Choosing REMA Tip Top Pulley Lagging: A Selection & Installation Guide
Choosing REMA Tip Top Pulley Lagging:
A Selection & Installation Guide
Pulley lagging sounds simple — strip the old rubber, bond on the new. In practice, the selection and the install are precision work, and they're a big part of what separates a conveyor that runs clean from one that fights slip, tracking, and premature wear. This guide walks through the REMA Tip Top range, how to pick the right type, and the install steps that make it last.
What Lagging Actually Does
Good lagging does three jobs at once. It increases traction between belt and pulley so you don't get slip at startup or under load. It protects the pulley shell, acting as a sacrificial layer against abrasion and corrosion. And it manages water and debris, using surface patterns to channel contaminants away from the grip surface. Get the selection right and all three jobs get done; get it wrong and you lose performance somewhere.
The Four Variables Behind Every Choice
- Surface pattern: smooth, diamond, chevron — determines how aggressively the lagging channels water and debris.
- Rubber compound: formulated for the environment, from dry and clean to wet, abrasive, and severe.
- Thickness: more thickness means more wear life, with a small trade in added diameter and weight.
- Durometer (Shore hardness): softer rubber grips better but wears faster; harder rubber lasts longer but can give up some traction. Matching durometer to the job is the balancing act.
The REMA Tip Top Range
Smooth Rubber (Rimalign 60 / 70)
For non-driven pulleys in dry, clean conditions with moderate traction needs. The straightforward, economical choice for return and non-critical pulleys.
Small Diamond Blanket (REMA Grip 50 / 60)
A 1-inch diamond pattern that's bi-directional, so the pulley can turn either way. Built for fabric belts under light-to-medium loads in dry conditions.
Large Diamond Blanket (Performance Grip 70)
Bigger 3.5" × 2" diamonds with wider channels to evacuate mud and debris. The workhorse for medium-to-heavy fabric and steel-cord belts in wet, muddy environments — think aggregate, recycling, mining, and construction.
Strip Lagging (13.5" wide, 33-ft rolls)
Same channel geometry and bi-directional grip as the large diamond blanket, supplied in strips that go on side by side. Far easier to handle on big pulleys or in tight spaces — and you can replace a single worn strip instead of the whole face.
Ceramic Strip (REMA Grip CKX)
92% aluminum-oxide ceramic tiles with root-tooth anchoring that locks tiles into the rubber to resist tile loss. Built for high-tension, high-abrasion, wet duty — head pulleys and long overland conveyors in the toughest conditions. A CPX variant uses smooth tiles where high grip isn't required and belt protection matters more.
A Simple Selection Framework
Work through these in order: What's the pulley's function (drive, head, return, tail)? What belt type and rating? What's the load? What's the environment? And how often will you have an access window? Match the answers to the product — don't choose by what's on the shelf or by price alone.
The Install Is Half the Product
The overwhelming majority of premature lagging failures come down to installation, not the lagging itself. The protocol is straightforward, but every step counts:
- Surface prep: remove all old rubber, rust, grease, and contaminants, then roughen to an RMA4 profile by shot blasting or grinding.
- Clean: wipe with R50 solvent to clear residual dust and oils — including the oils from bare hands — and let it dry. (After final buffing, don't re-apply solvent; it can melt microscopic rubber dust back into the bond line.)
- Prime & bond: apply PR200 primer and allow about an hour to dry; mix SC4000 adhesive with E40 hardener, apply, and allow about an hour before placing lagging.
- Measure & cut: pulley diameter plus rubber thickness, times pi, with a trim allowance.
- Seam it: choose a butt joint (clean), overlap joint (protects the leading edge), or V joint (sealed with T2 for maximum durability). Roll, hammer, and stitch seams to drive out trapped air.
Why the CN Bonding Layer Matters
Every REMA lagging carries a CN bonding layer — a partially-cured rubber layer that chemically bonds with the SC-series adhesive through cold vulcanization during install, completing its cure. The result is a stronger, more durable connection than standard lagging without it — which is exactly why correct surface prep is non-negotiable: the technology only delivers if the bond line is clean.
After It's On
Watch for slip at startup, seam separation or edge lifting, and any unusual heat or vibration. Build regular inspections into the schedule — quarterly for hard-working pulleys — so you catch wear early and plan the next service before a failure plans it for you.
Want help matching the right lagging to your conveyor — and installing it to last? Ask your Davis rep about REMA Tip Top lagging. 813-247-3620 · conveyors247.com