Quick answer: selecting a modular belt comes down to four decisions: pitch (module row spacing), material (PP, PE or POM), open area (0-30%), and surface type (flat top, flush grid, perforated, raised rib or nub top). Get these four right and the rest is width and accessories.
Step 1: Pitch
Pitch is the distance between hinge rod centers. Small pitch (12.7-19.05 mm, e.g. our 926 and 5935 series) bends around small nose bars for tight transfers and runs quietly at high speed. Large pitch (50.8-57.15 mm, e.g. OPB, 956, 4809, 5997 series) carries heavier loads with thicker modules and stronger rods. As a rule: light product and tight transfer → small pitch; pallets, crates, bulk → large pitch.
Step 2: Material
| Material | Typical Working Range | Strengths | Watch out |
| PP (polypropylene) | +1 to +104°C | Best all-round strength/cost, chemical resistance | Brittle below ~0°C |
| PE (polyethylene) | -50 to +65°C | Excellent impact strength in freezers | Lower stiffness and load |
| POM (acetal) | -40 to +90°C | Highest strength, low friction, wear resistant | Higher cost; avoid chlorine-heavy cleaning |
These are typical guide values for standard resins; confirm against your actual cleaning chemicals and product temperatures when you request a quote.
Step 3: Open Area
0% (flat top / perforated variants) supports small unstable products and contains spills; 10-24% (flush grid) drains washdown water and lets air circulate for cooling; up to 29% (large open grid, e.g. OPB Large Open) maximizes drainage for washing and screening. If product footprint is smaller than the openings, step down the open area or add a perforated flat top.
Step 4: Surface Type
- Flat Top: closed smooth surface; general conveying, packaged goods.
- Flush Grid: open grid; washdown, draining, cooling.
- Perforated Flat Top: smooth but drains; washing lines.
- Raised Rib: accepts finger transfer plates for dead-plate-free transfers.
- Nub Top: minimal contact for sticky/wet products.
Then: Width, Sprockets, Accessories
Modular belts are built to width by combining modules (brick-laid), so almost any width is possible; our large-pitch series step in 76.2 mm increments from 304.8 mm. Every belt needs matching sprockets (matching POM sprockets are available for every series) and may need flights for inclines or side guards for loose product.
Worked Example: Selecting a Belt for a Vegetable Washing Line
Say you run a vegetable washing line: cut produce, continuous spray washing, 400 mm wide conveyor, product temperature 5-25°C, chlorine-free detergent, gentle inclines only. Step 1, pitch: product is light and transfers are not tight, so a general-purpose 25.4 or 27.2 mm pitch is comfortable, with no need for small-pitch premium or large-pitch strength. Step 2, material: temperatures are mild and chemistry is friendly, so PP gives the best strength per dollar. Step 3, open area: spray washing wants maximum drainage, so a flush grid at roughly 20% open area, or a large open grid if fines are not an issue. Step 4, surface: flush grid, since produce sits stably on a lattice. Result: a PP flush grid belt around 25.4-27.2 mm pitch with matching POM sprockets, plus side guards to keep cut produce from migrating off the edges. That is exactly the kind of specification our engineers return from a filled-in inquiry form, usually with one or two alternatives priced side by side.
Common Selection Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Choosing PP for a freezer. PP embrittles near 0°C; blast freezers and cold stores need PE despite its lower stiffness. If the same belt passes through hot wash cycles, review both extremes.
- Ignoring chemical compatibility. POM performs beautifully mechanically but degrades under chlorine-based sanitizers; if your CIP chemistry is aggressive, tell us the actual cleaning agents.
- Sizing strength on average load. Belt pull peaks at start-up and when product accumulates. Apply the full accumulated load and a service factor, not the steady-state average.
- Forgetting the returnway. Open-grid belts that carry fatty or sticky product drip on the return path; plan drip pans and wearstrip layout at selection time, not after commissioning.
- Buying belt without sprockets. Sprocket pitch diameter sets shaft height and belt speed per rpm. Ordering matched sprockets with the belt (same manufacturer, same batch) avoids meshing surprises.
Typical Choices by Industry
| Application | Typical Pick | Why |
| Poultry / meat washdown | Flush grid PP, 27.2 or 50.8 mm pitch | Drainage, chemical resistance, module-level repair |
| Freezer / IQF lines | Flush grid PE | Impact strength at -40°C |
| Bottling / canning | Flat top chain (POM) or small-pitch flat top belt | Smooth surface, tight transfers, low friction |
| Bakery cooling | Raised rib PP + finger transfer plates | Airflow plus dead-plate-free transfer |
| Parcel sorting | Reinforced flush grid or flat top, 25.4 mm | Load capacity, abrasion resistance |
| Battery plate handling | Acid-resistant PP mesh belt | Corrosive environment tolerance |
Fastest route: fill in our application form (product, environment, layout) and our engineers will return a full belt + sprocket + accessory specification.
