Efficient handling and transportation of materials is vital on modern farms, helping move grain, feed, fertiliser and other bulk materials safely and consistently. However, choosing the right conveyor for agricultural use is not always simple. Solutions such as belt conveyors, chain conveyors and screw conveyors all offer different advantages, and selecting the wrong system can impact your productivity, costs and overall performance.
But help is at hand from the conveyor experts here at Coveya. In this guide, we’ll be taking a closer look at belt, chain and screw conveyors to help you understand their strengths, limitations and ideal applications, and how they could be put to efficient use as part of your farming operations.
Why Conveyor Selection Matters in Agriculture
The agriculture sector is under pressure like never before from several different factors. There’s a widely acknowledged labour shortage across the farming industry that is making manual handling positions much harder to fill, while rising operating costs caused by fuel prices and other economic factors demand that every process needs to be as efficient as possible. Seasonal spikes in demand can also place additional strain on equipment, especially during harvesting, storage and processing periods.
Choosing the wrong agricultural conveyor belt will quickly exacerbate issues that your investment was supposed to solve. Poorly matched equipment could damage grain, increase product loss, reduce overall throughput and could even use more energy than is necessary. It can also lead to higher maintenance costs and, in some cases, the need for premature equipment replacement. Getting the right conveyor system in place from the very start helps protect your productivity, product quality and overall efficiency.
Understanding the Three Main Agricultural Conveyor Systems
Belt Conveyors
Belt conveyors (including both fixed belt conveyors and mobile belt conveyors) are one of the most widely used types of conveyor in agriculture. They offer a reliable way to move bulk materials over both short and long distances. They are regularly specified for grain handling, seed transportation, fertiliser movement and for loading or unloading trucks. Their sheer versatility and ability to transport large volumes efficiently make them especially suitable for grain storage facilities and processing plants.
Key Advantages of Belt Conveyors:
- Gentle Handling: Materials travel smoothly along the belt, which helps to reduce damage to grain, seeds and other sensitive materials.
- High Capacity: Belt conveyors can transport large volumes of material quickly and consistently, and can be specified in different widths.
- Energy Efficient: Belt conveyors generally require less energy when moving materials over longer distances.
- Long-Distance Conveying: They are ideal for transporting materials across large farms, storage facilities and processing sites.
- Minimal Product Degradation: Reduced contact with moving components helps preserve product quality along the line.
These are strong advantages, but it’s worth remembering that belt conveyors are not always a perfect solution. Their larger footprint can make installation more challenging, and of course the belts themselves will require regular inspection and replacement as they wear. They are also generally less effective on steep inclines than some of the other conveyor systems available.
Chain Conveyors
Chain conveyors are generally more appropriate for agricultural environments where durability and heavy-duty performance are vital. They are regularly specified for grain elevators, bulk storage facilities, feed mills and similar use cases where large volumes of material need to be transported with consistency and efficiency. Their robust construction makes them especially suitable for very demanding environments that require near-continuous operation.
Key Advantages of Chain Conveyors:
- Durable Construction: They are built to withstand demanding agricultural environments and heavy, prolonged use.
- Heavy Load Handling: Chain conveyors are well suited in situations where large volumes of grain, feed and other bulk materials need to be moved.
- Effective Over Long Distances: They are adept at transporting materials efficiently across larger facilities and storage operations.
- Suitable for Abrasive Materials: They’re a practical choice for handling more demanding materials that may cause rapid wear in other systems.
These advantages make chain units a popular conveyor for agricultural facilities. However, they are not always the ideal solution, as their greater number of moving parts can result in higher maintenance needs. They generally consume more energy than some alternative conveyor types, and the initial investment needed can also be higher due to their heavy-duty construction.
Screw Conveyors
Screw conveyors are a popular choice for agricultural use when materials need to be moved in a controlled and contained manner. They are frequently used in grain bins, feed systems, seed processing facilities and in fertiliser handling applications. Their compact design and modular construction allow them to be installed in areas where space is limited, making them versatile across a wide range of farming environments.
Key Advantages of Screw Conveyors:
- Compact Design: They generally require less space for installation than some of the alternative conveyor systems available.
- Fully Enclosed System: Dust is more contained, spillages can be minimised, and materials can be protected from contamination.
- Cost-Effective: Screw conveyors often come with a lower upfront investment and can be more straightforward to install.
- Flexible Installation: These types of conveyors can be configured to suit a wide range of layouts and agricultural applications.
These benefits make screw conveyors particularly attractive for smaller agricultural needs and controlled material handling. However, it’s worth noting that they are generally better suited to shorter conveying distances than belt or chain conveyors. Also, the increased contact between materials and moving components, such as the screw itself and the walls of the enclosed chamber, can lead to greater product degradation than some alternative agricultural conveyor belt systems. For example, grain damage may be a significant concern if systems are operated at high speeds.
Which Conveyor Is Best for Grain Handling?
Let’s take grain handling as a major agricultural procedure that we can use as an example. Selecting a conveyor for grain handling requires consideration of factors such as grain damage, throughput requirements (usually quantified as tons per hour or TPH), dust generation, transfer efficiency and overall capacity. The right agricultural conveyor system for your needs will depend on the size of your operation, the distances involved and how your grain is stored and processed.
Belt Conveyors are generally best for:
- Large grain facilities
- Export terminals
- Long-distance grain transport
- Sites where the equipment footprint is less of an issue
Chain Conveyors are generally best for:
- Grain storage facilities
- Heavy-duty grain handling operations
- Facilities requiring robust, long-term performance
Screw Conveyors are generally best for:
- Shorter-distance grain transfer
- Bin loading applications
- Controlled material movement
- Sites where space is limited
Which Conveyor Works Best for Feed and Fertiliser?
When handling animal feed, maintaining product integrity is a top priority. The right conveyor should minimise damage to the feed while helping prevent any contamination, ideally with robust dust control throughout. This is particularly important in feed mills where product quality and consistency are essential.
For fertiliser handling, different considerations come into play. Characteristics of the fertiliser itself, such as particle size and moisture content, can have a big influence on conveyor selection, and corrosion resistance may be an important factor depending on the type of fertiliser being transported. Good containment is vital to reduce spillage, minimise waste and maintain a cleaner environment.
Cost Breakdown: Comparing Installation Costs and ROI
Let’s take a broad view of the general differences in cost between various conveyors for agricultural use. For more detailed pricing info and quotes, get in touch with the Coveya team, who will be happy to help.
Belt Conveyor Costs
Belt conveyors generally require more extensive installation work, particularly over longer distances where additional structural support is needed. However, this depends entirely on the type of installation you require, and their efficiency and lower operating costs can balance the upfront investment with long-term value.
Chain Conveyor Costs
While chain conveyors often involve a higher initial investment, which is mainly down to their more robust construction and overall weight, their durability and ability to withstand demanding conditions can result in a longer service life and a better long-term return on your investment.
Screw Conveyor Costs
Screw conveyors typically have lower upfront costs than other systems, mostly because they tend to be used as part of smaller overall installations and are often simpler to fit as a consequence. This can make them attractive for smaller farms and agricultural operations seeking a quicker return on investment.
Conveyor Selection Recommendations by Farm Type
Grain Farms
For grain farms, belt conveyors are often specified for longer-distance transport needs and high-throughput operations, while chain conveyors can be a strong choice for storage facilities and heavier-duty grain handling tasks.
Feed Mills
Feed mills often benefit from screw conveyors for controlled material movement and dust containment, while chain conveyors can support larger-scale handling, long-distance transport needs and near-continuous operation.
Poultry Operations
Screw conveyors are commonly used to make poultry operations more efficient thanks to their compact design, easy-to-control flow options and their suitability for automated feeding systems.
Livestock Farms
For livestock farms, screw conveyors are often an efficient solution for transporting feed safely and consistently while minimising manual handling requirements. They’re well-suited to inclined and near-vertical conveying.
Large Agricultural Processing Plants
Bigger agricultural facilities with longer distances to span generally benefit from belt conveyors for high-capacity transport and chain conveyors for robust, continuous movement of bulk materials.
Require A Conveyor for Your Agricultural Operation? Contact Our Experts Today
Across agriculture and many other sectors, our solutions have made us a global leader in material handling. With decades of experience, Coveya’s engineers are well-placed to help you find the best solution for your needs, whether it’s a single unit or a complex system over a long distance.
We offer conveyors across a wide range of types, whether you need them for a day or a lifetime. We have conveyors for sale, for hire, bespoke options and even used and ex-hire units. Whatever you need, our knowledge, experience, and dedication ensure you get the perfect solution the first time. And it’s all backed up by dedicated aftersales support, comprehensive servicing and maintenance packages and a spare parts service that helps keep your machines at their best.
Ready to talk to us? Give us a call today on 0800 915 9195, email support@coveya.co.uk or use our contact form to let us know what you need. Everything starts with a free site survey so we can see your operations, take any essential measurements and recommend solutions that will actually do what you need them to do.