A Helpful Guide to Conveyor Belts for Various Industries

Conveyor belts have long been the heart of modern manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. From speeding up product handling to improving workplace safety, these systems help companies in every industry streamline their operations. If you’ve ever wondered which conveyor might suit your business needs—or if you just want to learn more about the incredible variety of conveyor technologies available—this guide is for you.

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Below, we’ll explore why conveyor belts are so essential, highlight different types of conveyor systems, and dive into industry-specific requirements.

Why Conveyor Belts Are Essential Across Industries

Conveyor belts serve as the backbone of material transport in an array of industries—from food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing to automotive assembly and e-commerce fulfillment. Their primary role is to move products in an efficient, consistent manner, replacing or reducing manual labor and minimizing the risk of human error.

The benefits of using conveyor belts are numerous and include:

• Reduced Labor Costs: By automating the movement of goods, facilities can reduce manual handling tasks and reallocate labor elsewhere.
• Improved Safety: Fewer repetitive tasks and heavy lifting requirements mean fewer worker injuries.
• Greater Throughput: Conveyors can operate around the clock with minimal downtime, pushing more product through your facility in less time.
• Consistent Quality Control: A well-designed conveyor can help maintain product integrity from start to finish.

Key Conveyor Types & Their Applications

When it comes to conveyor systems, one size does not fit all. Different environments and products require different levels of durability, hygiene, load capacity, and design flexibility. Below are some of the most common conveyor types you’ll find—and how each can be applied in various industries.

Sanitary Conveyors

Sanitary conveyors take cleanliness to the next level, featuring stainless steel frames, FDA-approved belting, and fast, thorough washdown designs. They’re critical in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic environments where hygiene and regulatory compliance (BISSC, USDA, FDA) are key.

• Tool-less disassembly saves time during cleaning.
• Welded stainless-steel frames reduce bacterial harborage points.
• FDA-approved belting and plastic components

These conveyors ensure products like baked goods, meat and poultry, or ready-to-eat items remain contamination-free, making them ideal for the food handling industry.

Pallet Systems

Pallet systems specialize in precise product positioning and the ability to integrate sensors and Industry 4.0 technology . They often utilize dual timing belts or edge roller technology (ERT) to move pallets gently and accurately, great for automated and robotic production lines.

• ± 0.5 mm product placement accuracy.
• Pin tracking for simple, cost-effective navigation of corners.
• Cleanroom-rated options (ERT) for dust-sensitive processes like electronics or medical devices.

Whether you’re assembling electronics, inspecting automotive components, or indexing products for testing, pallet system conveyors help keep products aligned and on track.

Flexible Chain Conveyors

Flexible chain conveyors (like Dorner’s FlexMove line) easily navigate curves, inclines, and declines, saving valuable floor space and simplifying complex layouts. They’re a go-to choice in packaging, e-commerce, and integrator applications where product lines often merge, divert, and change elevation.

• Plastic chain belts come with friction inserts, rollers, or cleats.
• Modular design means you can quickly reconfigure to meet new production goals.
• Aluminum or stainless frames handle diverse environments, from dry to light washdown.

Aluminum & Stainless Frame Belted Conveyors

For general manufacturing needs, aluminum-frame conveyors offer durability in a lightweight package. Stainless steel frames, on the other hand, provide extra corrosion resistance for harsh or damp environments.

• Low-profile designs integrate easily with existing machinery.
• Cleated belts manage inclines and declines efficiently.
• Heavy-duty options (like DCMove or the series) handle large loads in industrial settings.

A Closer Look at Conveyor Belt Types

Beyond the frame style and overall conveyor design, belt choice is equally crucial. Dorner offers fabric conveyor belts, modular conveyor belts, and flexible chain conveyor belts—each with specific advantages and application niches.

Fabric Conveyor Belts

Fabric belts feature multiple layers, including a strength layer (often polyester or nylon) and various cover materials (like PVC, TPU, or silicone). They’re typically low-profile and support smaller pulley diameters, making them ideal for tighter spaces or more precise product handling.

• Woven or nonwoven designs.
• Suitable for automation, material handling, and FDA food processing (when the right cover material is chosen).
• Can be customized for high- or low-temperature applications.

Modular Conveyor Belts

If you need easy cleaning, robust durability, or the ability to handle open-surface tasks like draining, cooling, or spraying, consider modular conveyor belts:

• Modular plastic segments reduce fraying, delamination, and mechanical joining failures.
• Open-hinge designs simplify debris removal and rinse-down.
• Excellent for bakery, dairy, and medical processes where cleaning is frequent.

Flexible Chain Conveyor Belts

Flexible chain belts excel in complex layouts with multiple curves, inclines, and declines within one conveyor run:

• Open belt sides allow the chain’s knuckle to move down the center track.
• Often used in manufacturing, bottling, secondary packaging, and automation lines.
• Compatible with AquaGard Series and Dorner’s FlexMove platform.

Industry-Specific Conveyor Considerations

Each industry has its own unique challenges and regulations. Choosing the right conveyor means balancing cost, efficiency, sanitation, and compliance—and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.

Food Processing & Handling

Food-grade conveyors must resist bacteria build-up and handle daily, often rigorous washdowns. Sanitary conveyors with removable wear strips, minimal horizontal surfaces, and quick belt removal features enable frequent and thorough cleaning—critical for maintaining safety and preventing contamination.

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

From home goods and cleaning products to cosmetics, CPG lines often juggle multiple SKUs on a single production line. Conveyors that allow rapid changeovers, simple merges, and effective packaging inspection stations help keep throughput high and downtime low.

Material Handling & Industrial

Industrial environments can be tough—conveyors often face heavy loads, dust, or abrasive conditions. Robust frames, powerful motors, and pallet systems are often favored in metalworking, automotive, or machine tool shops, ensuring conveyors withstand continuous, demanding operations while offering a high rate of accuracy and repeatability.

Medical & Pharmaceutical

When it comes to medical devices or pharmaceutical products, cleanliness, traceability, and gentle handling are paramount. Belt-free rollers or cleanroom-rated conveyors, such as Dorner’s ERT series, minimize product contact points and adhere to stringent FDA and GMP guidelines.

E-Commerce & Packaging

For high-volume shipping and fulfillment centers, speed and accuracy are everything. Flexible chain conveyors can accommodate multiple merges and diverts in a limited footprint, while robust scanning and labeling systems integrate seamlessly for error-free order fulfillment.

Automation & Integrators

System integrators often seek conveyors that easily connect to robotic arms, sensors, PLCs, or vision systems. Pallet systems with precision indexing or flexible chain conveyors with modular construction are ideal for creating automated assembly and packaging lines that can adapt to rapid changes.

Designing Your Conveyor Solution

Selecting the right conveyor system starts with analyzing production requirements, space constraints, and product characteristics. Consider factors like the product’s weight, size, and fragility. Ask questions about sanitation requirements, environment (e.g., washdown vs. dry), and potential for future expansions.

Begin your design process by:

1. Identifying Production Goals: Throughput, level of automation, and floor space.
2. Understanding Compliance: Industry regulations like FDA or USDA for sanitary environments.
3. Planning for Growth: Designing flexible, modular solutions that scale with changing demands.

Maintenance & Aftermarket Services

No matter how advanced your conveyor is, regular maintenance is crucial for maximizing its service life. Dorner’s Parts & Services program offers:

• Parts Auditing to check for wear and tear before it becomes critical.
• Preventative Maintenance schedules to reduce downtime.
• Installation & Training so your workforce can quickly adapt to new systems and procedures.

By investing in maintenance and using original replacement parts, you keep your conveyor running smoothly and minimize the risk of costly disruptions.

Why Choose Dorner?

With over 50 years of experience and a global footprint, Dorner is an industry leader in intelligent conveyor solutions. Our conveyors come backed by an industry-leading 10-year warranty, guaranteeing peace of mind and long-term value.

Other benefits include:

• Lean manufacturing and fast lead times—some models ship in as little as 72 hours.
• Comprehensive product range, from light-duty to sanitary, pallet, and flexible chain systems.
• Customization options via our DTools configurator, ensuring each conveyor fits your exact application.

Whether you’re a small startup in need of a single conveyor or a multinational enterprise looking to upgrade an entire facility, Dorner has the expertise, products, and aftermarket support to help you succeed.

Getting Started with DTools

One of Dorner’s core advantages is DTools, our user-friendly CAD/configurator platform. With DTools, you can design a conveyor system tailored to your specific environment—from belt material and drive options to accessories and frame construction.

How It Works:

1. Create an Account: Sign up quickly and start a new project.
2. Select Your Conveyor Type: Sanitary, pallet, flexible chain, or standard belted.
3. Customize Specs: Dimensions, belt materials, drive configurations, and more.
4. Download CAD Models: Integrate the 2D or 3D design into your facility layout.
5. Request a Quote: Submit your design to receive pricing and lead time information.

Ready to Transform Your Production Line?

Selecting the right conveyor belt for your business, it is essential to understand the various types of materials that are available. The conveyor belt industry has undergone significant advancements in recent years, and there are now numerous options available that are designed to meet specific industrial needs.

Rubber conveyor belts

It is most common types of conveyor belts on the market. They are versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications, including food processing, agriculture, mining, and more. Rubber belts are designed to be durable and resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for heavy-duty applications.

Types of conveyor belts

PVC Conveyor Belts

PVC conveyor belt

Polyester conveyor belts are renowned for their exceptional strength and durability. They are made from high-quality polyester fabric coated with PVC or polyurethane. This coating helps protect the fabric from wear and tear, making it ideal for use in industries that require heavy-duty belts. Polyester conveyor belts find common applications in the automotive, recycling, and food processing industries.

Nylon Conveyor Belts

Nylon conveyor belts are known for their high tensile strength and excellent durability. It commonly used in the construction, mining and quarrying industries.

Steel Conveyor Belts

Steel conveyor belts are some of the most durable and rugged conveyor belts on the market. They are made from stainless steel and are designed to withstand high temperatures and heavy loads.

Used in the food processing industry, that require high levels of sanitation.

Resistant to corrosion and used in applications where they are exposed to water or liquids.

Modular Conveyor Belts

Modular conveyor belts are made from individual plastic modules that are linked together to form a continuous belt. They are highly versatile and can be customized to meet specific industrial needs.

They are easy to clean and maintain, which makes them ideal for use in applications where hygiene is a top priority.

With the right material, you can improve the efficiency of your operations and ensure that your business runs smoothly.

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This guide is to help educate on the different types of conveyor belts. These seven conveyor belts are the most common in conveyor belt applications.

Types of Conveyor Belts

1. Roller Bed Conveyor Belts
2. Flat belt conveyors
3. Modular Belt Conveyors
4. Cleated Belt Conveyors
5. Curved Belt Conveyors
6. Incline/Decline Belt Conveyors
7. Sanitary and Washdown Conveyors

Roller Bed Conveyor Belts

The roller bed conveyor belts utilize gravity to hold the items on the belt. This type of conveyor belt is flat and made up of rollers selected to match the specifications of the load above. Shorter roller belts can be made up of two rollers, but more rollers will need to be added as the distance of the belt lengths. Therefore, a longer belt will be required as well.

Roller Bed Conveyors can be utilized for moving, packing, sorting, assembling, and inspecting items. Many of us have witnessed roller bed conveyors used at the airport baggage claim or in those intense Internet videos with people loading numerous articles quickly into boxes.

Flat Belt Conveyors

Flat Belt conveyors are used mainly in manufacturing environments and slow assembly lines. With the correct belt, Flat Belts can also move small, soft, or irregular-shaped items. They are utilized to transport items within an operation. This belt uses a series of pulleys to drive a continuous flat belt. Objects are positioned on the belt and carried from one spot to the end of the belt. These belts can be made of a natural material of a synthetic fabric like polyester or nylon.

Modular Belt Conveyors

Modular Belt Conveyors are made up of interlocking sections of hardened material, usually hard plastic, in a single loop. The sections of material can be replaced individually. Only replacing one area helps save cost, not the entire belt. In addition, hardened plastics are better suited to handle rough, sharp, or abrasive materials. 

The company is the world’s best Fabric core conveyor belt supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Modular Belts have a higher cost. However, they also can do a majority of conveying functions. Modular belts can go around corners, travel straight, and go up and down inclines. All of those motions can use the same motor. 

The plastic in the modular belts makes them a good fit for food products since they are easier to clean and have spaces where fluid can be drained or retained on the conveyor. The plastic makeup of the belt aids with detecting unwanted metals as well.

Cleated Belt Conveyors

Cleated belt conveyors are utilized to move products up an incline. These conveyors feature raised cleats on the belts to help hold the products or items in position as they travel up or down the conveyor. Another advantage of the cleats is that they create consistent spacing between the items on the conveyor belt. There are numerous shapes and sizes of cleats. Another type of cleated belt is the elevator belt that utilizes scoops or buckets to carry materials or products up a steep incline or a vertical surface.

Incline/Decline Belt Conveyors

Similar to Flat Belts, except Incline Belts have a rough surface. This surface creates more friction and helps items hold their position as they travel up the belt. These belts do not produce the same spacing that a cleated belt does. 

Sanitary and Washdown Conveyors

These conveyor belts are made of rated materials and are ready to be sanitized often. These belts are usually associated with food-grade applications. Sanitary conveyors are generally flat wire belts. These are tough belts that stand up to wear and tear and are easy to clean.

IBT Has Your Conveyor Belt

IBT Inc. has two in-house conveyor belting groups. This includes heavyweight conveyor belts and lightweight conveyor belts and their different applications.

Heavyweight Conveyor Belt

Rock Belts

These belts have fabric construction and can range from a single-ply fabric to multiple-plys of fabric. Each individual ply has a different tension rating. The rubber covers adhere to both the top and bottom to protect the fabric-plys. 

Typical top covers or carry covers range from 3/16” to ⅜” depending on the design and strength of the conveyor belt. The bottom cover or pulley cover varies from 1/16” to 1/8” depending on the design and strength of the belt. 

Fenner Dunlop Patriot X & NOVA X lines

Fenner Dunlop offers their Patriot X line of rock belts. These belts are available in 24, 30, 36, and 42-inches. The proprietary cover compound offers significantly better rip, tear, and impact performance compared to typical plied belting. The new finger splice design is optimized for both performance and fabrication efficiency. The Patriot X line has a safety factor greater than 8:1. 

Fenner Dunlop also offers the Nova X line. This belt has a patented dual crimp weave for higher strength and low stretch applications. The Nova X line uses a unique fabric weave that allows for improved mechanical fastener retention and splice life. This line conveys bulk material more reliably with the advanced flexible belt core and makes it resistant to rips, tears, impacts, and punctures.

Applications:

• Crushed Stone

• Ready Mix

• Cement

• Sand

• Gravel

• Fertilizer Plants 

MOR Belts

MOR stands for moderately oil resistant. These use the same fabric design as the rock belts, but the rubber used on the top and bottom covers are designed to resist oil penetrating them and causing the rubber to swell. 

Some MOR belts do not use a bottom cover. This is referred to as a bareback or BB. 

Fenner Dunlop WoodMaster Line

Fenner Dunlop’s WoodMaster is a member of the Plylok line. WoodMaster is plied belting with less than 2% stretch and superb abrasion resistance for general purpose applications. The increased gauge rubber between splices helps the WoodMaster to absorb more energy and gives more impact resistance.

Applications:

• Paper Mills

• Saw Mills

• Wood Board Plants

• Wood Chips

• Bark

• Broken Belts

• Chipper End Feed

• Planer Belt

• Pulp Belts

• Sander Belts

Lightweight Conveyor Belting

Food Handling

Food handling belts are plied rubber with a rubber cover. They can be interwoven with PVC or RMPVC covers. Food handling belts are smooth for horizontal conveyance and textured/cleated for incline/decline applications. They have a plied monofilament or spun polyester carcass with a urethane or PVC cover.

Applications:

• FDA approved

• Handle direct food contact or packaged products

• Found in bakeries, pet food production, and more.

Package Handling

Package handling belts are plied rubber. They can come with or without a cover. Package handling belts are smooth for horizontal conveyance and textured/cleated for incline/decline applications, utilized by manufacturers, packaging, distribution centers, etc.

Applications:

• Manufacturers

• Packaging

• Distribution Centers

Power Transmission

Power Transmission belts are flat belts that transfer horsepower from one point to another. They have a nylon core with rubber covers. Power Transmission belts have a plied fabric/rubber construction and are usually a monofilament with a urethane cover. 

Applications:

• Printing

• Labeling

• Paper Industry

• Driving Live Rollers

Want to learn more about your Conveyor Belt Options?

As your experts for conveyor belting, we want to help you find the best belt for your application- but that’s not all. IBT’s IRPG team partners with various industries, offering a wide selection of heavyweight and lightweight conveyor belting and custom fabrication services. Contact your local IBT rep to learn more about your conveyor belt options.

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