How to choose a stainless steel conveyor belt

So, you’re looking for a conveyor belt?

Conveyor belts are a staple in the food processing industry – moving large amounts of materials at a quicker pace than, and a fraction of the cost of, manual labour. But, with so many different options available, how do you know which to choose?

Here we look at just a few of the benefits of choosing a stainless steel food-grade conveyor belt:

Easy to clean

As the coronavirus continues to take its toll on the UK, staff must make sure that they are washing their hands (and equipment!) – more than ever before – to prevent the spread of the virus. Keeping your conveyor belt clean and free from degrading materials is also vital for safe and legal food production. Thanks to stainless steel’s perfectly smooth surface, combined with a conveyor belt that minimises gaps and crevices, it’s incredibly easy to sanitise and ensures that there is no trace of food left behind – both during and after operation.

Rustproof

One of the most desirable properties of stainless steel conveyor belts is that they are resistant to rust. With no rust, you can relax knowing that products won’t become trapped in rough, rusty crannies and, you can wash it without worrying about residual moisture damaging the belt.

Durable

In terms of sheer strength, few materials come close to stainless steel. It combines excellent hygiene characteristics with fantastic durability and can handle just about anything. It’s due to this level of durability that stainless steel conveyors are used, particularly when handling heavy food-grade items (i.e. large glass bottles, root vegetables, animal carcasses, etc.).

Recyclable

No matter how tough and durable your food-grade conveyor belt is, it won’t last forever. However, stainless steel holds its value and – when it reaches the end of its working life – it can be easily dismantled and recycled. This reduces your business’ carbon footprint and is a lot better for the environment!

Choosing a stainless steel conveyor belt

SSME has an extensive range of stainless steel conveyor belts for you to choose from. These include:

1. Food grade modular belt food conveyor

Modular conveyors, like these, boast a hygienic design and are used widely throughout all sectors of the food industry, including meat, poultry, ready meals, salads and baked goods. The great thing about the stainless steel conveyor is that it requires very little maintenance, and the length and width can be adjusted to suit your requirements. What’s more, replacing the belt is quick and easy.

2. Cone de-boning conveyor

Make things easier for yourself when cutting and filleting chicken and other non-uniform carcasses with one of our bespoke cone de-boning conveyors. All our systems are made from stainless steel and have a speed controller to enable you to adjust the speed at which the belt operates. Depending on your requirements, we can manufacture a conveyor belt that is long enough for workers to de-bone poultry products comfortably (without impeding each other’s space), whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

3. Sandwich assembly conveyor

From balancing fillings and slicing them down to size to strategically layering them and cutting, what’s the secret to making the perfect butty? The simple answer is a stainless steel conveyor belt. We supply sandwich assembly conveyors that transport your ingredients across the assembly line – making sure that everything is exactly where it needs to be. Extras, such as cutting tables, packaging tables, trays and shelves, can also be added to the system – getting your sandwich assembly line moving.

4. Sanitising conveyor

If you’re looking to eliminate contamination, our sanitising conveyors tick the right box. Constructed from stainless steel, they convey materials along a belt and spray a sanitising solution directly onto products, ensuring they are fully-sanitised. In doing so, the risk of human error – associated with hand spray procedures, conventional sanitising tunnels and dip tanks – is minimised.

5. Rotary turntable

Bespoke rotary turntables (sometimes called Lazy Susan conveyors) aid food distribution and are ideal for end of conveyor line sortation and feeding. Adding a turntable to your packaging station will speed up the production process and, in turn, save you valuable time and money. As with all our stainless steel conveyors, these comply with strict food industry hygiene guidelines and are easy to wipe down.

If you’ve got a question about the stainless steel conveyor belts currently available or would like an expert opinion on which is best for your needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Just give us a call on 0121 661 6346 or fill in the online enquiry form, and we’ll get back to you.