Quick answer: the Veybelt 986 series is a 25.4 mm (1 in) pitch plastic modular belt platform with the highest strength ratings in this guide family: 18,056 N/m in PP and 30,851 N/m in POM. Two surfaces, flat top (closed) and flush grid (22.8% open), both 10 mm thick. Both engage the same 986 sprockets (12 / 16 / 20 teeth), so switching between them later costs you a belt, not a conveyor.
What is the 986 series?
The 986 is a straight-running series built around a 1-inch pitch: short enough for reasonably tight transfers, strong enough to carry serious load. In POM it reaches 30,851 N/m belt strength. That lets a compact 10 mm belt take pull loads that would normally force you onto a heavier, thicker platform, which matters on lines where frame height and transfer gap are fixed but tension is not trivial. Modules are POM or PP, brick-layed on hinge rods to any practical width; a forklift gouge means replacing a few modules on the frame, not the belt.
| Pitch | 25.4 mm (1 in) |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 10 mm |
| Belt strength | 18,056 N/m (PP) / 30,851 N/m (POM) |
| Materials | POM / PP |
| Standard colors | Natural, Blue, Brown |
| Drive | Positive sprocket drive, 12 / 16 / 20 teeth |
Choose your surface: the two 986 variants
| Variant | Open area | Best for | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 986 Flat Top | 0% (closed) | High-tension transport of packaged goods and unstable product on a closed surface; the 30,851 N/m POM rating carries heavier or longer lines than a typical 1-inch belt will | Product needs to drain, dry or get washed through the belt |
| 986 Flush Grid | 22.8% | Washdown, drain and cooling duty on high-pull lines: 22.8% open with the same strength ratings as the flat top | Product feet catch in the grid openings |
With the 986 the choice is about drainage, not strength; both surfaces carry identical ratings. Closed base or spillage containment: flat top. Anything that needs to drain, rinse or breathe: flush grid.
Matching sprockets
Both surfaces engage the same POM (acetal) 986 series sprockets:
- Teeth options: 12 / 16 / 20 teeth. Pick by shaft height and belt speed. When the belt runs near its rated tension, the higher counts are worth having: smoother engagement and a larger pitch diameter.
- Bore types: square bore self-centers and covers most installs; round bore and bushing inserts take care of worn or non-standard shafts.
- How many per shaft: start with one sprocket per 100–150 mm of belt width. Lock only the center sprocket. PP and POM move noticeably with temperature and the belt needs the outboard sprockets free to float.
Accessories for a complete 986 conveyor
- Flights: vertical cleats for incline/decline sections, listed compatible with the 986 series in 50 / 102 / 150 mm heights.
- Side guards: flexible sidewalls that hold product on inclines and narrow belts, also available for 986.
- Hinge rods: spares for pulling and replacing damaged modules.
- Return wheels and pressure rollers: return-path support and hold-down on incline sections.
- Bearing bushings: stop the sprockets wandering along the drive shaft.
How to spec your 986 order
Send these five items and a complete BOM comes back to you:
- Surface style (flat top / flush grid) and material (PP, or POM for the 30,851 N/m strength rating)
- Belt width and conveyor length (center-to-center)
- Product weight and speed, ambient/washdown temperature
- Shaft size, so we can match square/round/bushing bores
- Accessories: flights (height and spacing), side guards, spare hinge rods
Request a 986 series quote: direct from the manufacturing base, any width in standard module multiples.
Related reading
- How to Select the Right Plastic Modular Belt
- Understanding Modular Belt Naming Conventions
- Thermal Expansion in Plastic Modular Belts
- Series 5935 Modular Belt Buyer's Guide (19.05 mm fine-pitch platform)
- OPB Series Modular Belt Buyer's Guide (50.8 mm heavy-duty platform with five surfaces)
