Home

Metal Conveyor Belts and Wire Mesh Belts

Products

Spiral Freezer Belt for IQF and Spiral Cooling Systems

Spiral Freezer Belts — also called IQF belts, spiral cooler belts, or spiral cage belts — are stainless steel mesh conveyor belts engineered to run inside spiral freezers, spiral coolers, and spiral proofing towers. Their open rod-and-link structure allows high-velocity refrigerated air to circulate freely through every product tier, delivering fast, even IQF freezing of poultry, seafood, vegetables, bakery, and prepared meals without product sticking or damage.

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts Enquiry Form

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts with Link in The Middle Enquiry Form

Self Stacking Spiral Belts

Self Stacking Spiral Belts Enquiry Form

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts Enquiry Form

Overview
Specification
Applications
Downloads
FAQ

Product Description

A spiral freezer belt is the mechanical core of any spiral freezing or cooling system. It carries product continuously in a vertical helical path — from infeed at ground level through multiple stacked tiers — while high-velocity refrigerated air passes freely through the open mesh at every level. The belt must maintain stable tracking and link engagement at operating temperatures as low as −40 °C, withstand full production loads without sagging or misalignment, and survive daily CIP chemical cleaning cycles across its full service life. PFM Screen manufactures spiral freezer belts in food-grade SS304 and SS316 stainless steel, in all three major drive configurations, for new spiral systems and as direct replacements for existing equipment.

PFM Screen spiral freezer belts are manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances: rod pitch, link pitch, and wire diameter are controlled to ±0.1 mm to ensure accurate sprocket engagement, correct turn ratios, and consistent product support across the full belt width. Each belt is finished with welded edges to eliminate sharp rod ends that can abrade belt guides or injure maintenance personnel during installation. Turn ratios from 1.6 to 2.5 are available to match your drum diameter and belt width combination precisely.

The open rod-and-link mesh structure allows refrigerated air to penetrate every belt tier from both above and below the product layer, enabling rapid, even heat extraction — the essential mechanism behind consistent IQF quality, uniform cooling curves, and reduced product weight loss during freezing.

PFM Screen supplies three belt types to cover the full range of spiral conveyor drive systems used in commercial food processing. Selecting the correct type depends on your equipment's drive mechanism, throughput requirement, and hygiene access constraints:

- Standard Spiral Freezer Belts

Standard Spiral Freezer Belts

Standard Spiral Freezer Belts with Center Chains

Standard Spiral Freezer Belts without Mesh Cover

Standard Spiral Freezer Belts with Side Guard Chains

- Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts

- Self-Stacking Spiral Freezer Belts

Features & Benefits

• Sub-zero structural stability: Maintains full belt geometry, link engagement, and tracking at continuous operating temperatures down to −40 °C without metal fatigue or link deformation across service life.

• Open mesh for maximum IQF airflow: The open rod-and-link structure allows high-velocity refrigerated air to circulate through every belt tier, enabling uniform, rapid freezing with minimal moisture loss and no product sticking.

• Food-grade materials: SS304 and SS316 stainless steel contain no coatings, binders, or migrating substances. Both grades comply with EU 1935/2004 and FDA 21 CFR food contact regulations. Material test certificates available on request.

• Daily CIP cycle compatible: Belt surfaces and internal link structures withstand steam cleaning, clean-in-place chemical circulation, and standard food-safe sanitiser concentrations without surface degradation or link corrosion.

• Matching sprockets and drive components supplied: Sprockets, side guards, and replacement belt sections available at the time of belt order, eliminating multi-supplier coordination delays.

How to Choose the Right Spiral Freezer Belt

Selecting the correct spiral freezer belt requires matching five parameters to your equipment:

1. Drive system type: Standard belts require a centre drum or cage; edge drive belts require edge chain/sprocket assemblies; self-stacking belts are fully self-supporting. Fitting the wrong type to your drive causes immediate tracking failure.

2. Belt width and turn ratio: For spiral runs, specify both the straight-run belt width and the turn ratio (outer edge speed ÷ inner edge speed, range 1.6–2.5). An incorrect turn ratio causes lateral belt migration and accelerated edge wear.

3. Rod pitch: Must match the drum sprocket tooth pitch exactly (standard values: 19.05, 25.4, 27.4, 30, 30.5, 38.1 mm). A pitch mismatch causes sprocket jump and rapid drive wear.

4. Material grade: SS304 for most IQF and cooling applications to −40 °C. SS316 for seafood, dairy, meat, and any line using chloride-based CIP chemicals daily.

5. For replacement orders: Provide equipment make/model, belt width, rod pitch, wire diameter, and total belt length. Photographs of the existing belt and drive interface allow PFM Screen to confirm the correct specification before production.

Contact [email protected] with your equipment specifications for a technical review and quotation.

Replacing Your Existing Spiral Freezer Belt

To ensure a correct like-for-like replacement, provide as much of the following as available:

• Equipment make and model (e.g. "JBT GYRoCOMPACT 600", "Starfrost Helix")

• Belt width (straight-run section, in mm or inches)

• Rod pitch (centre-to-centre, in mm)

• Rod and wire diameters

• Spiral Coil Pitch

• Turn ratio or drum diameter

• Total belt length (from maintenance records)

If documentation is unavailable, photographs of the existing belt in situ and of the drive interface allow PFM Screen's engineering team to identify the correct specification. Matching sprockets are available at the time of belt order. Standard lead time for replacement belts is 3–6 weeks. Contact wirebelt@pfmscreen.com to begin a replacement review.

Why Choose Us?

• 30+ years manufacturing stainless steel conveyor belts for the global food processing industry

• Exported to 60+ countries across Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania

• OEM and retrofit supply: belts manufactured to your existing system's specifications, compatible with all major spiral freezer brands

• Matching sprockets and side guards available at time of belt order

• Standard lead time 2–4 weeks; expedited production available on request

• Material certificates and dimensional drawings provided with every order

Spiral Freezer Belt Specifications

Technical Specifications	Popular Value
Material	SUS304 / SUS316
Rod Pitch (mm)	19.05, 25.4, 27.4, 30, 30.5, 38.1
Side Guard Height (mm)	24, 26, 38.1
Link Thickness (mm)	2, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1
Rod Diameter (mm)	4.9, 5.0, 5.9, 6.0
Wire Diameter (mm)	1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8
Available Widths: Curve/Spiral (mm)	304.8-1371.6
Available Widths: Straight Run (mm)	304.8-1524
Turn Ratio	1.6-2.5
Edge Finish	Welded
Belt Length	Customized
Sprocket	Material & design customized upon request

Spiral Freezer Belt Types

Belt Type	Drive Method	Support Required	Structural Complexity	Typical Use Case	Key Advantages
Standard Spiral Belt	Center Drive	Yes	Low	Conventional freezers	Economical, widely used
Edge Drive Spiral Belt	Edge Drive	Yes	Medium	High-speed or heavy-load	Improved tension control, longer lifespan
Self-Stacking Spiral Belt	Self-Stacking	No	High	Space-constrained plants	Compact, hygienic, energy-efficient

Type

Description

Standard Spiral Freezer Belts

Structure & Features:

- Center-driven via rotating drums.

- Constructed with stainless steel interwoven spirals and rods.

- Requires support rails or tiers to guide the belt.

Advantages:

- Most widely deployed spiral belt type worldwide; lowest initial cost and shortest lead time.

- Simple field repair: any damaged section can be spliced on-site without removing the full belt.

- Compatible with standard drum diameters; straight-run widths up to 1,524 mm.

Applications:

- IQF freezing of dumplings, vegetables, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and bakery products.

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts

Structure & Features:

- Driven by chains or sprockets on both belt edges.

- Strong edge design for better tracking and tension control.

- Still requires support structure or tiers.

Advantages:

- Driven by chains or sprockets meshing with reinforced belt edges on both sides.

- Tension is distributed evenly across the full belt width, not concentrated at the drum contact point.

- Requires support tiers; compatible with existing spiral system frames as a direct replacement.

Applications:

- High-capacity production of meat, dairy, seafood, and baked goods.

Self-Stacking Spiral Freezer Belts

Structure & Features:

- Does not require any support trays—the belt stacks on itself.

- Specially engineered edges interlock for vertical stacking.

- Designed for fully automated spiral systems.

Advantages:

- Smallest footprint of any spiral belt type: same throughput capacity in a significantly more compact enclosure versus equivalent standard or edge-drive systems.

- No support rails means the complete belt structure is accessible to CIP spray nozzles at every tier — faster sanitation cycles and lower bacterial risk.

- Eliminating the central drum removes a primary mechanical failure point, reducing unplanned downtime and major mechanical repair intervals.

Applications:

- Large-scale frozen food processing (e.g., pizza, fried chicken, bread, ready meals).

Applicable Equipment

• IQF Spiral Freezers (standard, edge drive, self-stacking)
• Spiral Coolers and Cooling Towers
• Spiral Proofing Towers (bakery and artisan bread lines)
• Spiral Pasteurization and Cooking Tunnels
• Washing and Blanching Systems
• Cooking and Searing Tunnel Conveyors

Spiral freezer system with stainless steel spiral belt conveyor in food factory

Spiral Freezers

Spiral Coolers

Applications

• IQF Freezing: Poultry pieces, seafood, dumplings, vegetables, meat portions, ready meals, dairy products
• Blast Freezing: Burger patties, fish fillets, sausages, prepared foods before packaging
• Spiral Cooling: Baked goods, confectionery, fried chicken and fried fish after frying, buns, pastries
• Proofing: Bread dough, croissants, artisan loaves in spiral proofing towers
• Pasteurization & Cooking: Ready meals, meat products, vegetable preparations
• Washing & Blanching: Pre-washed vegetables, seafood preparations, ready-to-cook foods

Stainless steel spiral cooler belt for bread and baked goods cooling line

Belt for Spiral Cooling

IQF spiral freezer belt for poultry and seafood individual quick freezing

Belt for Spiral Freezing

Spiral pasteurization belt for continuous thermal processing of ready meals

Belt for Spiral Pasteurization

Spiral proofing belt for bakery dough fermentation in proofing tower

Belt for Spiral Proofing

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts Enquiry Form

Flexible Rod Conveyor Belts with Link in The Middle Enquiry Form

Self Stacking Spiral Belts

Self Stacking Spiral Belts Enquiry Form

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belts Enquiry Form

PFM SCREEN Mesh Conveyor Belt Product Catalog

Spiral Freezer Belts - Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about spiral freezer belts, IQF belts, and spiral cooler conveyor belts

Q1. What is a spiral freezer belt and what is it used for?

A spiral freezer belt — also called a spiral conveyor belt, IQF belt, or spiral cage belt — is a stainless steel conveyor belt engineered to travel in a continuous vertical spiral path inside a spiral freezer, spiral cooler, or spiral proofer. The spiral path maximises usable floor space while providing a long, continuous conveying run for even product treatment.

Typical applications include:
• IQF freezing — individually quick-freezing poultry, seafood, vegetables, dumplings, and prepared meals at −30 °C to −40 °C.
• Blast freezing — rapid bulk freezing of bakery products, ready meals, and meat portions before packaging.
• Spiral cooling — lowering product core temperature after baking or frying (buns, pizzas, fried chicken) before packaging.
• Proofing — holding dough products at controlled temperature and humidity during fermentation in a spiral proofing tower.
• Pasteurization & cooking — continuous heat processing in spiral cooking or pasteurization tunnels.

PFM Screen spiral freezer belts are manufactured in SS304 and SS316 stainless steel, with custom widths from 304.8 mm to 1,524 mm and rod pitches from 19.05 mm to 38.1 mm.

Q2. What are the three main types of spiral freezer belts?

PFM Screen manufactures three categories of spiral freezer belt:

Standard Spiral Freezer Belt (centre-drive)
Driven by a central rotating drum. The belt is constructed from interwoven stainless steel spirals and cross rods, and is guided by support rails or tiered tray structures. This is the most widely used and cost-effective design, suitable for medium-load food processing applications including frozen dumplings, vegetables, poultry, and bakery products.

Edge Drive Spiral Freezer Belt
Driven by chains or sprockets running along both belt edges instead of a central drum. The reinforced edge design provides better tension control, more stable tracking, and reduced misalignment — ideal for high-speed lines, heavy-load applications, or long-run spiral systems processing meat, dairy, seafood, or large baked goods.

Self-Stacking Spiral Belt
Does not require any support rails or tray structures — the belt stacks on itself, with specially engineered edges that interlock to form vertical column support. This design is significantly more compact, easier to clean (no support structure to wash around), and thermally more efficient. Preferred for large-scale frozen food production (pizza, fried chicken, bread, ready meals) where hygiene and footprint are critical.

Q3. How do I choose the right spiral freezer belt type for my system?

Selection depends on four key factors:

• Drive system of your spiral equipment — Match the belt to the existing drum or edge-drive mechanism. Standard belts require a central drum; edge drive belts require edge chain/sprocket assemblies. Self-stacking belts are fully self-supporting and do not require either.

• Load and throughput — Standard belts are cost-effective for medium loads. Edge drive belts handle heavy or high-speed lines better due to superior tension distribution. Self-stacking belts support high-volume automated production.

• Floor space and hygiene requirements — Self-stacking belts have the smallest footprint and the easiest cleaning profile (no support rails). Standard and edge drive belts require support structure cleaning between production runs.

• Product type — Delicate products (pastry, filled dumplings, soft bakery) benefit from the smoother, more evenly tensioned surface of edge drive or self-stacking belts. Robust products (IQF vegetables, frozen seafood) are equally well served by standard belts.

PFM Screen's technical team can advise on belt selection based on your spiral system model, operating temperature, belt width, and turn ratio. Contact us with your equipment specifications for a tailored recommendation.

Q4. What technical specifications are available for spiral freezer belts?

PFM Screen spiral freezer belts are manufactured to the following standard and custom specifications:

Parameter	Standard values
Material	SUS304 / SUS316
Rod pitch (mm)	19.05, 25.4, 27.4, 30, 30.5, 38.1
Rod diameter (mm)	4.9, 5.0, 5.9, 6.0
Wire diameter (mm)	1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8
Link thickness (mm)	2.0, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1
Side guard height (mm)	24, 26, 38.1
Width — curve/spiral run (mm)	304.8 – 1,371.6
Width — straight run (mm)	304.8 – 1,524
Turn ratio	1.6 – 2.5
Edge finish	Welded
Belt length	Custom (per system circumference)
Sprockets	Material and design customised on request

Custom parameters outside these ranges are available on request. Please provide your existing belt dimensions or equipment model number when enquiring for a replacement.

Q5. What stainless steel grade should I choose for my spiral freezer belt?

PFM Screen spiral freezer belts are available in two stainless steel grades:

SS304 (SUS304) — the standard grade for most food freezing and cooling applications. Excellent corrosion resistance, strong structural performance at sub-zero temperatures down to −40 °C, and proven compatibility with most food-safe cleaning agents. Suitable for IQF freezing of vegetables, poultry, bakery, prepared meals, and most baked goods cooling lines.

SS316 (SUS316) — the marine-specification grade, with added molybdenum for superior resistance to chloride-based cleaning chemicals and corrosive food products. Recommended for:
• Seafood processing — brine, saline solutions, and high-salinity product contact.
• Dairy and meat processing — where aggressive CIP (clean-in-place) chemicals including bleach-based sanitisers are used on a daily basis.
• Coastal or high-humidity facilities — where the ambient environment accelerates surface pitting in SS304.

Both grades comply with food contact material regulations (EU 1935/2004, FDA 21 CFR) and are suitable for HACCP food safety management systems. Material test certificates are available on request for supplier qualification audits.

Q6. Can the same spiral belt be used in spiral coolers, proofing towers, and pasteurization systems?

Yes. The spiral belt construction is the same across spiral freezing, cooling, proofing, and pasteurization systems — the belt does not change; the enclosure and the airflow or heat source do. PFM Screen spiral belts are designed for the full range of vertical spiral conveying applications:

• Spiral freezers — sub-zero cryogenic or mechanical refrigeration environments (typically −30 °C to −40 °C).
• Spiral coolers / cooling towers — ambient or chilled air cooling after baking or frying, typically bringing core temperature from 90 °C down to 20–40 °C before packaging.
• Spiral proofers — controlled temperature and humidity environments (typically 30–45 °C, 75–85% RH) for dough fermentation in artisan and industrial bakery production.
• Spiral pasteurizers & cookers — continuous thermal processing at elevated temperatures (65–90 °C) for ready-meal sterilisation and cooking.

When ordering for a specific application, specify the operating temperature range, ambient humidity, and belt contact product — this allows PFM Screen to confirm the correct grade, link pitch, and edge treatment for your system conditions.

Q7. How do I order a replacement spiral freezer belt for my existing system?

PFM Screen supplies replacement spiral freezer belts for existing spiral systems from all major equipment manufacturers, including Ashworth, JBT, Frigoscandia, Starfrost, Eurotek, and others. To ensure an accurate like-for-like replacement, please provide as many of the following as possible when contacting us:

• Equipment make and model (e.g. "JBT Frigoscandia GYRoCOMPACT 600")
• Belt width (measured at the straight run section, in mm or inches)
• Rod pitch (centre-to-centre distance between cross rods, in mm)
• Rod and link wire diameters (if known, from existing belt or maintenance records)
• Turn ratio (the ratio of outer belt edge speed to inner belt edge speed in the spiral section)
• Total belt length (in metres, from maintenance records or system documentation)
• Number of spiral tiers

If documentation is unavailable, send photographs of the existing belt edge, a short section of straight belt, and the drive drum or sprocket interface — PFM Screen's technical team will identify the correct specification from visual inspection.

We also supply matching sprockets and drive components at the time of belt replacement. Replacement belt orders are typically fulfilled within 2–4 weeks for standard specifications, with expedited lead times available upon request.

Q8. Are spiral freezer belts HACCP-compliant and food-safe?

Yes. PFM Screen spiral freezer belts are fully compatible with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) food safety management systems and are used in HACCP-certified food processing facilities worldwide.

• Non-toxic, food-contact-safe material — food-grade stainless steel (SS304 or SS316) contains no coatings, binders, or substances that can migrate into food at any operating temperature.
• Fully inspectable — the open rod-and-link mesh structure allows visual inspection of the full belt surface for foreign body contamination without removing the belt from the system.
• CIP and steam cleaning compatible — withstands clean-in-place chemical circulation, steam cleaning, and standard food-safe sanitisers at the concentrations used in food production.
• No porous materials — unlike fabric or rubber belts, spiral stainless steel belts contain no absorbent or porous materials that can harbour bacteria or mould between production runs.
• Sub-zero structural integrity — the belt maintains dimensional stability and link engagement at operating temperatures as low as −40 °C without embrittlement or deformation.

SS316 is recommended for environments with aggressive chloride-based sanitisers or high-salinity product contact. Material test certificates (mill certificates) and certificates of conformance are available for food safety supplier qualification audits on request. Contact [email protected].