Application
Food-Contact Conveyors
Conveyors specified for what touches your product.
When a conveyor carries unpackaged food, pharmaceutical products or their components, the belt and every contact surface need materials made for food contact. We specify those materials with the conveyor, for your product and your cleaning routine.
01In detail
How FDA compliance works for conveyors
Materials, not machines
The FDA doesn’t approve conveyors. It regulates the substances that food-contact materials are made from, mainly under Title 21 CFR. “FDA compliant” means the belt and other contact parts are made from materials that meet those rules.
Conditions of use
A material’s compliance applies to particular foods, temperatures and uses. We select contact materials for what you convey, how it’s processed and how the line is cleaned.
Documentation
Compliance is shown with the material manufacturer’s declaration for the specific belt or component. We identify which parts of your conveyor are food-contact surfaces and the documentation that applies to them.
02Reference
What we specify
| Part of the conveyor | What we consider |
|---|---|
| Belt or conveying surface | The primary contact surface: material, surface texture and compatibility with your product and cleaning chemicals. |
| Side guides and wear strips | Any guide or rail the product touches, chosen alongside the belt. |
| Frame and supports | Frame material and open access for cleaning under and around the conveying surface. |
| Bearings and drive | Sealed-for-life bearings, and a drive placed and protected for the cleaning exposure. |
03Conditions
Food contact and washdown are different questions
Food-contact materials decide what can touch the product. Washdown construction decides how the conveyor stands up to wet cleaning. Many lines need both, and we design for both together.
04Next steps
Where it applies
Direct product contact appears across these applications and industries.
Food & Beverage
Packaging, inspection, cooling and wet operation.
Food and Beverage →Pharmaceutical Packaging & Inspection
Package handling, inspection and cleaning conditions.
Pharmaceutical Packaging →Washdown & Sanitary
Frames, cleaning access and drives for wet cleaning.
Washdown and Sanitary →
05Recommended conveyors
Conveyor options to explore
Food-contact suitability depends on the materials selected for each configuration, not the conveyor model alone.
- ConveyorUseful when you need a choice of belt surfaces and materials, or regular cleaning.
Modular Plastic Belt Conveyor
Useful when you need a choice of belt surfaces and materials, or regular cleaning. 
ConveyorUseful when air or liquid needs to pass through the belt for cooling, drying or drainage.Wire Mesh Belt Conveyor
Useful when air or liquid needs to pass through the belt for cooling, drying or drainage.
ConveyorUseful when small or fragile products must be kept apart without rubbing fixed side walls.Flex-Side Cleated Conveyor
Useful when small or fragile products must be kept apart without rubbing fixed side walls.
ConveyorUseful between machines, with drive access at one end.End-Drive Conveyors
Useful between machines, with drive access at one end.
Start the conversation
Tell us what the conveyor carries and how it’s cleaned.
We specify the contact materials and identify the documentation for your configuration.