Tech Tip: Cost Comparison of Dual Scraper vs. Primary + Secondary

One Scraper or Two? Evaluating the True Cost of Belt Cleaning

Material carryback on conveyor belts leads to increased maintenance, reduced efficiency, and higher operational costs. To combat this, Superior Industries offers multiple belt cleaning solutions, including the Exterra® Primary Belt Cleaner, Exterra Secondary Belt Cleaner, and the Exterra SFL (Set For Life) Dual Belt Scraper.

This article compares these two configurations based on upfront costs, installation, footprint, and performance-related benefits, with a focus on the cost-effective advantages of the SFL Dual Belt Scraper.

Cost Comparison of Initial Investment

Additional Considerations

Beyond the financial comparison, it’s important to weigh the practical realities of space limitations and maintenance workload. Many conveyor applications, especially stackers, transfer points, and chute-fed systems, present cramped conditions where fitting multiple cleaners can be a challenge. The SFL Dual Belt Cleaner’s single-mounting-pole design offers a significant advantage in these situations, allowing installation where separate primary and secondary units simply won’t fit.

Equally important is maintenance resources. In operations where manpower is stretched thin, systems that require frequent tension checks and adjustments add hidden costs in both time and labor. The SFL Dual Belt Cleaner minimizes these demands with its long-lasting, self-retaining tension, giving teams one less component to continually service. For sites where access is difficult or maintenance crews are already managing heavy workloads, this “set it and forget it” reliability is a practical and cost-saving differentiator.

Conclusion

The SFL Dual Belt Scraper is the smart choice for operations where space is limited or maintenance access is challenging. Its innovative single-mounting-pole design fits in tight spaces and inside chutes where other cleaners can’t, while delivering significant cost advantages—saving 15% upfront compared to purchasing separate SFL Primary and Secondary Belt Cleaners.

This streamlined configuration not only reduces purchase and installation costs but also minimizes ongoing maintenance with long-lasting tension retention, making it especially valuable for hard-to-reach applications like stacker conveyors. In short, the SFL Dual Belt Scraper delivers superior adaptability, efficiency, and cost savings in one high-performance solution.