Choose a honeycomb conveyor belt by starting with the product it must support, then matching the opening, material and belt construction to the process and conveyor. It is a useful option for straight-running lines that need airflow or drainage through an open metal surface.
Also called a flat wire conveyor belt, it consists of formed flat strips joined by cross rods. The strips stand on edge; their upper edges support the product. This creates a level carrying surface with openings, rather than a continuous sheet.
1. Start with the product
Check the smallest item, its contact footprint and how it enters and leaves the belt.
2. Match the process
Identify the need for air or liquid passage, along with temperature and cleaning conditions.
3. Complete the conveyor fit
Select the strip and rod sizes, drive, support and edges as one working arrangement.
This guide focuses on new equipment and new applications. If an existing belt already performs well, start with our Flat Wire Conveyor Belt Replacement Guide.
1. Check Product Support Before Choosing the Mesh
Begin with the smallest product in its actual conveying position. A can resting on a narrow rim, a part with projecting legs and a tray carrying several items need different support, even when their overall widths are similar.
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Directly conveyed products: compare the contact footprint with the clear opening in both directions. Look for places where a corner, leg or narrow end could enter the mesh.
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Products on trays or carriers: check the carrier's underside and loaded weight, since the carrier is what touches the belt.
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Soft or delicate products: consider the contact pattern as well as retention. A sample check can help assess marking or deformation.
Pitch is not the clear opening
Cross-rod pitch and lateral pitch describe repeat distances. The clear opening is the free space within the mesh. Ask for that opening on the proposed drawing; a nominal mesh name or open-area percentage cannot establish whether your smallest product will stay supported.
Check the inlet and discharge too. Good support on the carrying run does not resolve a transfer gap that lets the product tip. Review the transfer arrangement before fixing the belt specification.
2. Decide What Must Pass Through the Belt
Once the product is supported, choose an opening that serves the process. A larger opening is useful only while the required support is maintained.
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Process
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Why an open belt helps
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Selection focus
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Cooling or drying
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Air can pass through the carrying surface.
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Product spacing, support and airflow path.
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Washing or draining
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Liquid can pass through and drain away.
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Spray access, item stability and wash chemistry.
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Baking or heated processing
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The openings expose the underside of supported products or carriers to the process atmosphere.
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Contact pattern and the loaded belt's operating temperature.
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Straight freezing tunnels
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Openings provide a path for cooling airflow.
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Product retention, ice accumulation and the cooling method.
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Belt openness contributes to the process; the equipment, loading and operating settings determine the result. For can washing in particular, see our flat wire belt guide for can washers.
3. Select Material for the Product and Cleaning Cycle
Stainless steel 304 is a common starting point for suitable food-processing duties. Consider 316 where salt, brine or cleaning exposure calls for greater corrosion resistance, while checking the actual concentration and temperature. Carbon steel may suit dry industrial handling; galvanised steel requires a compatible coating environment.
Specify the material for both the strips and cross rods. For hot or cold service, share the belt's operating temperatures and cooling or heating method. A material name alone is not a temperature rating for a loaded belt.
Our Honeycomb Belt Material Guide covers the material comparison in more detail.
4. Match the Construction to Load and Support
Two conveyors carrying the same product may need different belt constructions. A narrow lane of heavy parts concentrates the load, while a wider distribution spreads it across more of the carrying surface. The gaps between support rails also affect how the belt is supported.
Share the loaded product weight, how it is distributed and the planned conveyor length. Add speed and a support-layout sketch if available. These help determine appropriate strip height, strip thickness, cross-rod size and support spacing.
Product load and belt pull are different: the belt must support the items and withstand the tension needed to move the circuit. Have both checked for the operating temperature before approving the construction.
5. Choose the Drive, Edges and Attachments Together
Sprocket drive is common for honeycomb belts. Match the belt geometry with the tooth profile, sprocket positions and drive diameter. Friction drum drive is another option for suitable constructions; the belt and drum arrangement should be confirmed together.
Welded or clinched rod ends retain the belt assembly. Choose the finish with the available side clearance and joining method in mind. An edge name alone does not determine whether it fits the conveyor.
Add side plates or flights when the product needs retention or controlled movement on an incline. Check their path around the ends and beneath the conveyor. For a standard straight-running honeycomb belt, a curved or spiral route calls for a separate belt-design review.
Start with Your Product, Not a Complete Specification
Send PFM Screen a product photo or size description, the process and the approximate belt width. Add temperature and load if known. We can help review the remaining details.
For a planned conveyor, the New Application Enquiry Form (PDF) provides a convenient outline. Complete the information you have; uncertain fields can stay blank.
View our Honeycomb / Flat Wire Conveyor Belt specifications for the available configurations.
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