Conveyors
Fabric (EP/NN) vs steel-cord belting — which, and when
Reviewed August 2026
Short answer
Use fabric EP or NN belting for most plant, mobile and shorter-centre conveyors, and for breakdowns where a mechanical splice matters — it is cheaper, needs smaller pulleys and is more forgiving. Move to steel cord for long overland and high-lift conveyors where the working tension exceeds what fabric can carry, or where very low elongation and long service life justify the cost and the larger pulleys.
Both carry material; they solve different problems. Choose on the duty, not the badge.
Fabric (EP / NN)
- Rated to roughly 2000 kN/m
- Higher elongation — needs more take-up travel, but tolerates awkward geometry
- Good impact and tear resistance, especially NN/PN
- Can be mechanically fastened or vulcanised — useful for breakdowns
- Smaller pulley diameters, lower cost
Steel cord (ST)
- Rated far higher — ST 500 to ST 10000+ kN/m
- Very low elongation (typically well under 0.3%) — suits long overland with fixed take-up
- Long service life and dimensional stability
- Vulcanised splices only; larger pulleys; higher cost
- A breached cover risks cord corrosion — cover integrity matters
Decision shortcut
Short-to-medium conveyor, plant or mobile, or you need a mechanical splice for a breakdown → fabric. Long overland, high lift, high tension, or elongation is a design constraint → steel cord. If in doubt, send the conveyor profile and our engineer will run the tension case.
