, jumping, or turning over in the grooves.
11. Optibelt KB RED POWER II Kraftbands with High Performance Wedge Belts Heavy-duty, high-shock drives that require maintenance-free operation and drive stability. Choose for stable, maintenance-free, high-power drives in challenging environments (e.g., large crushers, presses). Multiple RED POWER II belts connected by a top band. Inherits the maintenance-free, high-power features. Banded Maintenance-Free: Adds stability to the highest-performing, maintenance-free wrapped belt.
12. Optibelt BLUE POWER Kraftbands with High Performance Wedge Belts Drives requiring the ultimate combination of stability, extreme power transmission, and virtually zero stretch. Select for critical, high-load drives where downtime is unacceptable and maximum reliability is paramount. Multiple BLUE POWER belts (Aramid cord) connected by a top band. Inherits the extreme low-stretch performance. Banded Aramid Power: Combines the highest strength and lowest-stretch construction with maximum drive stability.
13. Optibelt KB Kraftbands with Classical V-Belts Stable drives for large, classic V-belt applications, such as large agricultural machinery or older heavy equipment. Use for stability on high center distance drives where classic VB profiles (A, B, C, D) are specified. Multiple classic VB V-belts connected by a top band. Banded Classic V: Stability solution for traditional, standard-power drives.
14. Optibelt SUPER KBX-POWER Kraftbands with Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Wedge Belts Stable, high-power drives with small pulley diameters and high speeds. Select for drives requiring stability and enhanced flexibility/heat dissipation (cogged design). Multiple SUPER X-POWER M=S raw edge cogged belts connected by a top band. Banded Cogged Wedge: Offers stability and high flexibility, making it suitable for more compact, high-speed, dynamic applications.
15. Optibelt PKR Endless V-Belts with Special Top Surfaces Conveyor and processing applications (e.g., printing, textiles, packaging) where friction, grip, or specific surface characteristics are needed. Choose based on the required friction coefficient or surface pattern for the transported material. Standard V-belt core with a specialized, often patterned, rubber, PVC, or polyurethane top surface. Conveying Functionality: The V-profile transmits power, while the top surface transports or grips the product.
16. Optibelt KB Kraftbands with Special Top Surfaces Conveyor applications with high transverse force, vibration, or where a single-belt conveyor solution is unstable. Select for demanding, stable transport systems requiring high-friction or special surface handling. Multiple PKR belts (Special Top Surface) connected by a top band. Stable Conveyor: Offers the benefits of the special surface with the stability of a Kraftband.

How to Choose Your Optibelt: The Selection Process

To select the correct belt for your industrial needs in India, consider the following hierarchy:

  1. Power Requirement:
    • Light Duty: Use LD Light Duty.
    • Standard Power/Legacy: Use VB/VB-LC (Classic V-Belt).
    • High Power/New Drive: Use standard Wedge Belts (SK).
    • Maximum Power: Use RED POWER II or BLUE POWER (for Aramid strength).
  2. Drive Dynamics (Whip/Vibration): If the drive suffers from pulsating loads, high center distances, or vertical shafts, choose the corresponding KB Kraftband version (e.g., KB RED POWER II).
  3. Flexibility/Heat: If the drive has small pulleys or high speeds, opt for the Raw Edge, Cogged versions (SUPER X-POWER or SUPER TX) for reduced heat buildup and enhanced service life.
  4. Special Function: If the belt needs to grip or transport goods, choose the PKR or KB with Special Top Surfaces line.

Material & Technology: The Optibelt Advantage

Technology Material Benefit
S=C Plus (Set Constant) Polyester/Chloroprene Belts are matched and can be used in sets without measuring. Ensures equal load sharing.
Maintenance-Free EPDM Rubber, Special Polyester Cord Requires no re-tensioning during its service life, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
BLUE POWER Cord Aramid Highest tensile strength, virtually zero stretch, maximum power density.
M=S (Matchable Set) Rubber/Cord Ensures reliable usage in sets, especially for cogged, raw-edge belts.

Optibelt

Types of Optibelt

  1. Optibelt Wedge Belts to BS 3790
  2. Optibelt Wedge Belts
  3. Optibelt RED POWER II High Performance Wedge Belts
  4. Optibelt BLUE POWER High Performance Wedge Belts
  5. Optibelt VB / VB-LC  V-Belts to BS3790
  6. Optibelt LD Light Duty V-Belts
  7. Optibelt Super X-POWER M=S Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Wedge Belts
  8. Optibelt SUPER TX M=S Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge V-Belts
  9. Optibelt SUPER VX Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Variable Speed Belts
  10. Optibelt KB Kraftbads with Wedge Belts
  11. Optibelt KB RED POWER II Kraftbands with High Performance Wedge Belts
  12. Optibelt BLUE POWER Kraftbands with High Performance Wedge Belts
  13. Optibelt KB Kraftbands with Classical V-Belts
  14. Optibelt SUPER KBX-POWER Kraftbands with Moulded Cogged, Raw Edge Wedge Belts
  15. Optibelt PKR Endless V-Belts with Special Top Surfaces
  16. Optibelt KB Kraftbands with Special Top Surfaces
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