Smiley Monroe is one of the world’s leading suppliers of conveyor belts and rubber and plastic conveyor components such as skirting rubber, seals and capping rubber. Established in 1979 in Northern Ireland, they have become a trusted supplier to the world’s leading manufacturers of bulk materials handling equipment. With production facilities across the UK, USA and India, the company supplies to a diverse range of industries globally including crushing and screening, recycling, agriculture, environmental and road construction.
Interview with Ryan Wright, Sales Director at Smiley Monroe.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Ryan Wright: Our product base encompasses conveyor belts in a range of supply options including endless hot vulcanized belts, cut length belts, full rolls of conveyor belt and the world’s fastest replacement conveyor belt – ZIP CLIP®.
In addition to conveyor belts, we also supply cut rubber and plastic parts precision cut by CNC. This includes conveyor skirting rubber, washers, gaskets, seals and many more custom parts.
We produce conveyor belts and components with a focus on maximising uptime. Every recommendation is backed by our product experts who have a wealth of industry experience. Considering conveyed materials, conveyor speeds and operating conditions our team ensure the right belt is selected for the job every time.
What’s the news about new products/services?
R.W: Our replacement conveyor belt ZIP CLIP® has expanded into new sectors. In particular our customers adopting ZIP CLIP® in the recycling and waste management sector have found it to be an exceptional addition to their operations. This is due to the ease of refitting ZIP CLIP® in waste management environments that are often static plant in tight, constricted spaces where traditional vulcanisation can be particularly hazardous. One of our waste management customers has swapped to ZIP CLIP® belts across their whole fleet of equipment due to the reduced downtime and improved safety it has brought to their operations.
What are the ranges of products/services?
R.W: Our conveyor belt product ranges include our core range of EP multi-ply belts, ToughFlex™ heavy-duty belts and Fabric Breaker belts with additional breaker ply.
Belts can be further customized with integrally moulded cleat patterns from our Integracleat™ range which has been developed with our product experts to curate the best cleat patterns for inclined conveying applications across industries including aggregates, road construction, recycling, airside and agriculture. We also offer specialized top covers for heat resistance, cold and frost resistance, flame resistance and oil resistance.
Our precision cut parts range encompasses state-of-the-art CNC technology capable of precision cutting and drilling profiles, patterns, holes and slots in a variety of materials – from cork to rubber sheeting and conveyor belting up to 20mm thick.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
R.W: We have an ambitious growth strategy to triple our growth by 2028, and a key part of that growth is market diversification – supplying new markets and geographical locations. Momentum has continued to grow with over 100 new customers onboard in the last two years.
In addition to market diversification, we are investing significantly in our CNC capabilities with a view to expanding our cut parts offering across all our sites. This summer we are opening a new factory in India to increase our cut parts production due to the demand we are experiencing. With an existing base in India established since 2012, we are proud to be investing in this market and continue to see growth over the coming years.
By the end of the year, we will also be expanding our cut parts production from our factory in Franklin, Kentucky, offering greater availability and short lead times on custom cut parts for our North American customer base.
What can you tell us about market trends?
R.W: The materials processing industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advances in technology, sustainability and productivity. We’re seeing increased adoption of machine automation, autonomous portable equipment and hybrid-powered machinery as operators look to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and address labour shortages.
Sustainability is also an increasingly important purchasing consideration. Customers are looking for equipment and components that not only deliver reliable performance and long service life but also support their environmental goals and regulatory obligations.
One significant development is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), with compliance requirements becoming applicable from December 2026. The legislation will affect products containing commodities including natural rubber which places greater emphasis on supply chain transparency and traceability. At Smiley Monroe, we’ve taken positive steps to ensure we’re ready to meet these requirements. By working closely with our supply chain and strengthening our traceability processes, we’re well positioned to support customers as they navigate changing legislation while continuing to deliver the superior quality and reliability they expect.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
R.W: We understand how much of an impact downtime can have on operations. After hearing from customers in the quarrying sector experiencing between 24-72 hours downtime and the huge financial toll this had, we developed our mechanically spliced replacement conveyor belt – ZIP CLIP®.
ZIP CLIP® has resonated particularly with the aftermarket as it truly maximises uptime – enabling equipment dealers to respond quickly when their customers’ face a breakdown and get their conveyors back up and running in as little as one hour. With no need to plan for a vulcanising crew to call to site and no specialist tools required to fit ZIP CLIP®, many equipment dealers now keep ZIP CLIP® belts in stock as they are assured the quality of ZIP CLIP® is just as good as the original belt.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2026?
R.W: After seeing growing demand over the past year, we are looking forward to seeing the sustained upward curve in demand across the crushing and screening equipment sector. Growth is also being supported by increasing diversification into adjacent markets such as recycling and road construction, creating new opportunities and strengthening resilience.
