Choosing the Right Conveyor for Snack Food Manufacturing

Snack food processors face unique challenges: fragile products that break easily and long production runs that require consistent uptime. Whether you’re moving chips fresh out of the fryer, blending multiple products into a snack mix, or transporting packaged pretzels to final packaging, the right conveying system makes all the difference.

At PFI, we’ve spent decades designing conveyors that integrate seamlessly into snack food lines, keeping your process efficient, gentle, and sanitary. Here’s how different conveyor types support snack food manufacturing, and how to choose the right option for your application.

ADDRESSING SNACK INDUSTRY CHALLENGES WITH THE RIGHT CONVEYORS

Snack food manufacturers need conveyors that:

• Prevent product loss – Gentle handling avoids breakage and fines.
• Support long run times – Equipment must run continuously with minimal downtime.
• Simplify sanitation – Open frames and accessible designs make cleaning quick and thorough.
• Integrate seamlessly – Conveyors should link blending, frying, seasoning, weighing, and packaging equipment into one efficient line.

By understanding how each conveyor type addresses these needs, snack food processors can select the right equipment mix to keep production efficient and snacks high-quality.

BELT CONVEYORS: A RELIABLE, FLEXIBLE BACKBONE

Belt conveyors are one of the most common solutions in snack food manufacturing. They efficiently move product from point A to point B, whether over long runs or at an incline. Flat-bed belt conveyors work well for general transport, while trough and incline belts prevent spillage when handling bulk products like nuts, puffs, or snack mixes.

Best for: General conveying, elevating bulk products, connecting multiple stages of the line.

HORIZONTAL MOTION CONVEYORS: PROTECTING DELICATE PRODUCTS

Delicate snacks such as chips, crackers, or extruded puffs can break or create fines when handled roughly. Horizontal motion conveyors provide smooth, gentle movement without vibration, making them ideal for fragile products. They also minimize product buildup and are easy to clean, supporting both quality and sanitation.

Best for: Gentle handling of fragile products like chips, crackers, and extruded snacks.

VIBRATORY CONVEYORS: PRECISE, VERSATILE MOVEMENT

When accuracy and control are needed, vibratory conveyors excel. They can screen, feed, mix/blend, and distribute product evenly across multiple lanes, keeping mixes consistent and flow controlled. Vibratory systems are versatile enough to handle a wide variety of snack foods, from nuts to popcorn, and they integrate easily with seasoning, weighing, and packaging equipment.

Best for: Feeding, screening, distributing, and lane control of mixed or free-flowing snacks.

BUCKET & INCLINE CONVEYORS: ELEVATING PRODUCT

Snack food lines often require product to move vertically—for example, lifting popcorn to a seasoning tumbler or nuts to a packaging machine. Bucket elevators and incline conveyors handle these elevation changes efficiently without sacrificing throughput. With sanitary construction and customizable design, they’re built to run reliably in demanding snack operations.

Best for: Vertical or incline transport of bulk snacks to higher processes.

PARTNER WITH PFI FOR SNACK FOOD CONVEYORS

At PFI, we configure each conveying system to your exact application and layout. Whether your product is chips, popcorn, pretzels, or snack mixes, we’ll design a solution that moves it gently, safely, and efficiently from mixing to packaging.

Looking to upgrade your snack food line? Contact the PFI team today to configure the right conveyor system for your operation.

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