Pharmaceutical plant conveyor line selection guide: belt, chain plate, roller which is more compliant?

I. Core selection principles: compliance > efficiency > cost

Pharmaceutical industry conveyor line selection needs to be prioritised to meetGMP hygiene standards, material corrosion resistance, no risk of contaminationThree core requirements. According to the material characteristics and production process differences, the selection logic is as follows:

• ​Material Compulsory Standards: Parts in direct contact with medicines must be304/316 stainless steel(food grade) orFDA Approved PlasticsSurface roughness Ra≤0.8μm (easy to clean without residue);
• ​Clean Design: Conveyor lines need to beFully enclosed rack + removable structure, supports CIP online cleaning with a slope of ≥ 3° (drainage against fluid accumulation);
• ​Dynamic pollution control: Avoid the use of rubber-coated rollers (which release dust at high temperatures), common lubricants, and use insteadHard chrome plated stainless steel rollers + food grade lubricant.

Second, sub-scenario solutions: accurate matching from raw materials to packaging

▶ Scene 1: Solid pharmaceuticals (tablets/capsules) dispensing line

• ​sore point: tablets are highly brittle and fragile and need to be protected from bumps; aluminium-plastic packaging needs to be accurately positioned
• ​Optimal solution: chain conveyor line​
  • select and useFlat type stainless steel chain plate(Thickness ≥1.5mm), gap ≤1mm anti-jamming material;
  • retrofittingServo Positioning Modules(Tolerance ±0.5mm), with photoelectric sensor to achieve accurate filling of blister plate;
  • ​case (law): After replacing a chain link line at a pharmaceutical company, the fragmentation rate dropped from 0.81 TP3T to 0.11 TP3T.

▶ Scene 2: Aseptic injection filling line

• ​sore pointAmpoule glass is easily scratched and requires class 100 cleanliness.
• ​Optimal solution: powered roller conveyor line​
  • adoption316L stainless steel conical roller(Taper 3 °), turning radius ≥ line width 1.5 times anti-pouring bottle;
  • integrated (as in integrated circuit)Negative Pressure Dust Cover+ Laminar flow air supply to maintain a positive pressure environment in the filling area;
  • ​Key parameters: Drum surface hardness HRC55+, dynamic balance deviation ≤ 0.05g-mm.

▶ Scene 3: Overpacking and Storage Session

• ​sore point: Sorting errors due to carton deformation, barcode wear and tear
• ​Optimal solution: Belt conveyor line (specific modification)​
  • make use ofPolyurethane seamless belts(Tensile strength ≥15MPa)+Low friction rollers(Resistance factor < 0.03);
  • add sth newLaser Scanner Protective CabinTo avoid reading failures due to light interference;
  • ​Efficiency Comparison: Error rate reduced from 2.31 TP3T to 0.41 TP3T, sorting speed up to 1,200 cases/hour.

III. Cost control and maintenance strategies

​Long-term cost reduction techniques::

• preferVariable frequency motors(Energy consumption is 40% lower than fixed speed motors);
• The chain plate line usesQuick release linksThe replacement takes ≤ 15 minutes (reducing production downtime losses).

IV. Selection Decision Flowchart

Image Code
graph TD
A[Drug form] -->|Powder/Liquid| B(Sealed belt line)
A -->|Glass bottles/ampoules| C(Power drum line)
A -->|Blister plate/flexible bag D(Flat Plate Chain Plate Line)
B --> E{Is it sterile?}
C --> E
D --> E
E -->|Yes F[Material 316L + fully enclosed]
E -->|No G[Material 304 + semi-closed]
F --> H[Drive programme: servo motor + multiribbed belt]
G --> I[Drive programme: variable frequency motor + chain]
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Powder/Liquid

Glass bottles/ampoules

Blister plate/flexible bag

be

clogged

Drug form

Sealed belt line

Power Drum Line

Flat Plate Chain Plate Line

Is it sterile?

Material 316L + fully enclosed

Material 304+semi-closed

Drive solution: servo motor + multiribbed belt

Drive solution: inverter motor + chain


V. Vendor docking list of must-haves
The following parameters need to be clarified with the supplier when selecting the model:

​Compliance CertificationGMP/FDA material report and NSF H1 certification for lubricants are available;
​Cleaning Verification: Produce test data for microbiological residues on surfaces (≤5 CFU/100cm² required);
​Lifetime Commitment: Warranty for key components (drum/chain) ≥ 5 years, provide wear rate graph.


Note: Involving patented technology (such as accumulative buffer structure) need to sign a confidentiality agreement to avoid the risk of technology leakage.


​bibliographyPharmaceutical conveying equipment selection should strictly follow the "GB 50073-2013 Clean Plant Design Model" and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record standards. Actual case data from industry white papers and manufacturer's test reports.