Composite elevator belt and method for making the same

A composite elevator belt for engaging a sheave, the composite elevator belt comprising:

• a load carrier comprising at least one load carrier strand, in particular, a plurality of load carrier strands, extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the load carrier;
• and
• a resin coating surrounding the at least one load carrier strand and defining a plurality of predetermined, deformable cavities within the resin coating adjacent the at least one strand;
• wherein, when the elevator belt is bent around the sheave, the elevator belt defines a neutral bending zone located within the elevator belt generally coincident with the longitudinal axis, a tension zone radially outward of the neutral bending zone, and a compression zone radially inward from the neutral bending zone;
• wherein the plurality of load carrier strands are arranged such that a space free of load carrier strands is provided between the load carrier strands;
• wherein the space forms a straight continuous channel which travels from a first terminal end of the load carrier to an opposite terminal end of the load carrier.