Flush Grid belt

Modular plastic open surface conveyor belts (also known as plastic mesh conveyor belts or Flush Grid belts) feature a grid-like design with openings that allow water, product debris, and air to pass through. This design improves drainage, airflow, and cleaning efficiency. These belts are widely used in the food, seafood, fruit and vegetable, beverage, packaging, and pharmaceutical industries. BELOTA supplies open surface modular belts from Habasit, Movex, and Uni-Chains, with a wide range of belt series, pitches, and open area percentages to suit different operating requirements.

What Is an Open Surface Modular Plastic Conveyor Belt?

An open surface modular plastic conveyor belt is made from individual plastic modules connected by hinge rods or pins, creating a conveying surface with openings or gaps. This type of belt is also commonly referred to as a plastic mesh conveyor belt or Flush Grid belt.

Depending on the module design, the open area can range from approximately 5% to 60%, allowing water, air, small debris, and product residues to pass through. As a result, these belts are suitable for applications involving washing, drainage, cooling, drying, and similar processes.

Modular plastic open surface conveyor belt with openings or ventilation gaps.

General Characteristics of Open Surface Modular Plastic Conveyor Belts

The open area should be selected based on product size and application requirements. If the openings are too large, small products may fall through. On the other hand, a belt with a smaller open area may provide less effective drainage.

Advantages of Open Surface Modular Plastic Conveyor Belts

• Fast drainage: The openings allow water and other liquids to drain through the belt, making it suitable for washing, dewatering, and conveying wet products. In comparison, flat top modular belts are generally better suited for smaller products that require a continuous conveying surface.
• Good airflow: The grid design allows air to circulate through the belt, making it suitable for cooling, drying, and freezing applications.
• Easy to clean: The open surface makes spray washing and the removal of product residues and debris more convenient.
• Various open area options: Different open area percentages are available to match the size and characteristics of the conveyed product.
• Versatile conveying applications: Suitable for vegetables, fruits, seafood, frozen foods, bottles, cans, and various industrial products.
• Easy maintenance: The modular construction allows individual sections to be removed, repaired, or replaced when necessary.

Disadvantages of Open Surface Modular Plastic Conveyor Belts

• Not suitable for all products: Very small products may fall through or become trapped in the belt openings.
• Less continuous product support: Compared with flat top modular belts, a grid surface may provide less stable support for products with small or uneven bases.
• Product debris may become trapped: Although the openings help remove water and waste, certain types of debris may still become lodged between the modules.
• Requires proper open area selection: If the openings are too large, products may tilt, vibrate, or become trapped during conveying.
• Load capacity depends on the belt design: Belts with large open areas may not be suitable for certain heavy-duty applications, so the correct belt series and construction should be selected.
• The area beneath the belt requires cleaning: Water, food residues, and debris can pass through the belt onto the conveyor frame and surrounding components, requiring appropriate collection or cleaning arrangements.

Leading Open Surface Modular Conveyor Belt Brands

HabasitLINK Flush Grid Modular Belts

Habasit offers a wide range of Flush Grid modular belts with different pitches and surface configurations.

Straight-Running Habasit Flush Grid Belts

Typical series include:

M0885 Micropitch, M1185, M1280, M1230, M1233, M1233 GripTop, M1234 Nub Top, 106 22 Flush Grid, M2480, M2533, M2533 HR, M2533 MTW, M2585, M2791 MTW, IS610-R, M5032, M5033, M5085, SE620 Straight Edge, and SP620.

Among these models, M0885 is a 0.3-inch Micropitch Flush Grid belt, while M1185 is a 0.5-inch Flush Grid belt. Habasit also offers the M1230, M1233, M1234, and M1280 series with a 0.5-inch pitch.

Key Features of Selected Series

• M0885 Micropitch: Small pitch, suitable for applications requiring a fine grid structure.
• M1185: A 0.5-inch pitch Flush Grid belt suitable for various conveying and product-handling applications.
• M1230: A 0.5-inch pitch Flush Grid belt.
• M1233: Available in Flush Grid and GripTop versions, allowing selection based on product grip requirements.
• M1234 Nub Top: Combines a Nub Top design with an open surface structure for applications requiring increased product contact.
• M1280: A 0.5-inch pitch Flush Grid belt available in multiple configurations.

Radius-Running Habasit Flush Grid Belts

For conveyor systems requiring directional changes, Habasit also offers Flush Grid belts designed for radius or tight-turn applications.

Typical series include:

RS511 Tight Turn Belt, M2540, M2540 MTW, PR612 1.6 Tight Turn, PR612 2.2, M3398 CT, M3840, IS615-R, M5290, and IS620-R.

These belt designs expand the use of open surface modular belts in conveyor systems requiring curves or tight turning radii.

Movex Flush Grid Modular Belts

Movex offers a variety of Flush Grid modular belts with different belt pitches. Its product range includes 520 FG, 525 HD FG, 550 FG, 590 FG, 7520 FG, and 7870 FG, with Flush Grid options also available in the Blueline range.

Movex Flush Grid Series

• 520 FG: A 0.5-inch pitch Flush Grid belt with approximately 25% open area.
• 525 HD FG: A heavy-duty Flush Grid belt with approximately 35% open area, suitable for applications requiring higher load capacity.
• 550 FG: A 1-inch pitch Flush Grid belt with approximately 25% open area.
• 550 FG One Track: A One Track version designed for compatible conveyor configurations.
• 590 FG Blueline: A Flush Grid belt within Movex's Blueline material range.
• 7520 FG Blueline: A 1-inch pitch Flush Grid belt.
• 7870 FG Blueline: An 8 mm pitch Flush Grid belt suitable for systems requiring a smaller belt pitch.

In addition to Flush Grid belts, Movex offers other modular surface designs, including Flat Top, Mesh Top, Diamond Top, Nub Top, and Perforated Top.

Uni-Chains Open Surface Modular Belts

Uni-Chains offers a modular belt range with different surface designs and open area percentages, from closed surfaces to highly open surface configurations.

Typical series include:

uni SNB M2, uni MPB, uni S-MPB, uni CSB, uni SSB, uni XLB, uni Flex ONE, uni Flex ASB, uni Flex SNB CR, uni CNB, uni BLB, uni M-TTB, uni OPB 4V, and other configurations.

Uni-Chains technical documentation categorizes products according to Surface Options and Surface Opening, helping users select belts based on open area, product grip, and conveying requirements.

Uni-Chains offers a wide range of open surface modular belts with different pitches and open area percentages. Selected examples include SNB M2 with a 25.4 mm pitch and 20% open area; MPB with a 50.8 mm pitch and 18% open area; S-MPB with a 25.4 mm pitch; SSB with a 38.1 mm pitch and 32% open area; XLB 15% Rough; and Flex ONE with a 38.1 mm pitch and 16% open area.

Other available configurations include CNB, BLB, M-TTB, Flex ASB, Flex SNB CR, OPB 4V, and more. When selecting a belt, the pitch, open area, surface design, and material should all be considered to ensure compatibility with the conveyor system.

Comparison of Flush Grid Modular Belt Brands

How to Choose the Right Open Surface Modular Conveyor Belt

• Determine the belt pitch: Pitch is an important specification for selecting a belt that is compatible with the sprockets. Available options range from micropitch designs to 2-inch pitches or larger.
• Determine the open area: Select an appropriate open area percentage based on product size, drainage requirements, and airflow requirements.
• Select the material: Choose POM, PP, PE, PA, or another specialized material according to the operating environment.
• Consider the load: Evaluate product weight, conveyor length, conveying speed, and wear strip spacing.
• Determine the belt running configuration: Identify whether the conveyor requires a straight-running, radius-running, or side-flexing belt.
• Check sprocket compatibility: Ensure that the belt is compatible with the existing sprockets, or replace the belt and sprockets together when necessary. Important factors include the number of teeth, bore size, shaft profile, and other dimensions.

Applications of Open Surface Modular Plastic Conveyor Belts

• Seafood Processing: Open surface modular belts are suitable for washing, draining, sorting, conveying, and freezing seafood. The grid structure allows water to drain quickly and helps reduce water accumulation on the belt surface.
• Fruit and Vegetable Processing: These belts are commonly used for washing, cleaning, sorting, draining, and conveying fruits and vegetables. The open structure improves product ventilation and facilitates cleaning during processing.
• Food Processing: Suitable for a wide range of food processing lines that require easy cleaning, effective drainage, and stable product conveying.
• Beverages and Beer: Open surface belts can be used to convey bottles and cans through washing, cooling, drainage, drying, and packaging processes, particularly in areas with frequent water exposure.
• Freezing and Cooling: The open surface allows cold air to circulate around and through the product, supporting efficient cooling and freezing when the correct belt material and configuration are selected.
• Packaging: Open surface belts can be used in certain packaging applications, particularly where the product or process requires drainage, debris removal, or improved airflow.
• Industrial Applications: Certain open surface belt configurations are suitable for environments involving water, oils, or materials that need to pass through the belt surface, supporting a wide range of industrial conveying applications.

Open Surface Modular Conveyor Belt Supplier in Vietnam

BELOTA supplies and provides technical consultation for open surface modular belts, Flush Grid belts, and modular conveyor belts from Habasit, Movex, and Uni-Chains. A wide range of belt pitches, open area percentages, materials, widths, and running configurations are available, including straight-running, radius-running, side-flexing, and tight-turn belts.

These products are suitable for conveyor systems in the food, beverage, seafood, agricultural, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

For technical consultation or a quotation, customers can provide the existing belt code, photos, belt pitch, width, open area, material, load, conveying speed, and sprocket information so that BELOTA can help identify a compatible belt model.

Contact Information

• Email: info@belota.com.vn
• Hotline / Zalo: 0917657946
• Address: B74 Le Thi Rieng Street, Thoi An Residential Area, Thoi An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Frequently Asked Questions

Which industries are open surface modular conveyor belts suitable for?

Open surface modular belts are commonly used in the food, seafood, fruit and vegetable, beverage, beer, freezing, cooling, and other industries that require drainage or good airflow.

What is the difference between an open surface belt and a Flat Top belt?

An open surface belt has openings or gaps that allow water to drain and air to circulate more effectively. A Flat Top belt, on the other hand, has a closed and continuous surface that is better suited to products requiring stable, uninterrupted support.

How do I choose the right open surface modular belt?

Key factors include the belt pitch, open area, material, width, load capacity, conveying speed, running configuration, and sprocket specifications.

Are open surface modular belts easy to clean?

Yes. The grid design allows water and cleaning solutions to pass through the belt surface and makes it easier to remove product residues and debris.

Does BELOTA supply Habasit, Movex, and Uni-Chains open surface belts?

Yes. BELOTA supplies various open surface and Flush Grid belts from Habasit, Movex, and Uni-Chains, with different pitches, materials, and configurations.

Conclusion

Open surface modular plastic conveyor belts are an effective solution for conveyor systems requiring drainage, airflow, and easy cleaning. Selecting the right belt pitch, open area, material, load capacity, and running configuration helps ensure stable operation and extend the service life of the conveyor system. BELOTA offers a wide range of open surface modular belts from Habasit, Movex, and Uni-Chains and provides technical support to help customers select the appropriate belt for their specific conveyor application.