Conveyor Belts for the Food Industry

Conveyor systems are designed to move materials and items from one place to another, which when done by humans could be expensive and strenuous. In a food processing plant, conveyors are one of the most important components as they can significantly impact the quality of the food you transport.

The food industry has been revolutionized by the application of food conveyor belt systems. With the right food conveyor material and system, food processing (such as cooking, freezing) can be facilitated almost entirely without human intervention to minimize sanitation risks.

Food packaging conveyor belts have a variety of uses:

• To move raw materials from trucks into silos or cold storage devices
• Transporting the same raw materials out of storage devices and into the production line for mixing, batching, and processing
• Transporting materials from one step of the production process to another
• • Moving the finished food product into the food packaging conveyor line
• Moving the packaged products to freights or trucks for shipping

Common Types of Conveyors Manufactured by Food Conveyor Manufacturers

Belt –

Perhaps the most common conveyor type, belts are used in both processing and packaging of food products. Belts for food applications must be made of strong, durable materials such as nylon, rubber, polyester, or other materials that are acceptable for use with food products and most importantly can be cleaned to maintain hygiene levels.

Vibratory –

Multi-functional and used extensively in food applications where sanitation and wash down is required, vibratory conveyors are used to cooling, screen, and separate materials while transporting from one place to another.

Some other types include screw, flexible screw, and aero-mechanical conveyors for you to consider.

Top Questions to Consider when Purchasing a Food Conveyor

Choosing a conveyor belt for your food processing plant depends on a number of factors such as sanitation, price, layout, complexities, and much more. Here are some questions to review when choosing a food conveyor belt.

• What is the type of material that is being conveyed? Consider size and weight and other characteristics such as moisture content, flammability, abrasiveness, temperature, fluidity.
• From where is the material being conveyed and where is it being moved? Does it have to be moved long distances?
• At what rate or speed is the material to be conveyed, and over what period of time?
• What are the sanitation levels required for the material to be conveyed and therefore the sanitary requirements of the belt? Will the location of the belt be accessible for maintenance and cleaning?