Serpentine Apron Conveyors
Flexible plate conveyor with planar bending capability and explosion-proof/sealed variants.

Overview
The Serpentine Plate Conveyor redefines rigid-path material handling with its unique planar bending capability, enabling complex "snake-like" layouts within a single horizontal plane. Designed for confined spaces and hazardous environments, it combines the robustness of plate conveyors with the adaptability of modular systems. Available in Pressure-Resistant (explosion-proof) and Hermetic (gas-tight) configurations, this conveyor serves industries requiring precision, containment, and spatial efficiency—such as chemical processing, battery manufacturing, and high-value material logistics.
Key Features
Design & Compliance
- Unrestricted Planar Flexibility
- Minimum bending radius: 1.8× plate width, enabling 180° U-turns or spiral paths.
- Modular design supports on-the-fly reconfiguration for dynamic production lines.
- Dual Containment Modes
- Pressure-Resistant: Maintains 0.5–3.0 bar internal pressure (N₂/CO₂ purge) for combustible dusts.
- Hermetic: Leakage rate <0.005 vol% (helium-tested) for toxic/volatile materials.
- Extreme Environment Capability
- Operational range: -50°C to +600°C (ceramic-coated plates extend to +1,000°C).
- Withstands pH 0–14 exposure, 98% RH, and explosive atmospheres (ATEX Zone 1/21).
Parameter | Pressure-Resistant | Hermetic |
Plate Material | Hardox 450 (standard) | SS316L/electropolished |
Plate Width | 400–2,000 mm | 300–1,500 mm |
Speed Range | 0.05–1.5 m/s (VFD-controlled) | 0.02–0.8 m/s (precision drive) |
Linear Load Capacity | 5,000 kg/m (max) | 2,000 kg/m (max) |
Pressure/Leak Rate | ±2.5 bar (adjustable) | <10⁻⁶ mbar·L/s (He mass spec) |
Power Requirements | 11–200 kW | 5.5–90 kW |
Surface Finish | Diamond grip or smooth | Mirror polish (Ra ≤0.4 μm) |
- Explosion Safety: Pressure-resistant models feature rupture discs (3.5 bar burst rating) and spark-resistant chains.
- Cleanroom Readiness: Hermetic version meets ISO Class 4 standards with integrated CIP/SIP ports.
- Structural Integrity: Exceeds GB/T 10595 safety factors (2.0× design load) with laser-aligned guide rails (±1 mm/10m).
- Lithium Battery Production: Contained transfer of electrode slurries and solvents.
- Chemical Industry: Pyrophoric catalyst handling under inert atmosphere.
- Food Processing: Hygienic conveyance of allergen-free powders in Z-shaped layouts.
- Nuclear Sector: Shielded transport of radioactive waste casks.
- Smart Tracking: RFID-enabled plates for real-time material tracing.
- Specialized Chains: Non-sparking copper-beryllium or FDA-grade stainless steel.
- Heating/Cooling: Thermocouple-regulated plates (-70°C to +300°C).
- Layouts: Overhead suspended, floor-embedded, or multi-level helix configurations.
- Space Savings: 75% footprint reduction vs. traditional conveyor networks.
- Zero Downtime: Hot-swappable plates replaceable in ≤15 minutes.
- Energy Recovery: Regenerative drives reclaim 22% power during descending loads.
- Future-Proof Design: AI-ready interface for Industry 4.0 integration.
- Load Testing: Prototype validated at 200% rated capacity (per GB/T 3923.1).
- Certifications: ATEX, IECEx, ISO 21940 (vibration), and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (hermetic).
- Warranty: 5-year structural warranty, 2-year seal integrity guarantee.