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4B Components

4B Components Ltd. specializes in the manufacture and supply of material handling and electronic components for bucket elevators and conveyors. Our extensive line of products includes: elevator buckets (plastic/metal), elevator bolts, elevator & conveyor belting, drop forged chains, level indicators, hazard monitors (speed, alignment, temperature), and emergency stop safety switches.

Founded in 1971, 4B has been an industry leader in developing high-quality, innovative, and dependable material handling components for the agricultural and industrial sectors. From elevator buckets to forged conveyor chains and level monitors to hazard monitors, 4B is a company you can rely on for the equipment you need.

4B is your professional partner for the design of new bucket elevators and conveyors and upgrades of existing machines, a design service that we offer free of charge and supported by our full guarantee. We feel that our additional services are just as important as our products themselves.

Visit us online: www.go4b.com/usa

Mission Statement:
“We optimize and protect the elevating and conveying systems of our clients in the Bulk Material Handling Industry by anticipating their needs and offering them world-class design service together with material handling and electronic components of the highest quality, value and latest technology.”

Our Brands

IBT Industrial Solutions is committed to providing the products you need, from the brands you trust. For over 75 years, IBT has represented the leading manufacturers of industrial hardware products. With our emphasis on quality, we have made an extra effort to seek out those suppliers whose products consistently meet our high standards of performance and reliability.

We proudly and confidently stand behind the products we offer, and consider them to be the best available in every product category.

Helpful tips & best practices for 4B products

Bucket Elevator Inspection

Periodic inspections of bucket elevators should be an essential part of any maintenance program. Often it is helpful to conduct these with a trusted vendor who can provide insight into solutions that go beyond just part replacement. The following are examples of common issues found during bucket elevator inspection programs conducted by 4B Components USA. This paper will provide suggestions on what to look for and explain the consequences of each issue.

Reasons for Using “Digger” Elevator Buckets

“Digger” buckets are used primarily for clearing out the build-up of material in the bottom or along the sides of the bucket elevator casing, specifically those materials that tend to absorb moisture, pack down and harden such as sand, cement, salt, sugar, animal feed and fertilizer. The abrasive nature of the products can contribute to premature wear along the front, corners and sides of standard elevator buckets and also damage or break the elevator buckets.

Reducing Drag Conveyor Downtime

An Arkansas rice mill was operating with multiple flat-bottom drag (chain) conveyors, some as long as 240 feet, using steel-bushed chain, welded steel backer flights, and UHMW paddles. Tramp material occasionally would get into the conveyors, obstructing the movement of the chain and damaging or breaking paddles. Broken paddles carried downstream would damage other pieces of equipment and cause frequent shutdowns. Learn how 4B solved this problem ...

Reasons for Using “Bottomless” Elevator Buckets

The design of “bottomless” elevator buckets is both unique and counter intuitive. However, there are three primary reasons for using “bottomless” elevator buckets. 1) To absolutely maximize bucket elevator system capacity. 2) To help reduce sticky materials from collecting in the buckets. 3) For efficiently elevating dusty materials that require extreme venting.

How to Choose the Right Elevator Bolt

Elevator bolts are characterized by their oversized flat, thin, countersunk head. When used to attach elevator buckets to belting, the thin head lies flush with the belt surface so not to interfere with the pulley. Which bolt style to choose depends on the application and the preferences of the installer. There are three common materials associated with elevator bolts: plain carbon steel, zinc plated carbon steel and stainless steel ...

Elevator Leg Troubleshooting

The centrifugal discharge bucket elevator is very popular in the grain and feed industry for elevating large quantities of bulk material quickly and cost effectively, but when issues arise, it can be difficult to identify the causes. To diagnose and troubleshoot elevator leg performance problems, it is possible to find clues by examining the plastic buckets for abnormal wear and tear ...

Reasons for Ventilating Elevator Buckets

Punching ventilation holes in the bottom of elevator buckets makes the filling and discharge of materials more efficient. This is especially true for fluffy inputs or fine powders such as flour, cement, dusts and shavings. As material enters the elevator bucket, it encounters a pillow of air trapped in the bottom of the bucket. Ventilation holes in the bottom of the bucket allow this air to escape and be replaced by the entering material.

How to Install Belts on Bucket Elevators

How Steel Web Elevator Belts & SJ Buckets Enhance Performance

With the demand for larger capacities, for more efficient and cost effective elevators to carry industrial products such as cement, 4B Components has researched, tested and supplied the industry for over the last nine years with an integrated system of steel web belting, SJ buckets and elevator designs for compact industrial elevators.

Hazard Monitoring Equipment

The dangers and risks of dust explosions in grain facilities are well established and many companies are now adopting safety measures to mitigate those risks. Hazard monitoring is a common term that describes the equipment and process of monitoring grain handling equipment and facilities for proper operation and the conditions that can lead to the creation of a heat source that can initiate an explosion.

Specifying the Right Monitoring Equipment

Slack / Broken Chain Detector

The WDA is a non-contacting extended range magnetic proximity sensor, not affected by dust or material build up, used to detect moving ferrous material from 1 to 3 inches away. One of the more specialized uses for the WDA sensor is for slack/broken chain detection when installed using one of the three options discussed in this article ...

Bucket Elevator Monitoring Systems

The correct mechanical operation of machines in any industrial environment is critical for the safety of plant, equipment and personnel. The dangers associated with incorrectly operating machines can be extremely serious when the machines are used within potentially explosive atmospheres like that found within the grain, feed and milling industries.

The Heart of Cement Production

Bucket elevators play a key role in the manufacturing process of cement. They are used for vertical transport of a wide variey of bulk materials, such as limestone, coal, petcoke, gypsum, flyash, clinker, raw meal, and finished cement. They feed silos, mills, and the heart of the cement production process: the kiln.