One of the most critical factors in a folding machine is the belt system. Belts ensure that printed products are transported cleanly and aligned precisely—the fundamental requirement for a continuous, trouble-free process at high production speeds. Transport must be absolutely secure, free of smudging, and without wrinkles. For maximum cost-effectiveness, it is also crucial that belts achieve a long service life and perform their function reliably over time.
Selecting the Right Belts
Depending on the machine type, mechanical load, and operating time, various transport belts and flat belts are used. Several technical factors play a decisive role in selecting the optimal belt:
Surface Properties
The surface requires sufficient grip (coefficient of friction) to convey the paper precisely and avoid slippage during acceleration. At the same time, the coating must not mark the paper or damage its surface. Ideally, the belts should not absorb printing ink and should be resistant to adhesive residues and silicone.
Antistatic Properties
At high speeds of up to 16 m/s, friction generates significant static charges on the paper. To safely dissipate these charges to the machine frame, belts must often be antistatic or conductive. This prevents paper sheets from sticking together and eliminates the risk of dangerous sparking within the machine.
Elasticity and Stability
The inner core (the tensile member) of the belt determines its mechanical stability. By using materials such as polyamide, polyester, or aramid, belts maintain their length even under the high tension of the tensioning cylinders, which is essential for folding accuracy. Simultaneously, the belt must remain flexible enough to handle small pulley diameters without high energy loss due to flexing work. Smooth operation also prevents the belts from fluttering.
Joining Methods (End Connections)
In post-press processing, two types of joints are primarily used: the bonded wedge joint and the adhesive-free finger joint. In both cases, a homogeneous thickness at the joint is critical. Any thickening causes an impact on the paper or leads to the belt "jumping" when contacting rollers, which severely disrupts precise operation.
Influence of Paper Quality
The paper being processed is a decisive factor for belt durability. The rougher the surface or the higher the recycled fiber content, the more abrasive the material acts on the belts. This leads to faster wear of the coating. For such requirements, specially optimized, abrasion-resistant belt types should be selected.
Common Belt Types in Folding Machine Services
The mentioned alternatives are not universal 1:1 replacements. Whether a belt is suitable as an alternative always depends on the specific machine, the belt path, the speed, and the actual load.
Below you will find a selection of the most frequently used belt types in our daily practice:
- HNI-5P
- PR0-L
- TT S02.10 C
- HNI-5PE
- HAT-5E
- MNI-7E
- MAT-5P
- MNT-5P
- F-1
- MVT-6P
- MAM-5E
- MAM-04H
- ENI-5P
- MNT-8P
- S-10/15
- S-18/30
- TF-15
- TF-22
- TT 4P HC
- TT 6P HC
- UU 6E
- TTP-8E18N
- TTZ-4E10LF
HNI-5P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: Machine belts, infeed belts, folding belts
- Features: non-adhesive, consistent and gentle grip, abrasion-resistant
- Thickness: approx. 1.20 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.15 (low / sliding)
- Antistatic equipped: No
- Alternatives: TT S02.10 C; PR0-L
PR0-L
- Manufacturer: Chiorino
- Application: transport and drive belts in paper processing
- Features: high abrasion resistance, consistent friction values, good flex fatigue resistance
- Thickness: approx. 1.15 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.50 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: TT S02.10 C; HNI-5P
TT S02.10 C
- Manufacturer: Ammeraal-Beltech
- Application: machine belt for paper processing and letter sorting
- Features: elastic, high running precision, maintenance-free
- Thickness: approx. 1.00 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.40 (moderate)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: HNI-5P; PR0-L
HNI-5PE
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: folding belt, infeed and transport in folding machines
- Features: non-adhesive, high abrasion resistance
- Thickness: approx. 0.90 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.15 (low)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: TT S02.10 C; PR0-L
HAT-5E
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: paper processing belt, process belt
- Features: abrasion-resistant, constant coefficient of friction, versatile
- Thickness: approx. 1.50 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MAT-5P
MNI-7E
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: machine belt for newspaper folding units
- Features: very low elongation (polyester), suitable for high belt speeds
- Thickness: approx. 1.50 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.15 (low)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MNT-8P
MAT-5P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: machine belt, paper processing belt
- Features: abrasion-resistant, constant coefficient of friction, high grip, rough surface
- Thickness: approx. 1.40 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: HAT-5E
MNT-5P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: paper handling, folding units
- Features: medium grip, very high abrasion resistance, dimensionally stable
- Thickness: approx. 1.00 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.40 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MNI-7E
F-1
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: machine belt, paper processing belt, drive belt
- Features: abrasion-resistant, robust and versatile
- Thickness: approx. 1.25 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.50 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: S-10/15
MVT-6P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: machine belt, paper processing belt, vertical transport, steep conveying of products
- Features: abrasion-resistant
- Thickness: approx. 1.45 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.70 (very high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MAM-5E
MAM-5E
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: folding and transport belts for high-speed operation
- Features: rubber coated on both sides, polyester tensile layer, very flexible
- Thickness: approx. 1.40 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MVT-6P
MAM-04H
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: machine belt, infeed belt
- Features: abrasion-resistant, dimensionally stable, elastic, consistent grip
- Thickness: approx. 1.45 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: TF-15
ENI-5P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: process belt, folding units
- Features: abrasion-resistant (both sides)
- Thickness: approx. 1.00 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.15 (low)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: HNI-5P
MNT-8P
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: heavier paper guidance, cardboard transport
- Features: high tensile strength, thick running layer, extremely robust
- Thickness: approx. 1.80 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.45 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: MNI-7E
S-10/15
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: tangential belts, drive belts
- Features: abrasion-resistant, robust
- Thickness: approx. 1.50 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.50 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: S-18/30; F-1
S-18/30
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: heavy main drives in rotary machines
- Features: very high tensile strength, designed for high torque
- Thickness: approx. 3.00 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.50 (medium)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: S-10/15
TF-15
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: power transmission, tangential belts
- Features: polyester tensile layer, extremely smooth running, long service life at maximum speed
- Thickness: approx. 2.00 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: TF-22; MAM-5E
TF-22
- Manufacturer: Habasit
- Application: main drive and heavy folding units
- Features: dimensionally stable, energy-efficient
- Thickness: approx. 2.20 mm
- Coefficient of friction: approx. 0.60 (high)
- Antistatic equipped: Yes
- Alternatives: TF-15
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a belt type always be replaced?
No. A replacement always depends on the specific application. Factors such as pulley diameters and machine speed must be strictly considered.
Why do friction coefficients differ despite similar applications?
Surface coatings (elastomer, fabric, urethane) are optimized for different paper properties to allow either maximum grip or controlled slip.
What is the service life of belts in folding machines?
Service life varies. In dusty environments or with highly abrasive recycled paper, the lifespan decreases significantly compared to standard applications.
Ask us about the right belt for your needs or request your personalized quote.