How to Identify Flexco Rubber Tiles: A Field Guide for Mining Conveyor Engineers

Who This Guide Is For

You're on-site, you've got a conveyor belt that's been torn up by a rock spill, and you need to replace the impact bed lagging. The warehouse has a stack of rubber tiles, but no one remembers which Flexco color chart they came from. You need to figure out if these are the right tiles before the shift ends.

This is a 4-step field identification method I've used dozens of times. It's not for spec'ing out a new system—it's for getting a machine running now.

Let's get into it.

Step 1: Check the Color Code (The Easy One)

Flexco's rubber tiles are color-coded by durometer (hardness). This is the fastest way to narrow it down. As of early 2024, the most common colors I've seen in the field are:

• Red – Typically 60 Shore A durometer. General purpose, good for medium-impact areas.
• Black – Typically 70 Shore A. Harder, more abrasion-resistant. Common on high-wear primary belt cleaners and skirtboards.
• Blue – Typically 55 Shore A. Softer, better for sealing and light impact.
• Green – Often a specialty compound; I've seen it used in food-grade or oil-resistant applications, but less common in standard mining.

But here's the thing — the color isn't everything. I've pulled red tiles from a 2022 shipment that were actually a different compound than the red tiles from 2020. The color is a starting point, not a guarantee.

Step 2: Measure the Thickness (The One Everyone Skips)

Here's where I've seen people get it wrong. They look at the color, see it's red, and assume it's the right part. But the thickness is what determines if it'll fit your impact bed or pulley lagging.

Standard Flexco tile thicknesses I've encountered:

• 3/8" (9.5 mm) – Thin liner, often used for pulley lagging or light chute lining.
• 1/2" (12.7 mm) – The most common for impact beds and general chute lining.
• 3/4" (19 mm) – Heavy-duty, for crushing zones or primary impact areas.
• 1" (25.4 mm) – I've only seen this in a few high-abrasion iron ore applications. Not common.

Looking back, I should have measured first before driving 60 miles back to the yard for a different color. A quick check with calipers would have saved me 2 hours. But at the time, the color matched the order form, so I assumed everything else was correct. It wasn't.

Step 3: Look for the Part Number Imprint (If It's There)

This one's tricky. Some Flexco tiles have a mold number or part number embossed on the back. Some don't. It varies by production batch. In my experience, about 60% of the tiles I've handled have some kind of marking.

If you see something like "FCD-60" or "BRC-70" on the back, that's likely the Flexco internal code. You can usually match this to a spec sheet if you have one on-site. (I keep a PDF of the common ones on my phone.)

But don't panic if there's no marking. Not all batches get stamped. I once spent 20 minutes flipping over 15 tiles looking for a number that wasn't there—we eventually ID'd them by thickness and color.

Step 4: The Scratch Test (The 'Gut Check')

This is the least scientific method, but I've used it more times than I'll admit. The numbers said one thing, but my gut said another. Actually, no—my fingernail said another.

Press your thumbnail into the rubber. A 60 Shore A tile will have a noticeable give; you can leave a slight indent. A 70 Shore A tile is much firmer—you'll barely make a mark. A 55 Shore A tile feels almost spongey by comparison.

It's not a replacement for a durometer, but when you're in a pinch and the only tool you have is your hands, it's good enough for a quick yes/no on whether you're in the right ballpark.

A note of caution: This test is useless on tiles that are oil- or chemical-soaked. Old, worn tiles can feel softer than their spec. I learned this the hard way on a belt cleaner install in a coal prep plant.

What NOT to Do (Things I've Learned the Hard Way)

1. Don't trust the warehouse sticker. I've seen tiles labeled as "1/2" Red" that were actually 3/8" Blue. Someone had put them in the wrong bin. Always verify physically.
2. Don't assume same color = same compound. Flexco has changed formulations over the years. A red tile from 2018 might be 60 Shore A. A red tile from 2021 might be 62. It's close, but in high-impact zones, that difference matters.
3. Don't skip the measurement. Thickness is the single most commonly misidentified spec. I've lost count of how many times I've had to re-order because someone grabbed what looked right.

One more thing: If you're in a situation where you're ordering tiles for a rush job—a breakdown where downtime is costing $5,000 an hour—don't rely on this field guide alone. Call Flexco technical support directly with the dimensions and application. They'll ship the correct tile. I've used their emergency service twice; both times, it arrived within 48 hours and was exactly what we needed.

Prices are for reference only; verify current specs and pricing directly with Flexco or an authorized distributor. This guide reflects my personal field experience and doesn't supersede engineering specifications.