e-art levels. “We operate some very large equipment in these belting operations and we have what we believe to be the largest belt press in the world,” says Kelley. “It is a triple-deck press capable of curing 150 feet of belt at a time. We also operate what we believe to be the longest press — a double-deck press that’s 52 feet long.
“With all that huge equipment, there’s a heavy capital investment in this business. But the most valuable assets are the people that make and sell the products and services. Our people are what really set Scandura apart from the rest of the pack. So their health and well-being are as important as any other priorities for the company. This has obvious implications for investment in workplace safety and employee development at all levels of the organization.”
With a sensitive eye toward the environment, Scandura focuses on waste reduction. “We are aggressive not only in eliminating waste at the source, but also at finding suitable uses for products we consider waste,” says Kelley. The company’s rubber trim scrap is used for practical applications such as horse fences to protect horses from getting scraped or cut. This scrap is also used in artificial reefs built with old tires. Kelley explains, “The conveyor belting is used to hold these tires together and help keep them from drifting away.”
With new challenges facing this mature industry, the company nevertheless has its sights firmly set on avenues of new growth. “We see a lot of opportunity for growth through product development and through providing additional services, particularly those that can be accessed through our Web site,” says Kelley. “There are Web-based services we intend to provide to our distributors and our end users that will help them manage their conveyor systems more effectively and more cost-effectively.”
Readers are invited to visit www.scandura.net for a first-hand look. As the conveyor belting industry experiences overcapacity and global consolidation, Scandura is facing these challenges with squared shoulders and an eye for new niches. “We have the strong financial support of the Fenner Group and we plan to take advantage of the consolidation trend by acquiring other belting companies through the help of Fenner,” says Kelley.