Once intralogistics conveying is confirmed as the right approach to connect production and dispatch, the specific configuration for each section — roller, belt, or chain — needs to match the load being moved at that point in the flow. Getting this wrong at the design stage means retrofitting sections later.
Belt Conveyor (Intralogistics Application)
A continuous belt surface, used in the lightweight capacity class (2–100 kg per unit) for flat or inclined transfer of individual bags, cartons, or small units between stations.
Best fit: unit-level product transfer where a continuous, gap-free carrying surface is needed — moving individual bags or cartons off a filling line toward a checkweigher or metal detector.
Where it falls short: not suited to pallet-level loads; that's a heavyweight-class decision (chain or roller, not belt).
Roller Conveyor
Available in both capacity classes — powered or gravity rollers for lightweight product movement, and powered or gravity rollers for pallet-level heavyweight movement.
Best fit: straightforward point-to-point transfer where accumulation (product or pallets queuing without damage) is useful, and where the load's underside is flat and rigid enough to roll smoothly (cartons, pallets, rigid trays).
Where it falls short: less suited to loose or flexible loads (unstable bags, irregular shapes) that don't sit stably across rollers.
Chain Conveyor (Heavyweight/Pallet Level)
Double-strand drive chain conveyors designed specifically for pallet-level movement in the heavyweight class (1,000–2,000 kg per pallet, standard 1,200 × 1,000mm pallet dimension).
Best fit: the standard choice for moving loaded pallets between palletizing, wrapping, and dispatch — robust enough for sustained heavy-load duty.
Where it falls short: overkill for lightweight, unit-level product movement — that's what the lightweight class (belt, modular, or roller) is for.
Supporting Configurations Worth Knowing
Beyond the three core types, both capacity classes include configurations for changing direction and merging flow: turn conveyors (90° direction change, lightweight class) and turntable conveyors (90° pallet rotation, heavyweight class); cross-transfer conveyors (merging/diverting between lines, lightweight class) and pop-up conveyors (cross-transfer lifting, heavyweight class). For fully automated shuttling between fixed points at the pallet level, rail guided vehicles (RGVs) extend beyond fixed conveyor routing.
Decision Table
| Requirement | Belt | Roller | Chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit-level product (2–100 kg) | ✓ Best fit | Suited for rigid units | Not used at this level |
| Pallet-level load (1,000–2,000 kg) | Not used | ✓ Suited | ✓ Standard choice |
| Product accumulation/queuing | Limited | ✓ Best fit | Possible with control logic |
| Loose or unstable loads | ✓ Better than rollers | Poor fit | N/A (pallets only) |
| Continuous, gap-free surface needed | ✓ Best fit | Gaps between rollers | N/A |
The Right Mix Is Usually a Combination, Not One Type
A complete intralogistics conveyor network rarely uses a single configuration end to end — belt or modular conveyor at the unit level near production, transitioning to roller or chain conveyor once product reaches pallet form, with turn and cross-transfer sections wherever the route changes direction or merges lines. Mapping this against your actual production sequence and building layout is the real design work.
Review the full Intralogistics Conveyor specification range before finalising which configurations go into your client's scope.
Ready to talk about your intralogistics conveyor?
ENZAC designs and supplies intralogistics conveyor networks in Malaysia across both lightweight and heavyweight capacity classes, matched to your production sequence and building layout. Send us your layout and product details and we'll recommend a configuration.