Overview
A stainless steel wire mesh conveyor carries product on a woven or welded steel wire belt instead of a solid plastic or fabric surface. The belt is largely open area, so air, water, heat and debris pass straight through it rather than being trapped under the product. That single property is why mesh belts are used for processes rather than plain transfer.
Because the belt is steel, it works where plastic and fabric belts fail. It tolerates high temperatures, so it runs through ovens, dryers and freezers. It resists chemicals and does not absorb liquid, so it stands up to washing, caustic cleaning and wet processing. Stainless grades such as 304 and 316 give the corrosion resistance needed for food, pharmaceutical and chemical duty, with 316 preferred where salt or aggressive chemicals are involved.
The mesh style is chosen for the job. Different weaves trade off open area, flexibility, surface support and strength, so a belt built for maximum airflow through a cooling tunnel is not the same belt used to carry small parts through a washer. We select the weave, wire diameter and belt support to suit the product, the temperature and the process.
Belt types
Balanced weave
Alternating left and right hand spirals joined by connecting rods. Strong, stable and flexible, and the usual general-purpose mesh for straight running and curved conveyors.
Flat flex
A light, simple flat wire belt with high open area and an even carrying surface. Widely used on small product, cooling and enrobing lines where space is tight.
Chain driven mesh
Mesh belt driven by chains at each edge rather than by friction. Used for heavier loads, wider belts and longer runs where positive drive is needed.
Spiral and turn belts
Mesh built to flex sideways for curves and spiral towers, common on cooling and freezing lines where the belt has to change direction or elevation.
Key features
High open area
Air, water and heat pass straight through the belt, so product dries, cools, drains and freezes far faster than on a solid belt surface.
High temperature capability
Steel belting runs through ovens, dryers and heat treatment where plastic and fabric belts would soften, distort or fail.
Full wash-down and sanitising
Steel does not absorb liquid and can be washed, steamed and chemically cleaned, which is why mesh belts are standard in food and pharmaceutical processing.
Corrosion resistance
Stainless grades such as 304 and 316 handle wet, humid and chemically aggressive conditions, with 316 chosen where salt or harsher chemicals are present.
Weave chosen for the process
Mesh style, wire diameter and pitch are selected for the balance of open area, product support and strength that the application actually needs.
Long service life
A steel belt tolerates abrasive, sharp and hot product that would cut or wear through a fabric or plastic belt, so replacement intervals are much longer.
Applications
- Washing, rinsing and drainage
- Drying and dewatering
- Cooling and freezing lines
- Baking and oven lines
- Heat treatment and furnace transfer
- Blanching and cooking
- Coating, enrobing and spraying
- Parts washing and degreasing
Typical specifications
- Belt materials
- Stainless steel, typically grade 304, or 316 for higher corrosion resistance
- Mesh types
- Balanced weave, flat flex, chain driven, and spiral or turn belts
- Open area
- High open area for airflow and drainage, varying with the mesh style selected
- Temperature
- Suited to high-temperature processes including ovens and dryers, with the limit set by the grade and weave specified
- Frame
- Stainless steel for wash-down, food and chemical environments
- Drive
- Friction drive, or chain driven at the belt edges for heavier and wider belts
- Layouts
- Straight, incline, and curved or spiral where the mesh style allows
Typical values for this conveyor type. Final specifications are confirmed for your application on quotation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wire mesh conveyor used for?
Wire mesh conveyors are used where something has to pass through the belt as well as along it. Because the belt is mostly open area, air, water and heat move through freely, which makes it the standard choice for washing, draining, drying, cooling, freezing, baking and heat treatment rather than plain product transfer.
What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh?
Both are corrosion-resistant stainless grades. 304 is the general-purpose choice and covers most food and industrial duty. 316 contains molybdenum, which gives noticeably better resistance to salt, chlorides and aggressive chemicals, so it is specified for marine, salty, brine or harsh chemical environments where 304 would eventually pit.
Which mesh type should I choose?
It depends on what the process needs. Balanced weave is the general-purpose choice, strong and flexible enough for straight and curved running. Flat flex is lighter with a very open surface, suited to small product and cooling. Chain driven mesh is used for heavy loads and wide belts. We select weave, wire diameter and pitch from your product size, weight, temperature and required airflow.
Can a wire mesh conveyor run through an oven or freezer?
Yes, and this is one of its main uses. Steel belting tolerates the temperatures found in baking, drying and heat treatment, and works equally well in freezing and cooling tunnels. The exact temperature limit depends on the steel grade and weave specified, so it is confirmed against your process temperature during selection.
Will small products fall through the mesh?
Not if the belt is specified correctly. Mesh pitch and wire diameter are chosen so the product is supported rather than dropping through the openings. For very small or irregular product a finer, tighter weave is used, which trades some open area for a more closed carrying surface.
How is a mesh belt cleaned?
Mesh belts can be washed, steam cleaned and chemically sanitised in place, since steel does not absorb liquid and the open structure lets cleaning solution and water pass right through and drain away. This is a key reason they are used in food and pharmaceutical processing where hygiene has to be verifiable.