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FOOD INDUSTRY BELTS
Find Your Food Industry Belt
Food production never stops, and neither do the demands on your conveyor belts. From check weighing scales requiring precision accuracy to high-speed packing lines handling thousands of products per hour, your belts face constant wear whilst meeting strict hygiene standards. A single belt failure means production halts, wasted product, and missed delivery deadlines.
As the UK's official Nitta Partner, APR Conveyor Belts supplies food-grade belts manufactured to FDA and EU standards. We understand that food safety isn't negotiable - whether you're processing raw meat, handling dairy products, or running a bakery line, you need belts that resist contamination, clean easily, and keep your production moving.
Not sure which belt suits your application? Our Belt Finder tool helps you identify the right specification for your equipment. Enter your existing belt code from Ammeraal, Forbo, Habasit or other manufacturers, tell us your application type, or simply describe what you're processing. We'll cross-reference to the appropriate Nitta food-grade alternative and confirm availability. If you're still unsure, call us - we'll talk you through the options.
Food Processing Applications
Food manufacturing relies on conveyor systems throughout production, each demanding specific belt properties:
Check Weighing Scales
Precision weighing requires belts with consistent thickness and minimal joint interference. The belt joint can affect weight readings - landing on a join versus the belt surface can create variance of several grams. We supply belts specifically designed for check weighing applications, with professional joining techniques that minimise measurement disruption.
Metal Detection and X-Ray Systems
Product inspection equipment demands belts that won't trigger false readings. Our food-grade belts are manufactured without metallic additives, allowing your detection systems to identify genuine contaminants without interference from the belt itself.
Washing and Sorting Lines
Fruit, vegetable and produce handling requires belts resistant to constant moisture exposure. Non-absorbent materials prevent bacterial growth whilst drainage-friendly surfaces stop water pooling.
Chilled and Frozen Environments
Cold storage and freezer applications need belts that maintain flexibility at temperatures as low as 4°C or below. Standard belts can become brittle and crack - our cold-resistant compounds stay supple throughout temperature extremes.
Bakery and Confectionery
High-temperature environments from ovens and cooling tunnels require heat-resistant materials. Non-stick surfaces release dough and sticky products cleanly, reducing waste and cleaning time.
Meat, Poultry and Seafood
Raw protein handling demands the highest hygiene standards. Easy-clean surfaces, resistance to animal fats and oils, and antimicrobial properties protect against contamination.
Dairy Processing
Milk, cheese and yoghurt production requires belts that resist acids and cleaning chemicals whilst meeting strict hygiene certification requirements.
Food Sectors We Serve
APR supplies food-grade belts to manufacturers across the UK food industry:
Fresh Produce
Fruit and vegetable packers, salad processors, and agricultural operations handling crops from field to supermarket.
Meat and Poultry
Abattoirs, butchers, and meat processors need the highest hygiene standards for raw protein handling.
Bakery and Confectionery
Bread manufacturers, biscuit producers, cake makers, and confectionery operations from artisan bakeries to large-scale production.
Dairy
Milk processors, cheese makers, yoghurt manufacturers, and dairy product packaging facilities.
Ready Meals
Convenience food manufacturers combine multiple ingredients on high-speed production lines.
Beverage
Bottling lines, canning operations, and liquid food processing require clean, efficient product transport.
Identifying the correct belt for your specific press doesn't have to be complicated. Our APR Conveyor Belts Belt Finder tool streamlines the selection process, helping you quickly locate the right belt based on your machine type, application requirements, and material specifications. Simply input your press details or upload a photo of your existing belt, and we'll match you with the optimal Nitta solution -ensuring you get the right belt first time, every time.
TESTIMONIAL
Paul and Alan have been supporting our site here in Newmarket for the last 25 years. Within this time we as a company have built up a fantastic working relationship and support network with APR. Which benefits our site not only with servicing contracts and breakdown cover but more importantly, the technical support, their knowledge and experience is only an email or phone call away. APR have been integral in our development of the new Pratham lines that our site has invested in, giving constant support when required. We all wish this collaboration to carry this site to the level.
MM Packaging UK Limited
Dave Dobbyn - Production Manager
Food-Grade Belt Materials
Food industry belts must meet specific regulatory requirements whilst delivering operational performance:
FDA and EU Compliance
Our food-grade belts comply with FDA regulations and EC 10/2011 standards for direct food contact. Materials are non-toxic, non-absorbent, and designed to prevent contamination.
Antimicrobial Properties
Specialist compounds incorporate antimicrobial additives that inhibit bacterial growth on belt surfaces between cleaning cycles.
Easy-Clean Surfaces
Smooth, non-porous surfaces allow thorough cleaning and sanitisation. Unlike modular interlocking belts where particles can become trapped in joints, flat belts provide uninterrupted surfaces that wash down completely.
Chemical Resistance
Food production requires aggressive cleaning regimes. Our belts withstand commercial sanitisers, detergents and high-pressure washdown without degradation.
Temperature Tolerance
From frozen storage to oven discharge, our range covers operating temperatures from extreme cold through to high heat applications.
Blue Detection
The food industry standard has shifted from white to blue belting. Blue belts are easily visible against most food products, making contamination from belt fragments immediately detectable. We stock blue food-grade belts for rapid supply.
Types of Food Conveyors We Supply:
Flat Belt Conveyors
Standard conveyor runs transporting products through processing stages. Available in various widths and food-grade specifications for different load requirements.
Incline and Decline Conveyors
Moving products between levels requires higher-friction surfaces to prevent slippage. Ribbed patterns and textured finishes provide grip for elevation changes.
Accumulation Conveyors
Buffer zones where products queue before processing stages. Smooth surfaces prevent product damage during stationary periods.
Transfer Conveyors
Short runs moving products between equipment or processing stations. Precision tracking maintains alignment for downstream operations.
Note: We do not supply modular plastic interlocking belts, wire mesh belts, or chain conveyor systems.
Why Food Manufacturers Choose APR
Food production operates on tight margins where downtime directly impacts profitability. When your check weigher belt fails at 6am, you need a replacement fast - not a two-week lead time.
We stock common food-grade specifications for next-day delivery on standard sizes. Our engineering background means we understand the technical requirements of food processing equipment, not just the belt dimensions. We'll recommend the right specification for your application, considering factors like operating temperature, product type, cleaning regime, and joint method.
As engineers, we also recognise when a belt failure indicates a deeper problem. Premature wear might signal tracking issues, incorrect tension, or contamination from elsewhere in the line. We investigate rather than simply replacing - because fitting the same belt into the same faulty system just creates the same problem again.
Belt Properties for Food Applications
Abrasion Resistance Constant product contact wears belt surfaces. Our food-grade compounds deliver extended service life even under heavy use, reducing replacement frequency and associated downtime.
Oil and Fat Resistance
Animal fats, vegetable oils, and food greases can degrade standard belt materials. Our specialist compounds resist oil penetration without swelling or deterioration.
Low Friction Coefficients
Smooth product release prevents sticking and reduces cleaning requirements. Non-stick surfaces are particularly important for dough, confectionery, and sticky products.
Dimensional Stability
Polyester and aramid core constructions maintain belt dimensions under load and temperature variation, ensuring consistent tracking and performance.
Common Questions About Food Conveyor Belts
Food-grade belts are manufactured from materials certified safe for direct food contact under FDA and EU regulations. They use non-toxic compounds, resist bacterial growth, and contain no substances that could migrate into food products.
We cross-reference competitor specifications from Ammeraal, Forbo, Habasit, Chiorino and other manufacturers to identify equivalent Nitta products. Provide your existing belt code or dimensions and we'll confirm the match.
Food-grade belts use specially formulated compounds that meet regulatory requirements for food contact. They're typically non-toxic, non-absorbent, easy to clean, and resistant to the oils, fats, and cleaning chemicals common in food processing. Standard industrial belts may contain additives unsuitable for food applications.
Blue provides better visual contrast against most food products, making any belt fragments immediately visible during quality inspections. This colour change has become standard practice across the food manufacturing sector.
Service life depends on application severity, cleaning frequency, and operating conditions. High-speed lines with aggressive washdown might see 6-12 month cycles, while gentler applications can achieve significantly longer life. We can advise based on your specific operation.
Yes - check weighers require belts with consistent thickness and carefully executed joints to minimise weight measurement variance. We supply appropriate specifications and can advise on optimal joining methods for weighing accuracy.
belt problems?
Production line stopped? Need a food-grade belt fast? Contact APR Conveyor Belts for expert specification matching, rapid supply, and professional installation that gets your food processing back on track.