Flat Wire Belts for Can Washers

Flat wire conveyor belts are an option for metal can washers that need an open metal carrying surface. The mesh lets wash and rinse liquid pass through while supporting cans as they travel through the equipment. Choosing the belt means balancing drainage with can stability, chemical exposure and the existing drive.

Flat Wire Belts for Can Washers

PFM Screen supplies honeycomb / flat wire conveyor belts and can review a specification for your can washing line. Start with the belt position, can size and an existing belt photo or equipment drawing.

Discuss your can washer belt requirements   |   View flat wire belt structures and specifications

Why Consider a Flat Wire Belt for Can Washing?

Formed flat strips and connecting rods create a repeating open structure. The upper strip edges provide the carrying level, while the spaces between them allow liquid to pass through. These features make the construction worth evaluating where the washer is designed for metal mesh belting.

Belt selection supports the washing process; it does not by itself determine cleanliness or drying performance. Spray arrangement, chemistry, product loading and the rest of the washer remain part of the process.

Start with Can Support and Transfer Points

Tell us how the cans sit on the belt, their smallest contact diameter and the range of can sizes handled. The actual clear opening matters more than the product name or a nominal mesh label.

• At the carrying surface: check how the can base or rim bridges the openings in its operating orientation.
• At the inlet and outlet: review transfer gaps, changes in height and nearby guides. A can that sits well on the mesh can still tip at a poorly matched transfer.
• Under the spray: include any existing hold-down arrangement and the stages where cans become unstable.

If you report tipping or jams, include photos of the relevant location. This helps distinguish a belt-support issue from a transfer or guide issue.

Match the Material to the Wash Chemistry

PFM’s flat wire range includes stainless steel 304 and 316. For a can washer, evaluate the grade against the actual cleaning solution and temperature rather than selecting solely from the word “stainless.”

Send the chemical name or supplier data sheet, working concentration and wash temperature. Include rinse conditions or deposits that have caused problems with the old belt. Material selection should address the rods, strips and relevant edge components together.

If the current material has given satisfactory service, share that specification. If it has corroded prematurely, a description and close-up photos are more useful than requesting a heavier belt without checking the cause.

Specify the Mesh and Drive as One Assembly

A can washer replacement must suit the existing conveying system. Width and length alone are not enough to identify it. Review these groups of information together:

Nominal mesh descriptions such as “1 × 1” and “1/2 × 1” can help identify an existing belt, but the actual dimensions still need to be checked. PFM’s flat wire product page provides the dimension guide and listed configurations. A custom enquiry can be reviewed where the existing belt differs from those sizes.

Main Carrying Belt or Hold-Down Belt?

Some can washers use a separate hold-down conveyor in higher-pressure stages. It performs a different job from the main carrying belt and should be identified separately in the enquiry.

Mark the belt position on a photo or drawing. For a hold-down enquiry, include the contact arrangement, belt path and available clearance so the construction can be assessed for that duty. The main belt specification should not automatically be copied to the hold-down position.

Replacing an Existing Can Washer Belt

When the existing belt has worked well, send its drawing or a set of mesh, edge and drive photos. Add the width and length, and explain whether the replacement is routine maintenance or follows a particular failure.

• Routine replacement: start by confirming the current geometry, material, joint and drive.
• Corrosion or breakage: include photos and the operating conditions where the damage occurs.
• Can instability: show the smallest cans and the inlet, outlet or spray stage where the problem appears.

You can use the flat wire belt enquiry form (PDF) to record dimensions. Send incomplete information if necessary; the first step is to identify the belt and the details still needed.

Questions from Can Washer Buyers

Can a metal belt replace a plastic belt in the same washer?

That is a conveyor modification rather than a like-for-like belt replacement. Drive, support, clearances and transfers need to be reviewed together. Send the equipment layout before choosing a metal specification.

Does a larger opening always improve the result?

A larger opening provides more space for liquid passage, but can reduce support for the cans. Compare the actual can contact area and mesh geometry, then assess the complete wash process.

What do you need for an initial enquiry?

Start with the belt position, can dimensions and belt width, plus a belt photo or drawing. Add the wash temperature and cleaning solution if known. Detailed dimensions can follow as the specification is reviewed.