What Is a Conveyor System? Types, Uses & Buying Guide

1. What Is a Conveyor System?

Do you waste time moving things by hand in your plant? Do your workers get tired lifting heavy boxes? Are you losing money because work is slow?

These are not small problems. They hurt your business every day. They make you less money. They make workers sad. They slow down your work.

A sistema transportador can fix these problems. It is a tool that moves things from one spot to another without people carrying them.

1.1 Definition & Core Function

A sistema transportador is a machine that moves items. It uses belts or rollers. It works by itself after you set it up. It can move boxes, food, parts, and more.

Estrellas Creatividad has seen how the right conveyor can change a plant. Since 2005, they have helped plants in over 80 countries make their work better. Their CE-certified machines work well in food, drink, and many other places.

1.2 Key Components

A good conveyor has these parts:

• Belts – The part that items sit on
• Rollers – Round parts that help move the belt
• Motors – Give power to make things move
• Frames – Hold up all the parts
• Controls – Let you start, stop, and change speed

1.3 Industries That Rely on Conveyors

Many places need conveyors:

• Food making
• Drink bottling
• Box packing
• Online stores
• Mining
• Car making

The problem gets worse when plants try to grow but can’t move items fast enough. Workers get hurt lifting heavy things. Items get lost or broken when moved by hand.

2. Types of Conveyor Systems

Not all conveyors are the same. You need the right type for your job.

2.1 Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors move items on a flat belt. They are good for:

• Moving many items at once
• Going up or down hills
• Moving small or big items

Market data shows belt conveyors make up 47% of all conveyors sold. They are the most used type.

Estrellas Creatividad makes belt conveyors that last long and need little fixing. Their team can make a belt just right for what you need.

2.2 Roller Conveyors

Roller conveyor systems have round tubes that spin. Items move by sitting on these rollers.

There are two main types:

• Gravity rollers – Items roll down on their own
• Powered rollers – Motors make the rollers spin

Roller conveyors work well for:

• Heavy boxes
• Flat-bottom items
• Places where items need to stop and wait

2.3 Pneumatic & Chain Conveyors

These are for special jobs:

• Pneumatic – Uses air to move small items through tubes
• Chain – Strong for very heavy items

2.4 Specialty Systems

Some jobs need special conveyors:

• Spiral – Saves space by going up in a circle
• Magnetic – Holds metal items in place
• Vertical – Moves items up or down
• Flexible – Can change shape as needed

3. Benefits of Conveyor Systems

Are you still not sure if you need a conveyor? Look at these benefits.

3.1 Efficiency & Cost Savings

The numbers don’t lie:

Beneficio	Data
Labor cost cut	Up to 70% less
Speed increase	25% faster work
Money back time	1-3 years

One food company that used Estrellas Creatividad machines saw their packing speed go up by 40%. They paid less for workers and got more items out the door.

3.2 Scalability & Customization

As your business grows, your conveyor can too. Good systems let you:

• Add more parts
• Make the line longer
• Hook up to other machines
• Change for new items

Estrellas Creatividad makes parts that fit together like blocks. You can start small and add more when you need to.

3.3 Safety Improvements

Worker safety is at risk with hand moving. People get hurt backs, drop items, or fall.

Conveyors make work safer by:

• No heavy lifting
• Less walking with loads
• No fingers in moving parts
• Steady, safe item flow

4. How to Choose the Right Conveyor System

Not all conveyors fit all jobs. Picking the wrong one wastes money and time.

4.1 Assess Your Needs

Ask these questions:

• How heavy are your items?
• How fast must they move?
• Do they need to go up or down?
• Is your place wet, hot, or cold?
• Do you need food-safe parts?

Estrellas Creatividad has a team that asks these questions first. With over 3,000㎡ of making space, they can build just what you need, not a one-size-fits-all fix that might not work right.

4.2 Top 5 Conveyor Manufacturers

Maker	Good At	Market Share
Hytrol	Online store systems	12%
Daifuku	Airport bags	10%
Dematic	Robot sorting	9%
Bosch Rexroth	Smart factory parts	7%
Estrellas Creatividad	Custom food and pack lines	Growing fast

Estrellas Creatividad may not be the biggest, but they focus on what you need, not just making the same thing for everyone.

4.3 Cost Considerations

A new conveyor can cost:

• Small, basic line: $50,000
• Big, full plant system: $500,000

But look at what you save:

• Less worker pay
• Fewer hurt workers
• Less lost or broken items
• Faster work

5. Installation & Maintenance Best Practices

Your conveyor won’t help if it breaks down. Good care keeps it running.

5.1 Step-by-Step Installation Guide

1. Plan where the conveyor will go
2. Make sure the floor is flat and strong
3. Put the frame parts together
4. Add the belt or rollers
5. Hook up the motor and controls
6. Test with no load
7. Test with light load
8. Train workers how to use it

Estrellas Creatividad sends skilled people to help set up their machines. They make sure everything works right before they leave.

5.2 Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Look for these problems:

• Belt not straight – Fix the tracking
• Motor too hot – Check for jams
• Strange sounds – Look for loose parts
• Items falling off – Check belt speed

5.3 When to Repair vs. Replace

Fix when:

• Just one part is bad
• The system is not old
• The problem is small

Replace when:

• Many parts are worn out
• Your needs have changed a lot
• Fixing costs more than half of a new one

6. Real-World Applications

Seeing is believing. Look at these real cases.

E-commerce Warehouses

The problem: Online stores get too many orders to fill by hand.

The pain: Late orders, wrong items sent, tired workers, lost money.

The fix: Automated conveyor systems that sort and move boxes fast.

One big online store put in Estrellas Creatividad conveyors and saw:

• 40% more orders filled each day
• Money back in 18 months
• Happier workers
• Fewer wrong orders

Food Processing Plants

The problem: Food must move fast and stay clean.

The pain: Food gets old, germs grow, rules get broken, customers get sick.

The fix: Food-safe conveyor belts that can be cleaned well.

A drink maker used Estrellas Creatividad food-grade conveyors and found:

• 90% less risk of dirt in drinks
• Faster bottle filling
• Easy to clean parts
• Happy health inspectors

Manufacturing Assembly Lines

The problem: Making things by hand is slow and not the same each time.

The pain: Some items are good, some are bad. Workers get tired. Money gets wasted.

The fix: Roller conveyor systems that move parts at the right speed.

A car parts maker put in Estrellas Creatividad lines and got:

• 25% more parts made each day
• All parts the same good quality
• Less space used
• More happy customers

7. Future Trends in Conveyor Technology

The world keeps changing. New conveyor tech is coming.

Integración de IoT

Smart conveyors can:

• Tell you when they need fixing
• Change speed based on how much work there is
• Keep track of all items
• Talk to other machines

This cuts downtime by 25%.

AI-Driven Automation

Computers can now:

• See items and sort them
• Find the best path
• Learn what works best
• Fix problems before they happen

Estrellas Creatividad keeps up with these new ideas. Their R&D team works on smart systems that will help your plant be ready for the future.

Sustainable Materials

New conveyors use:

• Less power (15-20% less)
• Parts that last longer
• Materials that can be used again
• Less noise and heat

8. FAQs

How long do conveyor belts last?

Most good belts last 2-5 years with right care. Estrellas Creatividad belts are made to last even in tough places.

How much does a custom conveyor system cost?

It depends on what you need. A basic line might be $50,000. A full plant system could be $500,000. Estrellas Creatividad works with you to fit your budget.

Can conveyors handle fragile items?

Yes! With the right belt type and speed control. Food, glass, and small parts can all move safely.

How fast can conveyors move items?

From slow (10 feet per minute) to very fast (600 feet per minute). The right speed depends on your items.

Are conveyor systems hard to clean?

Not if you get the right kind. Food-grade systems from Estrellas Creatividad are made to be cleaned fast and well.

Make Your Plant Work Better

The problem is clear: Moving things by hand is slow, risky, and costs too much.

It hurts more each day: Workers get tired and hurt. Orders are late. Money is lost. Customers go away.

The fix is here: A good sistema transportador can change everything. It works faster, safer, and for less money over time.

Estrellas Creatividad has helped plants all over the world since 2005. With machines in 80+ countries, they know how to make work flow better. Their team can look at your plant and make a plan just for you.

Don’t let old ways of moving items hold you back. The world is moving to smart, fast conveyor systems. Will you be left behind?

Call or email today to see how the right conveyor can fix your biggest plant problems.

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This guide was made to help you learn about conveyor systems. The market data comes from top research and real cases. We hope it helps you make good choices for your plant.