Frequently Asked Questions About Screw Conveyor Systems
A screw conveyor system, also called an auger conveyor, uses a rotating helical screw blade (flight) inside a trough to move bulk materials like powders, pellets, and granules. Orthman screw conveyors handle horizontal, inclined, or vertical transport with high reliability.
Orthman industrial screw conveyors process free-flowing and semi-free-flowing materials including alfalfa meal, cement, clinker, fertilizers, flour, minerals, pellets, plastics, rice, sand, sawdust, seeds, soybean meal, and zinc oxide. Custom flights optimize for sticky, abrasive, or fragile loads.
Screw conveyors offer enclosed operation to contain dust and odors, lower installation costs for enclosed spaces, gentler handling for friable materials, and easier metering with screw feeders. They excel in tight spaces and multi-point discharge setups where belts struggle.
Select stainless steel screw conveyors for food-grade, wash-down, or corrosive environments (e.g., FDA-compliant plants). Choose hardened carbon steel for abrasive, high-wear applications like mining or cement. Orthman engineers recommend based on your material and duty cycle.
Pre-engineered catalog screw conveyors and screw feeders ship in days. Custom industrial screw conveyors typically deliver in 4-6 weeks, with rush options available. Our U.S. inventory ensures fast parts and support.
Yes, our enclosed screw conveyor systems contain dust and prevent contamination, complying with OSHA guarding requirements and FDA sanitation standards. Stainless builds and sanitary designs support food, pharma, and chemical applications.
