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Why belt conveyors are ideal for handling lightweight products

Across industry sectors such as Food & Beverage, Retail, Manufacturing, and Post & Parcel, belt conveyors continue to offer a versatile and robust choice for material handling of lightweight goods. As warehouse operations become increasingly complex and under pressure to achieve enhanced productivity and throughput rates, conveyors can be relied upon to provide a seamless way of moving lightweight products in high-volume environments, ensuring smooth and continuous operations. From mini conveyor belt systems for delicate items to heavy duty conveyor belt systems for bulk products, the conveyor belt industry offers an extensive range of solutions.

What is a Belt Conveyor?

A belt conveyor is a mechanical system that consists of a continuous belt loop driven by pulleys or rollers. This type of conveyor is designed to transport materials efficiently across short or long distances, making them the conveyor of choice for high-speed material handling. The belt itself can be made of various materials, including rubber, PVC belt, and fabric, depending on the application and specific industry regulations such as hygiene in the food sector. We offer a wide variety of belt options and belt widths to meet specific customer requirements.

Types of Belt Conveyors

There are many different types of belt conveyors, each designed to meet specific operational needs. From standard belt conveyor and straight belt conveyors to incline belt conveyor and curved designs, these variations enable businesses to fully optimise their workflows while ensuring the smooth and safe movement of lightweight goods. Our product range spans a wide product range, accommodating both bulky product and wide product needs.

Belt Conveyors

belt conveyors

Flat Belt Conveyors

Designed for moving small to medium-sized lightweight products across production lines, flat belt conveyors are available in a range of widths and use a variety of belt materials to suit the specific application. These conventional conveyor belts are a staple in many industries.

Inclined/Declined Belt Conveyors

Widely used in the post & parcel, pharma, and food & beverage industries, incline and decline belt conveyors are designed to transport materials between different height levels within the warehouse or production facility, with precision and care. With adjustable angle options for both incline and decline, these conveyors are extremely versatile and offer valuable space-saving benefits. For incline applications, additional features such as high grip belting or flighted belting of various widths and pitches can be integrated to suit the items being elevated. These incline conveyors can handle bulk material with ease.

Cleated Belt Conveyors

These are ideal for moving lightweight products that need to be held in place during movement. Cleated belt conveyors feature fixed barriers or dividers that segment goods and enable safe transportation with no damage to the item.

Modular Belt Conveyors

Made of interlocking plastic segments, modular belt conveyors are suitable for applications requiring easy cleaning and maintenance. They are extremely versatile and can be used for transporting goods along both straight and curved lines and be integrated with incline and decline sections for enhanced space optimisation. Modular Belting offers excellent abrasion resistance.

Curved Belt Conveyors

Widely used in high-volume environments where products need to move around corners without interruption, curved belt conveyors optimise the available warehouse floorspace and enable a continuous and reliable flow of goods.

Timing Belt Conveyors

Timing belt conveyors are used for precise product placement featuring toothed belts that enable goods to be aligned for synchronised movement. This eliminates the chance of the item slipping and provides accurate positioning for operations such as assembly and inspection.

Features and Benefits of Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors offer a range of benefits, making them ideal for handling lightweight products in high-volume settings. These key features help streamline operations, reduce the cost and reliance on manual labour, maintain product integrity, and enhance overall efficiency.

High Efficiency

They streamline operations and improve workflow efficiency by ensuring the smooth movement of goods.

Gentle Handling

Ideal for fragile or lightweight products, reducing the risk of damage during transit. Transport belts are designed for gentle handling of even the most delicate items.

Customisable

Available in various belt materials, sizes, and configurations to suit different industries and applications. We offer a wide variety of belt options and belt widths, catering to special requirements and scale projects.

Space-Saving Design

Options like incline and curved conveyors help maximise the use of available floor space.

Quiet Operation

Compared to roller conveyors, belt systems tend to operate with less noise, contributing to a more comfortable working environment.

Energy Efficient

Modern belt conveyor systems integrate energy-saving motors and automated controls to optimise and lower power usage. Our electric conveyor belts often include a protective motor switch for enhanced safety.

Belt Conveyor Applications Across Industry Sectors

Belt conveyors play an essential role in various industry sectors, facilitating the reliable movement of products. Their adaptability and efficiency make them both indispensable and a cost-effective choice for a wide range of operational tasks, including:

Belt Conveyor Range DHL Tewksbury

Retail & E-Commerce

Used in fulfilment centres and warehouses to transport packages and sort goods efficiently.

Food & Beverage

Essential for moving packaged and unpackaged food products while maintaining hygiene standards. Our range of conveyor belts includes options suitable for wet products.

Manufacturing

Supports assembly line efficiency by moving lightweight components between workstations in a timely manner.

Post & Parcel Industry

Ensures the fast and accurate sorting of mail, parcels and packages for small and large-scale delivery networks.

Pharmaceuticals

Used for handling medications, medical devices, and other healthcare products with precision and cleanliness while maintaining product integrity.

Automotive & Electronics

Helps transport delicate parts and components during manufacturing and assembly.

Technological Advancements in Belt Conveyors

The evolution of belt conveyors has been driven by technological advancements that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and automation. Innovations continue at pace in this sector, transforming the way products are handled to ensure higher productivity and reliability. There are a number of advanced technologies making a positive impact on improving belt conveyor technology, its capabilities and benefits, including:

Automation & IoT Integration – Modern belt conveyors feature smart sensors, automated sorting, and real-time tracking for seamless operations.

AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance – Advanced AI systems help detect potential issues before they cause operational issues, minimising costly downtime.

Energy-Efficient Designs – New models of motors and drive systems improve energy consumption while maintaining high performance. Motor orientation can be customized to your needs.

Hygienic Conveyor Systems – Food-grade belts and modular components enable easier cleaning and improved hygiene levels, both essential to meet strict food and pharma industry regulations.

Lightweight & Durable Materials – Innovations in belt materials make them stronger, more flexible, and better suited for lightweight handling in high-volume environments. This includes advancements in abrasion resistance for demanding applications.

Conclusion

Belt conveyors will continue to play a vital role in high-volume industries requiring the efficient and safe transport of lightweight products. With various configurations available to suit a vast range of applications, and continuous advancements in automation technology and materials, belt conveyors are set to become even more versatile and reliable, remaining a key component for operations needing to boost productivity and efficiency through optimised material handling. Whether you are handling light materials, medium weight products, or heavy materials, belt conveyors offer a reliable performance. We also offer gravity roller conveyors, chain conveyors, and temporary conveyor systems. Our collection services and standard components make it easy to implement a conveyor system tailored to your needs. We can handle quantities of material from tonnes of material per day to smaller amounts.

We work with a variety of materials, including raw materials and bulk products. Our belt types and belt drive options ensure optimal performance in various environmental conditions. We offer variable speed and maximum speed options for horizontal transport. Our duty conveyor belt systems can handle even the most demanding applications. Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements and how our range of conveyor belts can benefit your business.