A plastic chain conveyor moves product on a narrow multiflex plastic chain running along an aluminum beam. The chain flexes both horizontally and vertically, so a single chain routes product through tight bends and level changes close to machines. It carries packaged goods from a few grams up to roughly 30 kg in compact, winding layouts.

Plastic chain conveyor at a glance

A plastic chain conveyor uses a multi-flexing plastic conveyor chain guided by low-friction slide rails on an aluminum beam. Because the chain bends in both the horizontal and vertical planes, one continuous chain can turn corners, climb, and descend to weave product through a production cell without separate conveyors at each direction change. Chain widths commonly range from about 43 mm to 295 mm, and the system carries naked or packaged products such as boxes, pouches, jars, bottles, and trays from a few grams up to roughly 30 kg. The modular aluminum-beam construction integrates into existing lines and machines. This differs from a table top conveyor, which uses wider flat top plates to carry containers single file rather than weaving a narrow stream through multi-directional bends.

How does a plastic chain conveyor work?

A plastic chain conveyor drives an endless multiflex plastic chain along an aluminum beam fitted with slide rails that guide and support the chain. Each link articulates in more than one plane, so the chain follows horizontal curves and vertical rises within a small radius while keeping product moving in one stream. A single drive unit powers the chain, and the beam routes it around machines, over equipment, and between levels. Because one chain handles the whole path, a plastic chain conveyor replaces several straight conveyors and the transfers between them, which suits compact machine-tending and packaging layouts where floor space is tight.

Plastic chain conveyor specifications

Verified against published plastic chain conveyor system data. Final configuration is engineered to product, layout, and load.

Where are plastic chain conveyors used?

Machine tending. Routing product between packaging machines in a compact cell.

Packaging lines. Moving boxes, pouches, jars, and trays through multi-directional paths.

Multilevel transfer. Using tight vertical bends to move product between levels in little floor space.

Accumulation. Buffering product on side-flexing chain ahead of downstream equipment.

Tight, winding layouts. Replacing several straight conveyors with one routed chain.

What is the difference between a plastic chain conveyor and a table top conveyor?

Both run plastic chain, but they solve different problems. A plastic chain conveyor uses a narrow multiflex chain that bends horizontally and vertically to weave a single product stream through a compact, multi-directional layout. A table top conveyor uses wider flat top plates to carry containers single file at production speed, mainly through horizontal curves. Choose a plastic chain conveyor for tight, multi-level machine-side routing. Choose table top for single-file container flow on a packaging line. The comparison below frames the choice.

Plan a plastic chain conveyor

HOJ engineers and integrates plastic chain conveyors as an independent integrator, matching multiflex chain, beam, and drive to your product, layout, and machines. Talk to a specialist.