Conveyor Types

Three architectures, one integrated approach.

Each conveyor architecture serves different production realities. PFS engineers the right one for your parts, throughput, and facility constraints.

Type 01

Overhead Monorail

Chain-driven overhead conveyor for parts on hangers. Common in automotive and metal finishing operations.

  • DriveSingle chain
  • Speed ControlVFD-controlled
  • Best ForHanging parts
  • Booth SyncCapture velocity matched
Type 02

Power & Free

Two-chain system enabling part accumulation and variable speed. Used when oven cure time exceeds booth spray time.

  • DriveTwin chain — power + free
  • AccumulationYes, between stations
  • Best ForVariable cure cycles
  • Booth SyncAsynchronous, balanced
Type 03

Floor Conveyor

Belt or chain floor conveyor for heavy parts. Common in heavy equipment and industrial fabrication finishing.

  • DriveBelt or chain
  • Speed ControlVFD-controlled
  • Best ForHeavy / oversized parts
  • Booth SyncPit depth coordinated
Applications

Conveyor automation for production finishing.

PFS conveyor-integrated systems are deployed across high-throughput finishing operations.

Automotive Parts Production

Tier-1 OEM finishing lines moving body parts, frames, and components through paint booths and cure ovens.

Heavy Equipment

Floor conveyors handling large frame components and structural parts through wide industrial booths.

Powder Coating Lines

Continuous-flow powder lines integrating overhead conveyor with HELIOS conveyor cure ovens.

Aerospace Components

Power-and-free conveyors for varied cure cycles across precision aerospace finishing operations.

Architectural Extrusions

High-throughput overhead conveyors moving extrusions through pretreatment, paint, and cure stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conveyor & automated lines FAQ.

How does PFS coordinate conveyor speed with booth airflow?
We engineer conveyor speed against booth capture velocity. As parts move through the booth, capture velocity must remain high enough to pull overspray away from operators and into the exhaust. PFS sizes booth fan CFM to your conveyor speed and part profile — not to a generic CFM/sf rule.
What's the difference between overhead monorail and power-and-free?
Overhead monorail uses a single chain — parts move at one speed throughout the line. Power-and-free uses two chains: a 'power' chain that drives parts and a 'free' chain that allows parts to accumulate or move at different speeds between stations. Power-and-free is essential when cure time exceeds spray time — the booth keeps spraying while cured parts accumulate.
Can PFS integrate with my existing conveyor?
Yes. PFS routinely integrates new booths and ovens with existing customer conveyors. We match capture velocity, control sequencing, and oven load logic to your current conveyor speed and indexing.
Are PFS control panels compatible with my plant's PLC standards?
PFS standardizes on Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms — both common in industrial plants. We can engineer panels around your plant's existing PLC standard, including network integration into plant SCADA/MES systems.
Do you provide conveyor systems on their own, without booth and oven?
We can, but we don't recommend it. PFS conveyor pricing assumes integration with our booth and oven engineering — that's where the value is. If you need standalone material handling, a dedicated conveyor manufacturer is usually a better fit.