Habasit opens modular belt innovation centre in Switzerland

Habasit has just opened a new European “Modular Belt Innovation Centre” at its headquarters in Reinach near Basel (Switzerland), which will bring further efficiencies and cost benefits to the UK food, pharmaceutical and D.I.Y industries.

Its new building accommodates state of the art testing facilities for developing new customer solutions using HabasitLINK®, KVP plastic modular and also more traditional fabric belting. Tests include investigating the characteristics and strengths of specific belts and developing new solutions for the different UK conveyor markets.

The Modular Bet Innovation Centre also undertakes more general research such as how plastic modular belts can operate smoothly in the tightest of spaces and the development of new environmentally friendly solutions. These include creating new cleaning concepts, which cannot only clean belting more efficiently, but also cut water consumption by up to 50%.

Swiss owned, the company has used the latest technology to set up the modern test centre and this will create the optimum environment for further research and development in modular belts.

During the opening of the Centre, a completely new plastic modular belt was also launched. This belt is ideal for tight transfers, enabling small products to be safely conveyed from one belt or process activity to another. Damages and losses are minimised, which makes it ideal for a range of UK industries.

Ongoing success at the Habasit Rossi UK division, based in West Yorkshire, is attributed to its ability to innovate. This has made it possible to develop an extensive range of solutions, from fabric based conveyor and processing belts to HabasitLINK® plastic modular belts and HabaSYNC® timing belts, enabling customers to choose the best possible solution whatever their application.

UK based HabasitLINK business development manager, Glen Wilson adds: “The opening of the innovation centre builds on our global company profile which is recognised by our attention to detail. State-of-the-art research can now be undertaken on behalf of all UK customers to ensure that any special belting requirements are tested in advance to ensure they meet the customer's precise requirement.”

Habasit has a continual investment programme allowing its customers to always stay one step ahead – in production efficiency, energy and resource use, employee safety and hygiene. The company is the world leader in the manufacture of belts for power transmission, conveyor and processing belts for the food, textile, wood, paper, postal, materials handling and automotive industries.

Background information on Habasit Rossi Limited:

Habasit Rossi Limited was formed following the joining together of the successful companies of Habasit UK Limited and Rossi Gearmotors Ltd earlier this year.

The UK Habasit division of the company is based in Silsden near Keighley and is the market leader in lightweight conveyor belting. The Habasit product range includes fabric conveyor and processing belts, plastic modular belting, power transmission belts, machine tapes, seamless belts, round belts, timing belts and accessories. Customers sectors covered include food, print & paper, postal, wood, materials handling and airports.

The UK Rossi division offers a complementary range of gearmotors and gear reducers, which it has marketed in the UK and Ireland for over 25 years. The division is based in Exhall, Coventry and employs an experienced strong technical direct sales team, an internal sales support team and engineers. The Rossi division has had significant success in a wide range of applications and markets, such as conveyors, mixers & agitators, leisure rides, quarrying, machine tools, food processing automotives, cooling towers, the cement industry and numerous related sectors.

With the bringing together of Habasit UK Limited and Rossi Gearmotors Ltd the company's aim is to offer an unrivalled range of products and exceptional customer service.

Habasit Rossi Ltd,
Habegger House,
Keighley Road,
Silsden,
Keighley
West Yorkshire, BD20 0EA
Telephone 0870 835 9555
Fax 0870 120 5544
Web: www.habasitrossi.co.uk