A quick-reference glossary of the terms you meet when specifying conveyors, elevators and dedusting equipment for powders, granules and lumps. Each entry explains the concept in plain language and links to the equipment that does the job.
Conveying & lifting equipment
Bulk material / bulk solids
Dry, granular or powdered commodities handled in large volume as a flow rather than as individual units — e.g. cement, coal, grain, ores, plastic pellets. The opposite of unitized or packaged goods.
Belt conveyor
A continuous loop of belt supported by idlers that moves material horizontally or on a slight incline. The standard choice for high-capacity, long-distance transport of granules and lumps. See belt conveyor.
En-masse chain (scraper) conveyor
A fully enclosed conveyor that drags material along a trough by a chain and flights; "en-masse" means the bulk moves as a solid column rather than on top of the chain. Best for fine, dusty powders needing a sealed, multi-inlet/outlet path. See chain conveyor.
Screw conveyor
A rotating helical screw in a tube that pushes material forward. Compact and fully enclosed, used for short-distance metering of powders or sticky materials. See screw conveyor.
Bucket elevator
A vertical conveyor that lifts material in a series of buckets attached to a belt or chain. The standard machine for vertical lifting into silos and reactors. See bucket elevator.
Apron conveyor
A heavy-duty conveyor with overlapping steel pans that carries hot, abrasive or large lump materials. Used where belts would fail. See apron conveyor.
Dust collector
A filtration system that captures airborne dust at transfer points to protect workers, meet emission rules and recover product. Often linked to sealed conveyors in a closed loop. See dust collector.
Rotary valve / rotary airlock
A rotating multi-pocket device under a hopper that meters material into a conveying line while limiting air leakage. A common type of industrial valve for pneumatic and gravity discharge.
Material properties
Bulk density
The mass of material per unit volume including void spaces (t/m³ or kg/m³). Along with particle size it drives conveyor size, drive power and throughput capacity.
Throughput / capacity
The mass of material a system moves per unit time, usually tonnes per hour (t/h). Peak and average rates, plus a 15–20% expansion margin, set the equipment rating.
Abrasive material
A material that wears equipment surfaces — clinker, slag, ore, sand. Requires hardened flights, chain or liner plates to extend service life.
Segregation
The tendency of mixed-size particles to separate during handling, causing uneven product quality. Enclosed, low-turbulence conveying (en-masse) reduces it.
Sealing & safety
Gas-tight / nitrogen inerting
A fully sealed conveyor purged with inert nitrogen so oxygen-sensitive or explosive powders (e.g. battery materials) cannot react. See our gas-tight en-masse conveyor.
ATEX
The European directive (2014/34/EU) for equipment used in explosive atmospheres. Conveyors for combustible dust are built with anti-static belts, explosion venting and monitored safety devices to meet it.
Explosion venting
Panels that open at a set pressure to relieve a dust explosion safely, limiting damage to the enclosure. Part of a compliant combustible-dust system.
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Request a Design ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a conveyor and an elevator?
A conveyor moves material mainly horizontally or on a slight incline, while an elevator lifts it vertically. Belt, chain (en-masse) and screw machines are conveyors; bucket elevators are the standard vertical lifting machine.
What does "en-masse" conveying mean?
En-masse means the bulk material is pushed along a trough as a solid column by a chain and flights, rather than riding on top of a moving surface. It keeps fine powders fully enclosed and minimizes dust and segregation.
What is bulk density and why does it matter?
Bulk density is the mass of a material per unit volume including air gaps (t/m³). With particle size, it determines conveyor dimensions, drive power and rated throughput for a given duty.
What is an ATEX conveyor?
An ATEX conveyor is built for use in explosive (combustible-dust) atmospheres under EU directive 2014/34/EU — with anti-static belts, explosion venting, and monitored safety devices such as zero-speed and belt-misalignment switches.
When is a rotary valve used?
A rotary valve (rotary airlock) sits under a hopper to meter material into a conveying line or silo while limiting air leakage, keeping the system pressure and minimizing dust escape.