Chain Conveyors by Webb-Stiles
What is a Chain Conveyor?
Chain conveyors are industrial systems that use a continuous chain to move products, parts, or pallets through a facility. Rather than relying on belts or rollers to carry the load, chain conveyors use linked metal chains to either support or push the product along. This allows them to handle a wide range of item shapes, sizes, and weights—even in dirty, hot, or high-impact environments where other conveyor types might fail.
These systems are often chosen for their durability, load control, and flexibility. Chain conveyors can transport heavy pallets, awkward assemblies, engine blocks, chemical drums, and more—making them well suited for industries like automotive, appliance manufacturing, HVAC, and heavy equipment.
Depending on the configuration, the chain may ride on rollers to reduce friction, push items across a fixed surface, or support custom tooling or fixtures that cradle each product. Some systems operate in-floor, while others are built overhead or at ground level. Chain conveyors can be synchronized or non-synchronous, allowing for both continuous flow and accumulation zones.
At Webb-Stiles, every chain conveyor system is custom-engineered to the job. Whether it’s a simple dual-strand design or a multi-strand system with integrated lifts, ball decks, or air tool stations, no two applications are the same.
History of the Chain Conveyor
Chain conveyors have been a cornerstone of heavy-duty material handling for over a century. Their origins trace back to the early days of industrial mechanization, where simple chain-driven systems were used to move heavy materials that belts or rollers couldn’t handle. Early applications appeared in industries like agriculture, mining, and foundries, where rugged construction was necessary to transport large, abrasive, or high-temperature loads.
One of the earliest formal uses of chain conveyors in manufacturing dates to the early 1900s, when factories needed reliable systems to move products through production processes. Unlike belts, chains provided positive engagement, ensuring consistent movement even under heavy loads or challenging conditions.
The evolution of chain conveyors accelerated with the growth of the automotive and steel industries, where they became essential for moving large assemblies, heavy parts, and bulk materials. Innovations like multi-strand chain designs, slat attachments, and roller flights expanded their versatility, allowing for more specialized handling solutions.
Today, chain conveyors remain a preferred solution for applications that demand durability, precision, and custom-engineered designs. Their ability to handle extreme loads and harsh environments continues to make them a critical component in modern material handling systems.
Types of Chain Conveyor Systems
Drag Chaing Conveyors
Drag chain conveyors move materials by dragging them across a fixed surface using one or more strands of chain. The chain slides along a track or guide, and the load either rests directly on the chain or is pushed along by it. Because there are no rollers or belts involved, drag chains are often used in dusty, gritty, or high-debris environments where other systems would clog or wear down quickly.
These conveyors are ideal for simple, low-speed transport of items that don’t require full support or smooth movement. They work especially well in short transfer zones or applications with irregular stop/start cycles.
Best for: Dirty environments, short-distance transfers, and simple positive-drive applications.
Pusher Chain Conveyors
Pusher chain conveyors use a moving chain to push, rather than carry, the product. The load rests on a table, slider bed, or roller surface, and is propelled by fixed or adjustable pushers attached to the chain. Because the product isn’t supported by the chain, the conveyor layout can stay simple and low-profile.
This design is often used for accumulation zones or zoned indexing, where loads need to stop and start without direct contact with the drive chain. Pusher systems also allow for simple diverging, sorting, or queuing along the line.
Best for: Accumulation, zoning, queuing, and when product support comes from the frame—not the chain.
Fixture Conveyors
Fixture conveyors are custom-engineered chain conveyors designed to transport unique or irregularly shaped items that cannot be conveyed with standard rollers or slats. These conveyors use specialized fixtures or mounts attached to the chain to securely hold each product during movement.
By using fixtures tailored to the product’s shape, size, and handling requirements, fixture conveyors ensure precise positioning and stability throughout the process. This makes them ideal for applications where orientation control, delicate handling, or exact placement is critical.
Best for: Products requiring custom handling solutions, precise positioning, and secure transport through assembly, processing, or finishing operations.
Rolling Chain Conveyors
Rolling chain conveyors use chain rollers or block chains supported by rollers to reduce friction and enable smooth movement of heavy or large items. Instead of dragging the load, the chain rolls underneath it—supporting more weight while lowering resistance and wear.
This configuration is useful when items are too heavy or fragile for belt conveyors but still require a controlled, cushioned ride. It also extends the life of the chain by minimizing sliding contact with the track.
Best for: Heavy loads, smooth travel, and longer distances with less chain wear.
Roller Flight Conveyors
Roller flight conveyors combine a powered chain with free-spinning rollers mounted at regular intervals. Each roller sits at a chain pin center, giving the load a rolling surface while still being driven by chain. This hybrid design enables low back pressure accumulation and smooth product movement—especially for heavy or flat-bottomed items.
Roller flight systems work well in staging areas, load build-up zones, or wherever accumulation needs to happen without stopping the entire line. They’re often found in high-load environments where product movement must stay controlled.
Best for: Heavy, flat-bottomed parts, accumulation zones, and applications needing both force and finesse.
Slat Conveyors
Slat conveyors use flat slats—made from steel, plastic, or wood—mounted to one or more chains. These slats form a continuous, stable surface for products that might be too hot, fragile, or irregularly shaped for rollers. Slats can be smooth, textured, or even fixture-mounted.
While technically a chain conveyor, slat systems operate like a moving work surface. They’re popular in environments that involve rugged products, sharp edges, or staged workstations with tooling.
Best for: Rugged environments, irregular loads, or when a flat, durable work surface is needed.
Applications & Uses
Chain conveyors are one of the most adaptable material handling solutions available. Because they can be built with slats, rollers, pushers, or custom fixtures, they’re used across a wide range of industries and environments—especially where loads are heavy, irregular, or require secure positioning.
Webb-Stiles has engineered chain conveyor systems for:
Appliance & Consumer Goods
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Plastic top chain conveyors for refrigerator cabinets, including curves and lift-off accumulation
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Slat systems with built-in fixtures for handling doors during assembly
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Integrated air tool lines and storage shelves along conveyor returns
Chain systems here are engineered for clean, synchronized movement across multi-step production lines.
Industrial Manufacturing
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Metal top slat conveyors for compressor parts
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Stainless steel chain conveyors for heavy chemical drums
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Pallet conveyors with chain-supported transfer zones
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Tabletop chain lines with built-in scales and auto-discharge systems
These setups show how chain conveyors support automated filling, heavy-load transfers, and precise weight-controlled stations.
Automotive & Heavy Equipment
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Engine block transport using dual-strand non-synchronous chain
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Diesel engine carriers lifted off the chain for accumulation using air bolsters
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In-floor drag chain systems for trailer finishing with chain switches between stations
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Fixture-mounted frame rail conveyors that rotate 40′ truck parts during processing
These applications benefit from the ability to stage, lift, accumulate, or position large assemblies with precision.
Specialty Applications
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Adjustable incline conveyors that move fiberglass batts to elevated belt lines
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Multi-strand chain systems for large HVAC units in assembly
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Chain-mounted fixtures with wear/guide bars for repetitive loading
Many of these solutions are one-of-a-kind—custom-built to match part geometry, process flow, and workspace constraints.
Whether installed overhead, flush to the floor, or within a pit, chain conveyor systems offer unmatched flexibility in layout and control. Webb-Stiles builds each system around the product, not the other way around.
Key Features
Designed for durability, control, and customization, Webb-Stiles chain conveyors are built to perform in complex environments:
Heavy-Duty Load Support
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Rated for loads exceeding 2,000 lbs, with options over 10,000 lbs
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Multi-strand and roller-supported chain options for high-weight applications
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Structural channel, stainless, or formed steel frames built to match the load
Flexible Layout & Integration
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In-floor, floor-mounted, or elevated conveyor options
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Supports accumulation zones, lift/transfer stations, and ball deck transitions
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Compatible with synchronous or non-synchronous flow, PLCs, and smart tooling
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Modular layout options including inclines, diverging lanes, and pit-mounted designs
Custom Chain & Fixtures
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In-house manufactured chain, including matched multi-strand sets
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Chain centers configurable at 3″, 4″, or 6″
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Chain types include drag, rolling, pusher, roller flight, slat-mounted, and fixture-equipped
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Fixtures integrated for precision handling, part cradling, or robotic staging
Ruggedized for Harsh Environments
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Performs in dusty, wet, high-heat, or debris-heavy environments
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Slats available in steel, hardwood, or plastic for load-specific needs
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Return slats can double as shelves for tools, fasteners, or service lines
How Chain Conveyor Systems are Engineered
No matter the layout or load, every chain conveyor system starts with the same goal: figuring out what the product needs to do—and what the conveyor needs to do to support it. The details below guide that process, from configuration to control.
Layout & Mounting
Will the conveyor sit on top of the floor, flush inside it, or hang from a frame? Do you need long runs, tight curves, or a system that moves around existing equipment? Physical space is more than a constraint—it’s one of the first design tools.
Load Weight & Support
What are you moving—and how heavy is it? Chain size, pitch, and number of strands all depend on your heaviest unit. Some products ride directly on the chain. Others need slats, rollers, or fixtures to move safely.
Fixtures, Positioning & Part Control
Does the load need to stay aligned? Get cradled, rotated, or held for tooling? Chain systems can carry more than product—they can carry built-in precision. That might mean stops, guides, or fully custom fixtures engineered into the chain itself.
Movement Strategy
Should the line run continuously, or stop and start? Will parts accumulate, transfer, or queue in zones? Should everything move together—or operate asynchronously between stations? Motion isn’t always about speed—it’s about flow.
Environmental Design
Chain conveyors often go where other systems can’t. Heat, grit, metal shavings, moisture, weld sparks—these aren’t edge cases. They’re everyday realities. The right material choices, chain construction, and return path design make all the difference.
Downloads & Literature
Looking for technical specs or reference materials? Download the full Chain Conveyor literature below.
Ready to Start Your Chain Conveyor Project?
Whether you’re moving heavy product, positioning complex parts, or designing a process from scratch—Webb-Stiles will help you engineer the right chain conveyor system for the job.
Contact our team to get started