Slat Conveyors by Webb-Stiles
What is a Slat Conveyor?
Slat conveyors are material handling systems that use flat slats—made from steel, hardwood, or plastic—mounted to a moving chain. These slats create a continuous, stable surface ideal for transporting a wide variety of products, especially those that are too irregular, hot, or heavy for traditional belt or roller conveyors.
Because the slats move as a unified surface, they can handle items with uneven bases, sharp edges, or high heat without damaging the conveyor or the product. As a result, slat conveyors are a popular choice in manufacturing lines where durability, product support, and precise control are essential.
Webb-Stiles slat conveyors handle loads of 10,000 pounds or more and integrate easily with computer-controlled start/stop systems. These features support indexing, accumulation, and staged movement. In addition, every system is either built from your print or engineered from the ground up to match your layout and process.
History of the Slat Conveyor
Slat conveyors originated as a practical solution for moving heavy or irregularly shaped loads that could not be easily handled by rollers or belts. Introduced in the early-to-mid 20th century, slat conveyors used a series of metal or wooden slats attached to a chain, creating a flat, durable surface capable of supporting a wide variety of products.
Their design made them ideal for applications where loads required stable support, such as engine blocks, machinery components, or large assemblies. Slat conveyors provided a smooth, controlled means of moving products through assembly lines, paint booths, and processing areas where cleanliness, stability, and heavy load capacity were critical.
Over time, materials advanced from wood to steel and synthetic slats, enhancing durability and reducing maintenance. Today, slat conveyors continue to be used in manufacturing environments that demand reliable transport of heavy or awkward products, particularly in automotive, appliance, and general assembly industries.
Types of Slat Conveyors
Slat conveyors are highly configurable systems. While the overall design is consistent—a flat slat surface driven by chain—the specific construction varies based on the product, environment, and process. Below are the most common variations:
Steel Slats
Steel slats offer high durability and perform well in harsh conditions. They handle hot, abrasive, or heavy products without deforming. For example, they can be smooth or textured depending on contact needs, and often pair with return rollers or roller beds.
Best for: Heavy-duty use, high temperatures, and rugged production environments.
Formed or Structural Channel Slats
Channel-style slats offer added reinforcement and structural depth. For example, they work well when the product needs extra rigidity or when the slats must serve dual purposes—such as supporting both the load and on-board tools.
Best for: High-load applications with large or unevenly distributed weights.
Hardwood Slats
Hardwood slats provide a stable surface while reducing product damage. They are often selected for assembly lines or workstation-integrated layouts. As a result, they absorb impact and give painted or delicate products a smoother ride.
Best for: Sensitive loads, assembly lines, or environments where steel would damage the product.
Return Slat Configurations
Some layouts use enclosed return paths as a platform for staging parts or supporting utility lines. In these designs, slats run below a sheeted top surface used to hold containers, tools, or supplies. This approach helps maximize floor space without interfering with conveyor movement.
Best for: Space-conscious lines that benefit from combining product transport with workstation support.
Slats with Fixtures or Guides
Fixtures, dividers, or guides mount directly to the slats to keep parts aligned during transit. This is especially useful in operations that involve robotic interaction, manual tooling, or movement across multiple stations. In addition, slats can be customized for precise orientation or part handling.
Best for: Precision part handling, robotic stations, or processes with built-in stops and starts.
Applications & Uses
Slat conveyors perform best when belts or rollers can’t offer the support, durability, or control your product needs. For example, they excel with sharp-edged castings, painted parts, or staged subassemblies—any item that demands stable handling.
Because of this flexibility, Webb-Stiles has engineered slat conveyors across a wide range of industries and production layouts:
Appliance Manufacturing
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Fixtures hold refrigerator doors during assembly
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Integrated air lines and tool stations support operator workflows
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Return slats enclosed with sheet metal to support tool lines or part staging above
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Ball-transfer tables added for inspection loops
Heavy Industry & Assembly
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Steel and channel slats carry 10,000 lb containers
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Transition rollers used for handling heavy pallets
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Hardwood and oak slats minimize product damage in high-impact zones
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Slats designed with removable guards for ergonomic access
Custom & Mixed-Use Lines
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Plastic slats transport small components like gears and trunnions
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Built-in guides or fixtures support alignment during movement
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Narrow conveyors integrated into tight or segmented line layouts
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Return paths designed for storage, staging, or service integration
Key Features
Slat conveyors from Webb-Stiles are built to carry more than just weight. In fact, they offer long-term durability, part control, and layout flexibility—whether you’re working in heavy industry or a mixed-use assembly environment.
Built for Weight and Wear
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These systems handle loads exceeding 10,000 lbs without deflection
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Slats are available in steel, hardwood, oak, or plastic
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They withstand sharp edges, hot parts, and rugged surfaces
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For added strength, structural channel or heavy-duty frames can be used
Flexible Layout Integration
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Slats can run in straight lines, workstation loops, or curved paths
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Sheeted return paths support tool lines or part staging without obstruction
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For example, slats may interface with ball tables, lift zones, or transfers
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These systems work as standalone conveyors or within a larger material handling line
Configurable for Part Control
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Fixtures and guides can be built into slats for product alignment
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Systems allow for narrow or wide-bed configurations based on part geometry
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Slat pitch, thickness, and clearance can be adjusted to fit your application
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In addition, optional guard panels help protect operators or improve access
Engineered to the Job
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Webb-Stiles builds systems to print or develops them as full turn-key solutions.
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They’re available with indexing, accumulation, or start/stop control
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Each one can support air tool lines, sensors, or manual workstations
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Most importantly, every system is designed around your product—not from a standard template
How Slat Conveyors are Engineered
Slat conveyors aren’t just about transporting product—they’re about how that product is supported in motion. Every system starts with a clear understanding of what’s being moved, how it needs to travel, and what interaction happens along the way.
Support, Fixtures, and Product Fit
Some products sit flat on a slat surface. Others require guides, dividers, or custom fixtures built directly into the conveyor. The shape, stability, and contact points of your product drive everything from material choice to slat construction and pitch.
Layout and Line Behavior
Straight runs, workstation loops, elevation changes—layout decisions are shaped by what the conveyor needs to navigate and who it needs to work around. Return paths might be exposed, enclosed, or used for tool access. Motion isn’t always continuous; systems can stop, start, index, or accumulate depending on the flow of production.
Process Integration
Slat conveyors don’t operate in isolation. They often interact with air lines, sensors, tools, or manual workstations. Whether you need basic control or tight synchronization with your process, the system is built around how work gets done.
Every decision—frame design, chain drive, slat spacing—comes from understanding your part, your process, and the floor it moves across. That’s where Webb-Stiles starts.
Downloads & Literature
Slat conveyors are a key part of our broader chain-driven conveyor solutions.
The brochure above includes slat system configurations, material options, load specs, and integration examples.
Ready to talk through your system?
Contact our team to start a conversation about your application, layout, or product support needs.