AirScrape – Dust-Free Conveyor Skirting Without Belt Contact
This video introduces AirScrape®, a new conveyor skirting system by ScrapeTec that seals the belt path without touching the belt itself. Rather than pressing against the belt, AirScrape floats just above it. It prevents friction, wear, maintenance, and downtime at critical transfer points.
Design and Operating Principle
AirScrape uses a set of hardened, diagonal lamellae mounted in a floating frame. These blades create a suction effect by channeling air from the outside toward the center of the belt.
This inward airflow keeps dust and fine particles within the material stream. At the same time, larger particles that stray outward are redirected back onto the belt. Because the system does not contact the belt, there’s no abrasion or damage to the belt surface.
The skirting is installed on both sides of the belt, with a minimal gap (0 to 0.5 mm) above the belt surface. It is mounted externally on the chute and is longitudinally and laterally adjustable to match belt alignment and trough angles.
Key Benefits
- No belt contact means no friction, no wear on the skirting or the belt
- Maintenance-free design reduces ongoing servicing costs
- Less dust emission and minimized spillage at transfer points
- Longer belt life, since there is no abrasion
- Energy savings, because belt-skirt drag is eliminated
- Easy installation, often using existing mounting systems
- Continuous skirting without gaps, improving containment and safety
- Adaptable materials, including antistatic, flame-resistant, and FDA variants
Technical Specifications & Usage
AirScrape is available in several sizes (Small, Medium, Large), designed to suit belt overhangs from approximately 55 mm to over 140 mm. The lamellae are made of hardened steel or stainless steel.
The base structure uses polyurethane as a carrier material. The system is capable of operating in ambient temperatures from -30 °C up to +85 °C.
Certain design constraints apply. For example, AirScrape is not recommended for conveyor inclines above 15°. It also requires the belt to run centrally, without excessive sag in the loading zone, to maintain its sealing performance.
What You See in the Video
The video demonstrates how AirScrape operates under real conditions. You’ll see:
- The skirting hovering above the conveyor belt
- Material flow through the system with minimal dust
- How stray particles are guided back inward
- The structure mounting and the floating gap above the belt
- Close-ups of the lamellae arrangement and flow direction
These visuals help highlight the unique design that allows sealing without contact.
Why This Matters for Bulk Handling
At transfer points, dust and spilled material create cleanup efforts, wear parts, and safety hazards. Conventional belt skirting must stay in contact with the belt to work, leading to friction, abrasion, and ongoing replacement.
AirScrape avoids those issues by floating above the belt while still sealing effectively.
The system improves workplace safety, reduces maintenance, and extends belt life.
By reducing leakage and dust emissions, the installation also helps mitigate explosion risks in combustible dust environments. It fits into standard chute designs while enhancing cleanliness and system longevity.
Final Thoughts
This video offers a clear look at how AirScrape reimagines conveyor skirting. No physical contact, no wear, no maintenance. The floating design maintains cleanliness while increasing operational uptime and reducing costs.
If your system struggles with dust, spillage, belt wear, or maintenance burdens at transfer points, this solution is worth a close look.
Watch the video to see this innovative skirting system in action, understand its working principle, and visualize how it could transform your conveyor operations.
