Models, Benefits & Features
Overview & Benefits
Technical & Integration
Frequently asked questions
Overview & Benefits
Why choose a slat conveyor
- Handles oversized or irregular products that do not run on rollers or belts
- Accepts drilled or tapped fixtures for precise location control
- Withstands abrasive, oily, or elevated temperature environments
- Supports continuous flow or indexed, station to station movement
- Ideal for robotic load and unload where repeatable position is required Quick takeaway: Choose slat when you need a flat, rigid, fixture ready surface that repeats position every cycle.
How a slat conveyor works
A motor and gear reducer drive one or more chains. Slats are fastened to the chains and create a flat, rigid surface that moves product through each station. Tooling or pallets can be mounted to the slats to locate parts accurately. In indexing mode, the conveyor advances from one station to the next and stops for work content, then repeats.
Technical & Integration
Key features and options
- Drive: Positive drive via roller chain or timing belt, sized for your load and duty
- Slats: Steel or stainless slats, customizable with drilled or tapped holes, cutouts, or pattern plates
- Layouts: Single or multi lane for wide bodies or parallel product streams
- Rails and guarding: Optional side rails, full guarding, drip pans, and containment for oily or wet processes
- Frames: Structural frames for heavy duty applications, with floor, pit, or walk on configurations
- Modes: Continuous flow or indexing between stations with smooth acceleration and deceleration
- Ergonomics: Heights set for reach zones, with workstations, lighting, tool rails, and power drops
Controls and automation
- Control architectures: Simple motor starter or VFD for speed trim, or PLC control with recipe and I/O
- Indexing: Sensors and encoders for accurate stops at each station
- Robotics: Fixed tooling enables coexisting human and robotic tasks with proper guarding
- Safety: E stops, pull cords, interlocked guarding, and safety PLC options
Safety and compliance
We design for safe operation with guarding, E stops, pull cords, and signage. Interlocks can prevent motion when gates are open. Ergonomic height and reach targets help reduce strain and improve throughput.
Integration and fixtures
Slats can be drilled and tapped for mounting nests, clamps, turntables, or rotate to access fixtures. Fixtures can allow 90, 180, or 360 degree part access. For return clearance, fixture height must fit the conveyor return path or the conveyor can be raised and paired with a work platform.
Typical applications
- Automotive and off highway modules, including instrument panels, center consoles, door trims, frames, and axles
- Engine and powertrain subassemblies
- Heavy appliance, cabinetry, and furniture assemblies
- Machining cells with coolant and chips, plus wet or oily environments
- General manufacturing that needs stable, repeatable work surfaces
When a slat conveyor is not the right fit
- You need accumulation buffers where products back up in contact with each other
- You must turn tight curves in the same conveyor path
- You need frequent model change with highly variable tooling that cannot share fixtures
Common alternatives: palletized roller conveyor for accumulation, power and free conveyor for model mix and buffers, overhead with swiveling fixtures for full side access.
Frequently asked questions
Can slat conveyors accumulate parts?
No. Slat conveyors hold products in fixed positions. For accumulation, consider palletized rollers or power and free.
Can they run around curves?
Standard heavy duty slat systems run straight. If you need curves and lighter loads, a different chain type may be used, which is a different category.
Are they good for robotics?
Yes. The slat and fixture create a repeatable position. With guarding, robots and humans can share the line.
What about hot or oily parts?
Steel and stainless slats handle heat and oil. Drip pans and containment manage fluids.
Continuous or indexing?
Both are supported. Indexing advances station to station. Continuous is used for processes that do not stop.
How do I size a system?
Start with product weight and footprint, fixtures, takt time, stations, environment, and integration requirements
What is the common information needed for quoting?
Provide the following so we can size and quote quickly:
- Product description, minimum and maximum weight and footprint
- Process steps, station count, and takt time
- Required indexing accuracy and dwell time
- Fixture requirements, access sides, rotate needs
- Environment, temperature, oil or coolant exposure
- Controls preference, integration points, and safety standards
- Layout drawing or available footprint
- Utilities available and voltage
- Target timing for delivery and installation
Applications & Solutions
Applicable solutions from our portfolio:
