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How to choose the right conveyor for your factory

Belt, roller, slat or inclined? A practical guide to picking the right conveyor for your product, throughput and floor layout.

22 May 20266 min read

How to choose the right conveyor for your factory

Quick Summary & Key Takeaways

Choosing a conveyor sounds simple — until you start listing the variables: product weight, throughput, incline, hygiene, ambient temperature, space, and budget.
Start with the product. Loose granules behave very differently from sealed cartons. For free-flowing solids or fragile food items, a belt conveyor with a food-grade PU belt is ideal. For sealed cartons moving between stations, a powered roller conveyor offers far better energy efficiency.

Choosing a conveyor sounds simple — until you start listing the variables: product weight, throughput, incline, hygiene, ambient temperature, space, and budget.

Start with the product. Loose granules behave very differently from sealed cartons. For free-flowing solids or fragile food items, a belt conveyor with a food-grade PU belt is ideal. For sealed cartons moving between stations, a powered roller conveyor offers far better energy efficiency.

Next, measure throughput in items-per-minute and convert it to belt speed. A common mistake is over-spec'ing speed; faster belts wear faster and need stronger motors. We typically design for peak + 20% headroom.

Finally, plan for hygiene and maintenance access. SS-304 frames with crevice-free welds pay off in pharma and dairy lines. Modular sub-assemblies make spares predictable and shorten downtime.