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Belt Conveyor Systems: Custom Configurations for Your Facility
When designing a new processing plant or production line, few components are as critical—or as adaptable—as the belt conveyor.
While belt conveyors may seem simple in concept, their ability to be customized makes them essential for modern food processing facilities. Every plant layout is unique, which is why PFI designs and builds belt conveyor systems that fit seamlessly into your operation, maximizing efficiency, hygiene, and product flow.
BELT CONVEYORS BUILT AROUND YOUR PROCESS
No two production lines are alike, and neither are PFI’s belt conveyors. Each conveyor is engineered to fit your process flow, available space, and sanitation requirements. Whether you’re conveying in a straight line, around corners, or elevating product to the next step in your process, PFI designs belt conveyors that work with your layout, not against it.
FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR EVERY LAYOUT
PFI’s belt conveyors can be configured in many different ways to fit your plant’s footprint and production needs. Listed below are five common belt conveyor designs, each solving a specific conveying challenge.
FLAT BELT CONVEYORS
Flat belt conveyors, or horizontal belt conveyors, provide efficient, reliable product transfer between stages of your process. Available in a wide range of lengths and widths, they deliver smooth, consistent movement and are easily customized to fit your specific layout and sanitation needs.
INCLINED BELT CONVEYORS
Inclined belt conveyors elevate product to the next stage of your process with minimal waste and a compact footprint. They can be built at any angle between five and 90 degrees, ensuring your conveyor is designed to meet the exact elevation requirements of your production line.
CURVED BELT CONVEYORS
Curved belt conveyors guide product smoothly around corners or obstacles to maximize your facility’s usable space. Their controlled, consistent motion maintains product orientation and flow through every turn, ensuring efficiency across complex layouts.
VERTICAL BELT CONVEYORS
Vertical belt conveyors lift product vertically—up to 90 degrees—between dual “sandwiched” belts, keeping product secure and intact during transfer. Their positive drive system, automatic infeed, and pneumatic tensioning enable clean, efficient operation in a compact footprint.
TROUGH BELT CONVEYORS
Trough belt conveyors use a gently concave belt to keep bulk or loose materials centered and contained. Customizable in depth, width, and incline, they offer smooth, spill-free conveying for powders, grains, and other free-flowing ingredients.
DESIGNED WITH PRECISION & PURPOSE
PFI customizes every detail of the belt conveyor to match the application. Belt width, pulley design, drive configuration, and speed are all selected based on your specific product and throughput requirements. From gentle handling of fragile food items to rapid transfer of bulk ingredients, every conveyor is engineered for accuracy, consistency, and ease of operation.
Additionally, all belt conveyor aspects listed below are customizable:
- Footprint (e.g., length, width, curved, incline)
- Integration (e.g., height, width, small nose to avoid gaps)
- Application (e.g., aligning/positioning, merging/sorting, bulk handling)
- Sanitary design (e.g., RTE/washdown)
- Belts (r.g., type, material)
- Components (e.g., stainless pulleys)
A SEAMLESS FIT IN YOUR FACILITY
PFI’s engineering team works closely with processors to understand their full production flow and design complete conveying systems, not just standalone belt conveyors.
In most applications, belt conveyors are integrated with complementary technologies such as dumpers, vibratory conveyors, and bucket elevators to create a cohesive, efficient material handling solution. From early concept discussions through final installation, each system is engineered for long-term reliability, efficiency, and adaptability.
CUSTOM BELT CONVEYORS DESIGNED FOR YOUR APPLICATION & FOOTPRINT
The video below shows a conveyor system equipped with a range of belt conveyors, custom-built for a pancake manufacturer. Notice how the manufacturer uses belt conveyors in various configurations to optimize its plant layout.
YOUR PARTNER IN FOOD CONVEYANCE
At PFI, we understand that your production environment is unique and your conveyance systems should be too. Our custom belt conveyors are built around your space, your process, and your product. With decades of experience in sanitary conveying solutions, PFI is ready to help you design a conveyor system that elevates your operation from the ground up. Contact us today for help with designing the ideal belt conveyors for your operation.
