Getting the right conveyor for your business doesn't have to be difficult

Conveyor buyers guide

Conveyors come in a wide range for a large variety of industrial applications. The type of conveyor chosen needs to be just right for your production and transport operations, so we have created a conveyor buyers guide..

Whether you're just starting out your business or expanding your existing conveyor systems, sometimes it's difficult to know exactly what conveyor would be best for your situation.

We've produced this handy guide to help you decide on the best conveyor product to suit your needs.

For all enquiries please contact our helpful design & sales teams

Phone: 01482 363445
Email: sales@spaceguard.co.uk

Spaceguard manufacture conveyors to order

Please contact our helpful sales team if you need any help.

Belt Conveyor vs Roller Conveyor, which one is better?

This is a common question and really depends on the intended use of the conveyor and the items that will be placed upon them. Below is a brief summary of the differences between the two types of conveyor. To read more see the roller conveyor vs belt conveyor article.

 

Roller Conveyors

Roller conveyors are most suitable for transporting items with a flat rigid bottom

The reason for this is that items can get stuck between the rollers if they are not rigid. This makes roller conveyors unsuitable for loose materials, bags and packets.

The items also have to be large enough to sit across several rollers otherwise the product will not move as desired.

Roller conveyors are commonly found in airports, warehouses, factories, and assembly lines.

Find out more on the roller conveyor products page, or alternatively, check out our 'What is a roller conveyor?' article.

The types of items commonly transported on a roller conveyor include:

  • Cartons
  • Trays
  • Totes
  • Boxes
  • Pallets
  • Crates

Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are suitable for transporting a wide range of items, they are one of the most versatile types of conveyor available

As the belt is a flat surface it does not matter so much about the size of the product, belt conveyors can transport small items or loose material with ease.

One thing to consider however is that sharp or extremely heavy items may cause damage to the belt.

Belt conveyors are commonly found in farming & mining industries, supermarkets, greenhouses, factories, warehouses, and e-fulfilment centres.

Find out more on the belt conveyor products page, or see the 'What is a belt conveyor?' article.

The types of items commonly transported on a belt conveyor include:

  • Food & drink items
  • Packets & bags
  • Loose materials
  • Packaged products

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Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are ideal for the powered transport of both uniform and non-uniform loads.

These types of conveyors are ideal for use in packing and assembly lines. The belt allows for different sizes and weights of goods to be transported at the same time. For this reason, belt conveyors are ideal for e-commerce sites with varying products.

There are many types of belt conveyors, each can be designed to suit a specific process or environment. For example, the Swan Neck belt conveyor can be used to transport products upwards, either to machinery, between two floors, or even to a mezzanine.

The materials used for the belt conveyor are important. Belt conveyors for use in food production for example are made with stainless steel frames, with a belt material suitable for wash down. The ability to keep the conveyor belt hygienic is of the utmost importance.

To find out more about belt conveyors, please click here.

Belt Conveyor Help

Modular Belt Conveyors

A plastic modular conveyor belt is made from an interlocking plastic mesh material. Unlike belts that rely on friction, the modular belt is positively driven by engagement with a series of sprockets underneath the belt.

Modular belt conveyors are an extremely robust solution for most transport applications. The belts are hard-wearing. With the correct specified material, they are widely used for the transportation of sharp-edged products making them ideal for boning lines. The easy to clean design, is the ideal solution for direct food applications. Or areas where chemicals are used. By design, they are ideal for conveyor belt solutions that require corners.

Gravity Roller Conveyors

Gravity conveyors use the force of gravity to allow products to move down the conveyor line which is set at a gradual decline. If the items aren't heavy enough then the rollers will not move, and may need to be pushed. However, if the items are too heavy then braking will be required to stop products flying off the conveyor!

Similarly, unpowered conveyor rollers can be integrated into other products, such as storage racks and workstations, allowing for easier movement of large volumes, or heavy items.

Spaceguard manufactures roller conveyors to suit all applications, and can integrate them into our popular packing and industrial workbenches. Click here to see bespoke roller conveyors.

Gravity Conveyor Articles

Driven Roller Conveyors

These driven roller conveyors are powered and available in two variations; the Fixed drive conveyor, and the Zero pressure accumulation conveyor.

A Fixed Drive Conveyor uses 24-volt self-contained motors to drive groups of rollers, to transport products down the conveyor. With fewer moving parts than traditional motors, the 24 Volt driven conveyor requires less maintenance and is safer for users.

A Zero Pressure Accumulation Conveyor is a 24-volt powered conveyor which uses photo electric cells and zone control cards to hold products in place along the line until the zone in front of them is clear.

To see further examples of Powered Driven Conveyors, please click here or to find out more see our 'What is a 24V Driven Roller Conveyor?' article.

Flexible Conveyors

The flexible and expandable type of conveyor are extremely useful for environments lacking in space. Due to the concertina / lattice frame, they can opened for use giving a long, bendable conveyor track. As they come on castors, they can then just be closed and simply rolled away for storage. They are often found in use for loading/unloading deliveries as they can be configured incredibly quickly.

Flexible, expandable conveyors are available with either rollers, or skate wheels. We supply these in either PVC, or bright zinc plated steel. In many cases unpowered ones are used however in some cases powered options are available.

To see more information about our Flexible / Expandable conveyors, please click here.

Pallet Conveyors

Pallet conveyors are used for transporting pallets, and other heavy items like drums. There are several types, each of which serves a specific application. Pictured below is a chain-driven roller conveyor, this may look similar to the driven rollers mentioned above, however it is positively driven using chains and sprockets.

To find out more about pallet conveyors, please see our pallet conveyor products page.

What if I'm still not sure what type of conveyor I need?

No problem. Here at Spaceguard, we have in-depth experience of all the different conveyor types.

We are UK conveyor manufacturers of both standard, and also to customer specification. If you have seen something on our website that might be your ideal conveyor solution but you're still not sure, get in touch and we can advise you on the best way forward.

You can contact us by phone on: 01482 363445
By email: sales@spaceguard.co.uk

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If you would like a quote, please provide some details about what you need including dimensions where possible.


For example:

- Packing Table with MDF top size 2000 x 600 x 850mm (L x W x H )
- Belt conveyor 10 metres long, 60cm wide, 20kg per metre, carrying boxes

If you don't know exactly what you need, just let us know what you're trying to achieve and we will help you find the most suitable products.

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Conveyors are made to your specification by Spaceguard in the UK