Wire Mesh Belt FAQs

To quote a wire mesh belt accurately, we need your belt’s geometry, drive method and operating conditions. This ensures proper fit, tracking and service life in your application.

Provide, when available:

• Belt type or weave (balanced weave, flat wire, flat flex, chain edge, etc.)
• Belt width and overall length
• Pitch and mesh opening
• Wire diameter, rod diameter and any reinforcing members
• Edge style (welded, looped, wrapped, side guards, upturned edges)
• Drive method (sprocket driven, chain driven, friction) and sprocket details if applicable
• Product load, part size, belt speed and temperature range
• Any attachments (cleats, flights, side guards, drag-out features)

The “right” belt depends on temperature, load, product size, required airflow/drainage and your drive method. We’ll recommend a belt style that matches your process and conveyor design.

Common starting points:

• Balanced weave: straight tracking, general-purpose conveying
• Compound balanced weave (cord weave): tighter openings, flatter surface
• Flat flex: lightweight, high open area for baking and food lines
• Flat wire: open design with a smooth conveying surface
• Ladder link: cooling and transfer in baking applications
• Rod reinforced: added strength for high-temperature furnace duty
• Chain drives: positive drive for heavier loads and controlled tracking

Alloy selection is based on operating temperature, corrosion exposure, atmosphere and required belt strength. Stainless grades are common for many industrial environments while high-alloy, nickel-based materials are used for extreme heat and specific furnace atmospheres.

In practice, buyers typically specify:

• High-alloy or nickel-based alloys for the highest temperatures and demanding thermal cycles
• Stainless steel grades for corrosion resistance and washdown environments

Wire mesh belts can be engineered for elevated temperatures when the weave, wire size and alloy are matched to your furnace or oven conditions. For sintering and brazing, high-temperature belts made from nickel-based alloys can handle temperatures up to 2300°F in various atmospheres.

If you share your peak temperature, cycle time and atmosphere (air, inert, reducing), we can recommend a belt construction that maintains dimensional stability and minimizes premature wear.

Yes. Wire mesh belts are routinely built to order so they integrate with your conveyor frame, drive and supports. We also support wide-belt applications, including belts manufactured in widths up to 240 inches for specific industrial equipment.

For the fastest turnaround on an engineered quote, submit the closest matching belt specification form and include any constraints like transfer points, side containment and support spacing.

Positive drive uses sprockets or chain drives to pull the belt, reducing slip and improving control under load, heat or wet conditions.

Friction drive relies on contact with pulleys or rollers and can be sensitive to contamination, tension changes and thermal expansion.

If you need repeatable positioning, reliable tracking or you operate in oily, wet or high-temperature environments, positive drive is often the preferred starting point.

Yes. Many purchasers consolidate belt-related components to simplify maintenance and reduce downtime. We supply spare parts such as connecting rods, chain, attachments, cleats and related components used to repair or maintain metal belt lines.

If you are replacing an existing belt, sharing sprocket tooth count, pitch and shaft details helps ensure a compatible drive interface.

Yes. We support belt repair and can provide on-site repair, installation and consulting as needed. For some applications, we also provide full-service installation and on-site edge repair.

When requesting service, including photos of the belt edge, splice area and any tracking wear allows us to better plan parts, tools and recommended corrective actions.

Most tracking and wear issues trace back to alignment, support conditions and drive interface mismatch. A belt that is correct on paper can still wear early if sprockets, supports or tensioning are not set for the belt style.

Best practices to review:

• Confirm sprocket alignment and shaft squareness across the conveyor width
• Verify support spacing and wear strip condition for your belt type
• Use the correct belt edge design for side loads or containment (side guards, upturned edges)
• Measure pitch, wire diameters and belt geometry correctly before ordering a replacement

If you are troubleshooting an existing belt, we can help you translate field measurements into a spec that runs correctly in your current conveyor.

Yes. In addition to metal conveyor belting, we design and fabricate custom conveyors, shafts, sprockets and pulleys in the alloys required for your application. This is useful when you are upgrading a line, correcting chronic tracking issues or replacing an obsolete conveyor section.