Control Dust, Debris, Sealing & Contact

Not every industrial brush needs to rotate, sweep a floor or sit in someone's hand. Industrial Brushware strip brushes create a controlled line of brush contact along machinery, openings, conveyors & equipment where cleaning, sealing, guarding, containment or controlled surface contact is required.

The right strip starts with the installation rather than appearance alone. Industrial Brushware manufactures rigid & flexible strip brushes across different backing materials, filament configurations, dimensions & profiles. Explore Industrial Brushware | Brushes for the wider brush range or use Testing & Measurement Tools when checking an existing strip, holder or installation before replacement.

A few measurements can completely change the specification. Backing type, strip width, bristle height, filament, holder, shape, contact pressure & operating environment all need to work together once the brush is installed.

What Are Industrial Brushware Strip Brushes?

Strip brushes arrange filament along a continuous backing to create a defined brushing edge. This format allows the brush to be positioned along machinery, conveyors, doors, openings, guards & specialist industrial assemblies.

Industrial Brushware's specialist range includes:

► Rigid-back strip brushes
► Flexible-back strip brushes
► Hard-poly backed strip brushes
► Galvanised metal-backed strip brushes
► Stainless steel-backed strip brushes
► Extruded flexible strip brushes
► Staple-set flexible strip brushes
► Straight configurations
► Formed & custom configurations

Rigid & flexible construction solve different installation challenges. A straight supported run may favour rigid construction, while curved or irregular profiles can create a stronger case for a flexible strip design.

Industrial Brushware also manufactures specialist brushes for OEM, engineering & industrial requirements, allowing strip construction to be considered as part of a broader application rather than simply as an off-the-shelf cleaning brush.

Why Choose Industrial Brushware Strip Brushes?

Some of the most useful strip-brush jobs don't look much like conventional brushing. A correctly specified strip can create a controlled interface between surfaces, moving components or adjoining areas.

Depending on the brush construction & application, strip brushes may be used for:

► Conveyor cleaning
► Machine guarding
► Door sealing
► Cable sealing
► Pest control
► Spray suppression
► Dust containment
► Printing equipment
► Food-processing equipment
► Pharmaceutical applications
► Bottling plants
► Restricted-access installations

Stationary construction also makes strip brushes useful where rotating equipment isn't required. The working edge can remain fixed while material, machinery, doors or other components move past it.

Adaptability is the real advantage. Dimensions, backing, filament & configuration can be selected around the required function instead of trying to make a general-purpose brush behave like a specialist component.

Common Applications

A strip brush can spend its working life almost unnoticed while repeatedly controlling whatever passes its edge.

Industrial Brushware identifies strip-brush applications across:

► Manufacturing
► Mining
► Food processing
► Bottling
► Printing
► Pharmaceutical operations
► Conveyor systems
► Machine guarding
► Pest control
► Spray suppression
► Door & cable sealing
► Automated machinery

Conveyor systems demonstrate why specification matters. The brush may need to contact a moving surface, manage debris or help contain material while remaining accurately positioned around operating equipment.

For workshop teams servicing these assemblies, Hand Tools can support the wider removal, adjustment & installation toolkit.

Product Selection Guide

Define What the Strip Brush Has to Do?

Start with the problem rather than the brush catalogue.

Is the strip intended to:

► Clean
► Wipe
► Seal
► Guide
► Guard
► Contain dust
► Suppress spray
► Exclude pests
► Contact a moving surface
► Close an opening

A cleaning strip & a sealing strip can share a similar basic form while needing very different working characteristics. Defining the primary function gives the rest of the selection process a clear direction.

Decide Between Rigid & Flexible Construction

Does the installation stay straight or follow the equipment around a changing profile?

Rigid strip brushes can suit straight lengths & manufactured forms, while flexible strip brushes are designed for applications requiring greater ability to follow curves or contours.

Industrial Brushware's extruded flexible strip construction uses polypropylene or nylon backing & can accommodate profiles that may be difficult to achieve with conventional rigid metal-backed designs.

Flexibility isn't automatically an upgrade. Choose it because the geometry or application calls for it.

Match the Backing to the Brush Assembly

The working filament gets noticed first, but the backing determines how that filament is carried.

Industrial Brushware's rigid strip-brush range includes:

► Hard polypropylene backing
► Galvanised metal backing
► Stainless steel backing

Hard-poly versions fuse the filament into an extruded polypropylene backing without metal components in the backing.

Metal-backed versions retain the brush material within a continuous metal channel.

Treat backing selection as part of the complete strip specification. Existing hardware, environment, brush construction & intended application all need consideration.

For a closer look at this component of the assembly, see Industrial Brushware | Backings.

Get the Strip Width Right

“About the same size” isn't a useful measurement when the strip needs to enter a particular holder.

Industrial Brushware publishes rigid strip widths including:

► 3.2 mm
► 5.0 mm
► 8.0 mm
► 12 mm
► 14 mm

Measure the existing strip accurately or work from a confirmed specification. Several available profiles sit only millimetres apart.

Check the Holder Before Ordering the Strip

A replacement brush isn't much use if it can't be installed into the hardware waiting for it.

Industrial Brushware publishes custom aluminium holders for compatible:

► 3.2 mm strip brushes
► 5 mm strip brushes
► 8 mm strip brushes
► 12 mm strip brushes

Fabricated holders can also be produced for suitable specialist requirements.

Don't extend that compatibility statement to every strip size automatically. Confirm the specific strip-to-holder combination required for the installation.

Where mechanical fixings form part of the surrounding assembly, Bolts & Fasteners can support broader maintenance & fitment requirements.

Measure Bristle Height From the Contact Point

The important dimension isn't simply how long the bristles look on the bench — it's where they sit once installed.

Industrial Brushware publishes rigid strip-brush bristle lengths ranging from 10 mm up to 1000 mm, depending on application & specification.

Its extruded flexible strip brushes can be produced with bristle heights from 10 mm to 300 mm, depending on the required bristle thickness.

When specifying reach, consider:

► Working contact point
► Required deflection
► Available clearance
► Equipment movement
► Existing brush dimensions
► Surrounding components

A wide manufacturing range doesn't mean longer is better. The filament needs to meet the work correctly once the strip is in position.

Select Filament Around the Contact Task

The backing gets the strip into place. The filament determines what happens there.

Industrial Brushware works with a broad range of brush materials across its specialist manufacturing operations, including:

► Synthetic fibres
► Natural fibres
► Hair
► Abrasive materials
► Wire

Selection can depend on:

► Surface being contacted
► Required brushing action
► Surface sensitivity
► Debris or contamination
► Operating environment
► Existing equipment specification

Don't specify filament from the backing alone. Two strips with similar dimensions can perform very different jobs depending on the working material carried by the strip.

Think About Brush Density

A tightly packed brush isn't automatically the best-performing brush.

Filament density can influence how the strip interacts with:

► Airflow
► Dust
► Debris
► Surfaces
► Vacuum systems
► Spray
► Moving products

Industrial Brushware's staple-set flexible strip brushes can be particularly useful where containment is required while allowing airflow in suitable vacuum applications.

The objective should determine the density — not how substantial the brush looks in your hand.

Use Flexible Strips Where the Profile Demands It?

Curves change the installation before they change anything else.

Flexible strip construction may suit applications that need to:

► Follow curved equipment
► Wrap around a profile
► Form a continuous brush edge
► Navigate irregular geometry
► Maintain contact around shaped assemblies

Industrial Brushware states that its extruded flexible strip brushes can be produced in continuous lengths up to 250 metres, while staple-set flexible versions can be manufactured in coils up to 120 metres.

Long continuous lengths can reduce the need to construct suitable installations from numerous short sections.

Decide Whether the Brush Should Be Straight, Formed or Continuous

The old strip lying on the workshop bench may not reveal the shape it held inside the machine.

Before removal, establish whether the installation uses:

► Straight sections
► Multiple joined sections
► Curved sections
► Formed profiles
► Continuous lengths
► Custom shapes
► Holder-mounted strips

Industrial Brushware can manufacture rigid strip brushes in straight lengths or manipulate them during production into different shapes & sizes.

Take photographs before dismantling anything unusual. Shape, direction & orientation are easier to reproduce when you have a record of the original installation.

Measure the Entire Assembly

Backing width is only one line on the specification.

Record:

► Overall strip length
► Bristle height
► Backing width
► Holder length
► Number of sections
► Section positions
► Gaps where applicable
► Total installation span

Multiple strips can work together as one brushing edge. Measure both the individual components & the complete installed arrangement.

Allow for Movement, Not Just Static Clearance

A strip that looks perfectly positioned while the machine is isolated may behave very differently once production starts.

Consider movement from:

► Conveyors
► Doors
► Guards
► Products
► Machinery
► Vibration
► Adjacent components

Assess the operating position rather than relying solely on stationary measurements. Follow the equipment manufacturer's requirements when establishing safe working clearances.

Specify Sealing Brushes Around What You're Controlling?

A brush seal isn't intended to behave like a solid panel. That controlled flexibility can be the reason it works.

Suitable strip-brush configurations may help manage:

► Dust
► Draughts
► Spray
► Debris
► Pest entry
► Openings around moving components
► Door gaps
► Cable penetrations

Identify what needs to stay in, stay out or pass through before deciding on filament height, density & flexibility.

Treat Conveyor Contact as a Working Adjustment

Too little contact may achieve nothing. Too much can create another problem.

When a strip interacts with conveyor equipment, assess:

► Belt direction
► Brush position
► Contact point
► Bristle deflection
► Material being carried
► Debris path
► Adjustment access
► Replacement access

Never make brush adjustments around operating machinery unless the equipment design & approved procedure specifically permit it. Follow workplace isolation requirements & equipment instructions.

Read the Wear Pattern Before Throwing the Old Strip Away

Uneven bristles can be evidence rather than rubbish.

Abnormal wear may point towards:

► Misalignment
► Excessive contact
► Uneven mounting
► Inadequate support
► Equipment movement
► Localised contamination
► Incorrect positioning

If the old strip has failed unusually, investigate before duplicating the setup. A new brush shouldn't be asked to inherit an unresolved installation problem.

Factor In the Working Environment

Dry indoor machinery & regularly washed equipment don't place the same demands on brush components.

Consider exposure to:

► Moisture
► Chemicals
► Dust
► Heat
► Outdoor conditions
► Washdown
► Corrosive environments
► Process-specific requirements

Where chemicals or cleaning products are involved, check compatibility against the relevant product information. How to Read a Safety Data Sheet - A Quick Guide for Workshop Operators explains how to interpret key workplace chemical information.

Plan for the Next Service Before Finishing This Installation

If a strip is awkward to inspect today, it won't become easier when it's worn out.

Consider future access to:

► Holders
► Fasteners
► Guards
► Adjustment points
► Cleaning areas
► Removal paths
► Nearby machinery

Maintenance access belongs in the installation decision. A serviceable arrangement can reduce unnecessary dismantling at the next inspection.

Keep Spare Strips Identifiable

Several lengths of brush on a storeroom shelf can look remarkably similar six months after they were ordered.

Useful identification can include:

► Equipment reference
► Installation position
► Backing material
► Strip width
► Bristle height
► Filament
► Overall length

Tools Storage & Organization can help keep spare components, measuring equipment & maintenance tools organised between service intervals.

Put Machinery Safety Ahead of Brush Replacement

The strip may be stationary in your hand. The equipment it belongs to can contain moving parts, stored energy & restricted access.

Before inspection, adjustment or replacement, consider:

► Isolation requirements
► Stored energy
► Conveyor movement
► Pinch points
► Guards
► Sharp components
► Restricted access
► Site procedures

Work Safety Protections supports broader PPE requirements for suitable industrial installation & maintenance tasks.

Follow workplace procedures & the equipment manufacturer's instructions before working around machinery.

Expert Tips

► Define the primary function. Cleaning, sealing, containment & guarding create different specifications.
► Measure the strip instead of estimating. Millimetres matter when holders are involved.
► Record the backing material. Hard poly, galvanised & stainless constructions shouldn't be treated as interchangeable.
► Measure bristle height from where it works. Installed reach matters more than appearance on the bench.
► Check rigid versus flexible construction. Let the geometry make the decision.
► Inspect the holder before fitting a replacement. New filament won't repair damaged supporting hardware.
► Photograph the assembly before removal. This is particularly useful with formed or multi-section installations.
► Mark section positions. Don't rely on memory during reassembly.
► Check operating clearance. Machinery movement can change apparent gaps.
► Study unusual wear. It may expose alignment, contact or support problems.
► Match filament to function. Backing dimensions alone don't determine brush performance.
► Consider airflow where relevant. More filament density isn't automatically better for vacuum or containment applications.
► Plan future access. The strip will eventually need another inspection.
► Label spares by machine & position. Similar-looking brush profiles are easy to confuse.
► Keep a proven specification. Once a combination works, record it for future replacements.

Scheduled inspections give maintenance crews a chance to spot wear before a small component becomes an operational interruption. Quarry Crews Crusher Maintenance looks at the wider maintenance demands placed on equipment working in abrasive industrial environments.