Conveyor Rubber Belt Standards: DIN vs. RMA

All conveyor belts adhere to several internationally accepted rubber covering grade systems. Most countries follow the German DIN 22102 grade standard. However, regional grade standards also exist. For instance, American countries typically follow the American RMA grade standard. So, what are the differences between these two standards?

RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) Standards

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) in the United States has established two standard grades for rubber conveyor belt covers: RMA-I and RMA-II.

RMA-I (17 MPa): This grade meets higher requirements for rubber stretch and elongation, offering excellent cutting and scratch resistance compared to RMA-II.
RMA-II (14 MPa): This grade is slightly less robust in terms of stretch and elongation compared to RMA-I.

ARPM (Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers)

ARPM, the successor of RMA, published their conveyor belt handbook in 2011. The ARPM standards specify two grades:

Grade 1: Tensile strength of 17 MPa, elongation at break of 400%, and volume loss of 125 mm³.
Grade 2: Tensile strength of 14 MPa, elongation at break of 400%, and volume loss of 175 mm³.

The ARPM standards have higher requirements for abrasion resistance compared to the RMA standards.

DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) Standards

The German Institute for Standardization, or DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung), formulates specifications and standards for the German industry. Established in Berlin in 1917, DIN is a highly respected non-profit organization. Many DIN standards have been converted to EN or even ISO standards. DIN standards are widely recognized and accepted in Europe and many parts of the world, particularly for abrasion-resistant conveyor belts.

Key Differences Betweeb DIN and RMA

The main differences between DIN and RMA standards are reflected in three technical parameters for rubber cover:

Tensile Strength
Elongation at Break
Abrasion Loss

DIN standards are generally stricter and more widely recognized globally, especially in terms of abrasion resistance, while RMA standards are tailored to American industry needs with a focus on stretch and elongation properties. MNSTACKER provides rubber conveyor belts for mobile conveyor and stacker conveyor in heavy duty applications.

Common Standards of Rubber Conveyor Belt

Cover Grade

Item	RMA-I	RMA-II	DIN-W	DIN-Z	DIN-Y	DIN-X
Abrasion Loss (mm³)	max. 150	max. 200	max. 90	max. 250	max. 150	max. 120
Tensile strength (Mpa)	min. 17	min. 14	min. 18	min. 15	min. 20	min. 25
Elongation at break (%)	min. 400	min. 400	min. 400	min. 350	min. 400	min. 450

Cover Grade Standard

Cover Grade	Country	Applicable Standards	Min.Tensile	Min.Elongation	Max.Abrasion
Cover Grade	Country	Applicable Standards	Strength(Mpa)	at Break(%)	Loss(mm3)
DIN-Z	Germany	DIN22102	15	350	250
DIN-Y	Germany	DIN22102	20	400	150
DIN-X	Germany	DIN22102	25	450	120
DIN-W	Germany	DIN22102	18	400	90
RMA-I	U.S.A	RMA	17	400	150
RMA-II	U.S.A	RMA	14	400	200
ARPM RMA-I	U.S.A	ARPM	17	400	125
ARPM RMA-II	U.S.A	ARPM	14	400	175
ISO-L	International	ISO -10247	15	350	200
ISO-H	International	ISO -10247	24	450	120
ISO-D	International	ISO -10247	18	400	100
AS-N	Australian	AS -1332	17	400	200
AS-M	Australian	AS -1332	24	450	125
AS-A	Australian	AS -1332	17	400	70
SANS-N	South Africa	SANS-1173	17	400	150
SANS-M	South Africa	SANS-1173	25	450	120
SANS-A	South Africa	SANS-1173	18	400	70
BS-M	UK	BS-490	24	450	120
BS-N	UK	BS-490	17	400	200
IS-N-17	India	IS 1891	17	400	200
IS-M-24	India	IS 1891	24	450	150
JIS-G	Japan	JIS-K 6332	14	400	250
JIS-L	Japan	JIS-K 6332	15	350	200
JIS-D	Japan	JIS-K 6332	18	400	100
JIS-H	Japan	JIS-K 6332	24	450	120
GB-H	China	GB/T 7984	24	450	120
GB-D	China	GB/T 7984	18	400	100
GB-L	China	GB/T 7984	15	350	200