From moving fine powders in a food processing plant to hauling large stones out of a quarry. Belt conveyors are one of the most universally relied-upon pieces of equipment in industrial material handling. Their strength lies in simplicity, a powered belt, a sturdy frame, and decades of proven engineering behind them. But not all belt conveyor systems are created equal. The right design, style, and construction make the difference between a system that runs cleanly for years and one that becomes a recurring maintenance headache. This post breaks down what you need to know about industrial belt conveyors and why Orthman Conveying Systems, LLC is a manufacturer worth knowing.
What Makes Belt Conveyors So Widely Used Across Industries?
The belt conveyor’s enduring place in industrial operations comes down to three things: reliability, versatility, and the ability to scale to almost any capacity requirement. A properly engineered belt conveyor system can handle everything from delicate granular materials to heavy, abrasive bulk loads and do it continuously, at high volume, and with minimal operator intervention.
Unlike some conveying technologies that are application-specific, belt conveyors serve a genuinely broad range of industries. Agriculture, food processing, forestry, mining, quarrying, and heavy production all rely on belt conveyor systems as a core part of their material flow. The key is matching the conveyor design, frame style, belt type, incline, enclosure, and accessories to the specific demands of the application. That’s where manufacturer expertise becomes critical.
Belt Conveyor Styles and What Each One Is Best For
Choosing the right conveyor configuration starts with understanding the available options. Orthman Conveying Systems offers several distinct belt conveyor designs, each engineered for specific performance characteristics:
- Channel Stringer Belt Conveyors: Available in standard 10-foot and 20-foot sections with bolted splice plate connections, these can be linked with truss sections for longer runs. The channel frame design is particularly well-suited for environments where overhead clearance is limited.
- Truss Frame Conveyors: Available in 24-foot and 42-foot lengths. Truss frame conveyors are the right choice when material needs to travel longer spans without intermediate supports. Custom lengths are available to match specific layout requirements.
- Slider Bed Belt Conveyors: A heavy-duty, minimalistic design that reduces support requirements and works well for lighter bulk materials. Cleated belts can be added for moderate inclines up to 23 degrees to prevent material rollback.
- Troughed Belt Conveyors: Designed for inclined conveying applications, the troughed profile creates better material interlocking especially useful for lower-density materials like wood chips reducing fallback and improving efficiency.
- Cleated Belt Conveyors: Engineered for steep incline conveying of loose and free-flowing materials such as biomass, aggregates and recycled materials. The combination of sidewalls and cleats ensure material containment, prevents rollbacks and allows for higher conveying angles compared to traditional trough or flat belt configurations.
- Totally Enclosed Belt Conveyors: For operations where dust control is non-negotiable, fully enclosed belt conveyors provide a virtually dust-free conveying environment. Standard 14-
- Custom Engineered Belt Conveyors: When standard configurations don’t fit the application, Orthman engineers systems from customer-supplied specifications or drawings purpose-built to solve the actual problem at hand.
Accessories That Make the System Work Harder and Last Longer
A belt conveyor is only as effective as the components supporting it. Orthman offers a full range of system accessories designed to improve material control, reduce spillage, extend belt life, and protect the surrounding environment:
- Belt Cleaners: Available in spring-loaded (rubber or UHMW scraper blade) and motor-driven brush-type models to keep the belt surface clean and prevent carry back buildup across different operating conditions.
- Flanged Inlet Load Hoppers: Guide materials smoothly onto the troughed belt from a feed point, with inclined or vertical chute sides available depending on the loading configuration.
- Belt Conveyor Deck Plates: Prevent materials from spilling from the carry side onto the return side of the belt. Standard 16-gauge material, with heavier options available; inclined decking also deflects water and debris away from return idlers.
- Drip Pans: Essential for conveyors installed above sensitive equipment or work areas. Drip pans for fully enclosed systems include gaskets for a dust-proof installation.
- Standard Belt Conveyor Covers: Protect the belt, materials, and idler rollers from weather, UV degradation, and freezing conditions extending equipment life in outdoor or semi-outdoor installations.
Why Orthman Conveying Systems Is the Right Belt Conveyor Partner
Orthman Conveying Systems, LLC, based in Cleburne, TX, brings deep application engineering experience to every belt conveyor project. Their product line isn’t a catalog of generic equipment it’s a range of well-thought-out designs backed by years of materials handling expertise and the ability to custom-engineer solutions when standard options don’t fit.
What separates Orthman from suppliers who simply ship standard equipment is their emphasis on heavy-duty construction and trouble-free long-term operation. Every system whether it’s a channel stringer conveyor for a tight-clearance installation or a fully enclosed dust-control system for a processing facility is built with the application engineering and structural integrity to perform reliably under real-world conditions.
Their extensive rep network across the country means local support is accessible, and their team can work directly from customer specs or drawings for custom-engineered projects. Whether you’re upgrading an existing conveying line or specifying a new system from the ground up, Orthman has the product depth and technical backing to get it right.
Get the Right Belt Conveyor System for Your Operation
If you’re sourcing a belt conveyor system whether it’s a standard channel stringer setup, a long-span truss frame design, or a fully custom-engineered solution Orthman Conveying Systems has the experience and product range to deliver it. Their team is ready to help you match the right conveyor style, accessories, and construction to your material handling requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Belt Conveyors
What types of materials can belt conveyors handle?
Belt conveyor systems are engineered to handle an exceptionally wide range of bulk materials from fine powders and granules to large, lumpy stones and heavy aggregate. The material’s bulk density, lump size, abrasiveness, and moisture content all influence which belt style, frame design, and belt cleaner configuration are appropriate. Orthman’s product line covers this full range, with designs suitable for food processing, agriculture, mining, quarrying, forestry, and heavy industrial applications. The key is matching the conveyor specifications to the actual material characteristics before the system is built.
What is the difference between a channel stringer and a truss frame belt conveyor?
Channel stringer belt conveyors use a channel-frame design and are built in standard 10-foot and 20-foot sections that can be bolted together and supplemented with truss sections for longer runs. They’re particularly well-suited for installations with limited overhead clearance. Truss frame conveyors, available in 24-foot and 42-foot lengths, are designed for longer unsupported spans situations where the conveyor needs to bridge a gap without intermediate structural supports below. The right choice depends on your span length, structural constraints, and installation environment.
When should I choose a totally enclosed belt conveyor?
Totally enclosed belt conveyors are the right choice when dust control is a priority whether for environmental compliance, product quality, or worker safety. They provide a virtually dust-free conveying environment using optional corrugated or flat covers and standard 14-gauge steel drip pans. For fully enclosed systems, drip pans include gaskets for a dust-proof installation. These conveyors are commonly specified in food processing, chemical handling, and any application where airborne material poses a problem.
Can belt conveyors handle inclined conveying?
Yes both the slider bed, troughed and cleated belt conveyor designs are suited for inclined applications. Slider bed conveyors can be equipped with special cleated belts for inclines up to 23 degrees, which prevent material from sliding back down. The troughed design is particularly effective for inclined conveying of lower-density, interlocking materials like wood chips, where the trough profile helps hold material in place and reduces fallback. The cleated belt conveyor with the combination of sidewalls and cleats ensure material containment, prevents rollbacks and allows for higher conveying angles compared to traditional trough or flat belt configurations.The appropriate belt style and incline angle depend on the material being conveyed.
What belt conveyor accessories does Orthman offer?
Orthman provides a comprehensive range of belt conveyor accessories including belt cleaners (spring-loaded scraper blade and motor-driven brush-type models), flanged inlet load hoppers, deck plates, drip pans, and standard conveyor covers. Belt cleaners keep the belt surface free of material carry back, which reduces wear and spillage. Covers protect the belt and idler rollers from UV damage, precipitation, and freezing temperatures. These accessories are integral to long-term system performance, not afterthoughts.
Does Orthman offer custom-engineered belt conveyor systems?
Yes. When standard belt conveyor designs don’t meet the requirements of a particular installation, Orthman’s engineering team can design a system from customer-supplied specifications or drawings. This is particularly valuable for facilities with unusual layout constraints, non-standard material characteristics, or process requirements that fall outside typical catalog configurations. Custom-engineered belt conveyors are built with the same heavy-duty construction standards as Orthman’s standard product line.
What industries does Orthman serve with belt conveyor systems?
Orthman belt conveyors are used across a wide range of industries including food processing, agriculture, forestry, mining, quarrying, and heavy production. The product line’s versatility covering everything from light-duty slider bed conveyors to heavy truss frame systems means it’s well-suited for both light industrial and demanding heavy-duty environments. Their application engineering experience spans this full range, which is why facilities in different sectors trust Orthman to spec the right system for their operation.
How do I get product catalogs or request a belt conveyor quote from Orthman?
Orthman makes it easy to access detailed product information. The Belt Conveyor Catalog and Belt Conveyor Manual are both available for download directly from their website at orthmanconveying.com/. For quotes, specifications, or application questions, you can reach the Orthman team by phone at 682-356-6200 or toll free at 877-664-2687, or by email at sales@orthmanconveying.com. Industrial and distributor representatives are also available nationwide through their rep locator.
