• Volkan
• March 31, 2025

Buyer’s Guide to Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are the backbone of efficient material handling across a whole host of different industries. These systems keep your materials moving swiftly while reducing manual handling and labour costs, as well as improving workplace safety.

Whether you’re in manufacturing, construction or logistics, choosing the right belt conveyor can transform your operations, taking you from bottlenecks and stoppages to seamless productivity in no time. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know when choosing your conveyor, providing a roadmap to the perfect solution.

How Belt Conveyors Work

Belt conveyors use a continuous belt loop powered by pulleys to transport materials. The belt is typically made of rubber, PVC or other durable materials and moves over rollers or a flat surface to carry materials from one point to another with minimal effort.

A motor-driven pulley, known as the drive pulley, provides the force needed to move the belt, while an idler pulley helps maintain tension and alignment throughout the entire belt. Some systems may include sidewalls or rails to stop materials from slipping off the belt, reducing the risk of workplace injury and the amount of material waste.

Depending on the setup, these systems can handle everything from lightweight packages to heavy-duty, bulk materials. Whether installed on an assembly line or a construction site, industrial belt conveyors provide a reliable, automated way to move materials efficiently.

Types of Belt Conveyor Systems

Different tasks require different solutions, which is why there are so many types of belt conveyors for sale, with each one being purpose-made to tackle a specific challenge. Some of the most common types include:

• Flat Bed: Ideal for transporting materials across a level surface.
• Incline/Decline: Designed to move materials between different heights.
• Curved: Allow materials to navigate tight spaces and change directions with ease.
• Modular: Made with interlocking segments, modular belt conveyors offer easy maintenance and high durability.
• Slider Bed: Featuring a solid, friction-reducing surface beneath the belt they’re perfect for small or lightweight items.
• Cleated: Equipped with sidewalls, otherwise known as cleats, to keep materials or products from slipping off the belt.
• Portable: Lightweight and mobile, great for temporary or regularly changing setups.
• Telescopic: Purpose-made for loading and unloading trucks, telescopic belt conveyors feature extendable sections that can be adjusted to different lengths.

Applications Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are versatile machines capable of improving the efficiency and safety of operations for businesses across a variety of sectors and specialist industries, including:

• Manufacturing Assembly Lines: Moving components and finished products.
• Construction: Transporting cement, sand and other building materials.
• Warehouses and Logistics: Streamlining parcel sorting and distribution.
• Mining and Quarrying: Handling bulk materials like coal, gravel and more.
• Food Processing: Safe, hygienic movement of packaged and unpackaged food.
• Recycling: Sorting, transporting and processing recyclable materials.

Key Benefits of Belt Conveyors

1. Greater Efficiency & Productivity

By automating processes with a belt conveyor, you can benefit from faster material handling, continuous workflows, increased throughput and reduced bottlenecks, all contributing to a more efficient operation. They can even integrate with automation systems to further streamline processes, allowing for real-time adjustments and monitoring – the perfect solution for high-volume industries. By reducing the need for manual handling, conveyors allow workers to focus on more strategic tasks, ultimately boosting the productivity of your business.

2. Enhanced Safety

Enjoy a safer workplace by replacing manual labour tasks with the automation of belt conveyors. Not only does reducing the number of people in material handling minimise the chances of workplace injury but it also helps maintain a cleaner, more organised environment. Plus, many modern conveyors are designed with safety features such as protective guards and cleats, fully enclosed systems and emergency stop buttons in the event of a potential hazard, helping create a safer and more compliant workplace.

3. Cost-Efficient

Industrial belt conveyors offer a cost-effective solution for material handling by providing significant savings in the long run. By reducing manual labour costs with automated processes, you’re free to focus on funding growth by allocating resources to other areas of your business. Automation also helps to improve the efficiency of your operations, boosting productivity and profitability. With optimised material flow, lower maintenance costs and reduced downtime, belt conveyors are an economical choice for businesses looking to cut costs while maintaining high productivity.

4. Versatility & Customisable Solutions

One of the key advantages of belt conveyors is their adaptability to cater to various needs. Whether you need a compact conveyor for tight spaces, an incline conveyor to transport materials from low to high or a telescopic belt conveyor for easy loading and unloading, the variety and flexibility of these systems are unmatched.

Plus, with Coveya, you can enjoy all the benefits of a bespoke, custom conveyor that’s purpose-built for your business. From handling unique materials and heavy products to navigating tight spaces and complex layouts, we can craft a belt conveyor specifically tailored to your unique needs that optimises efficiency and delivers long-term value.

Key Considerations When Selecting a Belt Conveyor System

Whether you’re looking to hire a conveyor or purchase one outright, there are several factors to consider before making your investment, including:

Material Handling: The weight, size and type of materials you’re transporting will significantly influence your choice. Specifically, the heavier or more abrasive your materials, the more durable the system needs to be.

Speed and Throughput: Your conveyor must be able to keep up with the speed of your operations. If you require high throughput, you may need a premium system with specialised motors and components.

Operating Environment: Consider the environment in which you’ll use your belt conveyor. Is it humid? Exposed to the elements? High in temperature? Whatever the environment, be sure to choose a conveyor that offers the durability you require.

Belt Material: Different belts perform differently depending on the material being transported. Rubber belts are ideal for heavy-duty applications, PVC is best suited for light, non-abrasive materials and metal belts perform best in high-temperature environments

Maintenance: It’s important to think about the long-term maintenance of your system as many machines come with easy-to-replace parts and low maintenance costs, while others may be more prone to downtime and more difficult to repair.

Best Maintenance Practises for Belt Conveyor

Proper maintenance of your belt conveyor is essential to ensure your operations keep running smoothly for the foreseeable future. Over time, your conveyor will suffer from general wear and tear, with parts that may need replacing or repairing, and you can experience dust and debris build-up that can lead to potential mechanical issues and hazards. By following these few steps, your conveyor should stay in top condition for years to come:

• Regular Inspections: Regularly check key components such as the belt, pulleys and rollers for early signs of wear to prevent downtime before it occurs.
• Debris Removal: During operation, keep an eye out for any debris that could interfere with performance or cause damage to the system.
• Proper Alignment and Tension: Ensure the belt is properly aligned and secure before use to avoid potential damage and uneven wear of parts.
• Lubrication: Regularly lubricate bearings and other moving parts to reduce friction and maintain peak efficiency.
• Monitor Belt Slippage: Check for any belt slippage or misfeeding during use to avoid delays and damage to materials.
• Scheduled Maintenance: Implementing a routine maintenance schedule and professional inspections will help prevent major repairs.

Looking for A Belt Conveyor System? Explore Our Range Today!

Ready to reduce your costs and enhance your operations with one simple change? At Coveya, we have a truly comprehensive range of new and used belt conveyors for sale or hire to suit all sectors and applications. Whether you’re looking for an off-the-shelf, tried and tested solution or a custom unit tailored specifically to your material handling needs, Coveya has you covered.

Contact us today by calling 08009159195 or emailing us at support@coveya.co.uk.