How Eye on Belt Helps Plan Conveyor Belt Replacement
Conveyor belt wear is hard to see until it's too late. Eye on Belt technology gives maintenance teams a visual signal before failure — so replacement becomes a planned activity, not an emergency.
Why Conveyor Belt Replacement Timing Is Hard to Get Right
Conveyor belt replacement rarely happens at the right time.
Some belts are replaced while useful service life still remains. Others continue operating until excessive wear and tear forces an urgent replacement. Both situations increase costs and create unnecessary conveyor belt maintenance challenges.
The difficulty is knowing when an industrial conveyor belt is genuinely approaching the end of its service life.
The Challenge of Conveyor Belt Wear and Tear
Conveyor belt wear and tear develops gradually and often unevenly. In many operations, maintenance teams rely on periodic conveyor belt inspection and visual assessments to estimate remaining belt life.
On long conveyor systems carrying abrasive materials, this can make replacement planning difficult. By the time wear becomes clearly visible, the window for scheduling a planned replacement may already be narrowing.
What maintenance teams need is a clear indication that replacement planning should begin.
What Is Eye on Belt?
Eye on Belt is a visual conveyor belt wear indicator developed by Somi Conveyor Beltings Ltd. to help maintenance teams monitor conveyor belt wear more effectively.
A distinctly coloured skim coat layer is built into the belt beneath the top cover during manufacturing. Under normal operating conditions, this layer remains hidden. As the top cover wears through service, the coloured layer gradually becomes visible — providing a clear indication that the belt has entered its wear indication stage and replacement planning should begin.
Key Features of Eye on Conveyor Belt
- Built-in visual conveyor belt wear indicator technology
- Distinctly coloured skim coat layer beneath the top cover
- Visible wear indication during normal operation
- No sensors, software, or monitoring equipment required
- Easy visual assessment from a distance during routine conveyor belt inspection
- Integrated directly into the belt during manufacturing
Benefits for Conveyor Belt Maintenance Teams
The value of Eye on Belt goes beyond identifying wear. It helps conveyor belt maintenance teams make more informed replacement decisions and improve planning across the operation.
- Earlier visibility of conveyor belt wear and tear
- Improved replacement planning and shutdown scheduling
- Reduced risk of unexpected downtime in bulk material handling conveyor belt operations
- More efficient procurement planning
- Reduced reliance on subjective wear assessments during conveyor belt inspection
- Improved conveyor belt wear monitoring throughout the belt's service life
Available in selected SOMI Conveyor Belts
Eye on Belt is available in selected industrial conveyor belts from SOMI, designed for demanding bulk material handling applications.
M-24 Grade Conveyor Belt
The M-24 conveyor belt is one of the most widely used grades across mining, cement, steel, and power sectors. Built to handle continuous operation in demanding environments, it is exactly where passive conveyor belt wear monitoring earns its place. The M-24's proven performance in bulk material handling makes it a natural fit for Eye on Belt technology.
SAR-36 Fusion Belt
The SAR-36 Fusion Belt is an exclusively developed conveyor belt from Somi Conveyor Beltings Ltd., combining fabric belt flexibility with embedded steel wire strength. This unique wire cable inlay and fabric construction prevents cover peeling and wear — making it a strong candidate for Eye on Belt integration across industries where both durability and reliable bulk material handling are critical.
Turn Conveyor Belt replacement into a Planned Activity
Conveyor belt replacement has traditionally relied on inspection schedules, maintenance experience, and estimated service life. Eye on Belt changes that by putting a clear, visible signal directly on the belt itself.
Maintenance teams gain greater confidence in determining when replacement planning should begin — improving shutdown planning, reducing procurement pressure, and lowering the risk of reactive conveyor belt maintenance decisions.
If you are planning a conveyor belt replacement, specifying industrial conveyor belts for a new project, or looking to improve conveyor belt wear monitoring across your operation, request a quote from Somi Conveyor Beltings Ltd.