Some conveying duties demand more than a light open-mesh belt can offer: long oven and freezer runs, heavy product loads, aggressive washdown and abrasive non-food materials. For these applications the Wire Belt Eye-Flex® is engineered as a rugged, long-lasting modular conveyor belt built from solid steel cross rods and reinforcing plates. It is supplied and supported across New Zealand by Advanced Packaging Systems (APS).
Wire Belt Eye Flex
What Is the Eye-Flex® Conveyor Belt?
The Eye-Flex® is a heavy-duty modular conveyor belt with a flat, open carrying surface. Its construction is based on a straight modular form in which wire links are stacked next to one another on steel cross rods, with reinforcing plates giving the belt its high pull strength and load-carrying capacity. This modular layout means the product-carrying surface can be specified independently of the load requirements, so the belt can be tailored to the process rather than the process being fitted around the belt.
Because it is a metal belt, the Eye-Flex® can be used where plastic modular belting is unsuitable — for example where temperatures are high, loads are heavy, or fragments of a worn plastic belt would pose a product-contamination risk. It is a common replacement where lighter belts fail prematurely.
Positive Drive and Reliable Tracking
The Eye-Flex® is a positively driven belt. Drive is provided by specially formed sprockets that engage the underside of the belt, rather than relying on friction. This direct engagement gives smooth, consistent movement and eliminates the slippage common to friction-driven belts, which in turn reduces the effort maintenance teams must spend tracking and tensioning the system. The result is greater reliability and lower operating cost over the life of the conveyor.
Multiple drive options are available to suit the application, including cage rollers, positive-drive sprockets and an optional chain edge drive for enhanced tracking and reliability on longer or more heavily loaded runs.
Gap and Spacing Options
A key advantage of the Eye-Flex® is the range of ways the gap between links — and therefore the open area, drainage and airflow — can be configured. The right method depends on whether hygiene, dimensional stability or maximum open area is the priority.
| Spacing method | How it works | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| No spacers (standard) | Wire links stacked directly together on the cross rod. | General conveying; simple to build and inexpensive to repair. |
| Underwelded wire | One to three wires welded to the underside of the links; gap widths up to 50 mm. | Hygiene-critical lines — eliminates the bacteria traps found under rings, springs and sleeves. |
| Ring spacers | Rings placed between links set the gap; width set by number and thickness of rings. | Increasing open area for airflow around the product. |
| Spring spacers | Springs between links let the wires move on the cross rod. | Heating and freezing duties needing a dimensionally stable belt; exposes the rod for easier cleaning. |
Eye-Flex® gap and spacing options. Flights and side guards can be added for product alignment, separation and incline transport. APS can advise on the right configuration for a given product.
Hygiene and Cleaning
The open construction of the Eye-Flex® makes it well suited to hygiene-sensitive food processing. The belt is fully compatible with Clean-in-Place (CIP) washdown systems, allowing fast and effective sanitation between shifts and reducing the burden on hygiene teams. Where hygiene is critical, the underwelded-wire configuration is preferred because it removes the crevices under rings, springs and sleeves in which bacteria can otherwise collect, making cleaning and sanitation more efficient. The flat, stable panel surface also makes the belt suitable for processes such as canning and pasteurisation, where product toppling is a concern.
Planning a processing or packaging project?
Speak with Advanced Packaging Systems about equipment selection, line integration, and local support in New Zealand.
- Local technical and commercial support in New Zealand.
- Obligation-free advice on equipment and line fit.
- Useful next steps, even if your project is still early-stage.
Applications
The strength, open surface and heat tolerance of the Eye-Flex® make it a versatile choice across food and industrial processing:
- Heat-sensitive food processes — industrial ovens, fryers, coolers and freezers, where a strong belt is needed across long runs;
- Product washing, drainage and drying, where the open surface lets water and debris fall away;
- Canning and pasteurisation lines, where the flat panel surface keeps product stable;
- Heavy or long transfer conveyors, where the belt’s high pull strength is essential;
- Non-food industrial duties, including water filtration and dredging, degreasing, recycling, sorting and grading.
Materials and Specification
The Eye-Flex® is manufactured in stainless steel or mild steel, with belt pitch, wire diameter and cross-rod diameter selected to match the load and application. Sprockets are available in FDA-approved polymers and in stainless steel for corrosive environments.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Belt type | Heavy-duty modular metal conveyor belt (flat carrying surface) |
| Construction | Wire links on steel cross rods with reinforcing plates |
| Drive | Positive drive — sprockets, cage rollers, optional chain edge drive |
| Gap / spacing | No spacers, underwelded wire (to 50 mm), rings or springs |
| Materials | Stainless steel 1.4301 (304) or 1.4571 (316Ti); mild steel |
| Sprocket materials | PA6G and POM (FDA-approved), 1.4305 / 1.4404 stainless, mild steel |
| Options | Flights, side guards, chain edges for product handling and tracking |
Eye-Flex® quick reference. Belts are specified to conveyor width, pitch and drive arrangement; contact APS for selection.
The Eye-Flex® in the Wider Wire Belt Range
The Eye-Flex® is one belt in a complete Wire Belt stainless steel range and is usually specified alongside other belt types across a production line. Where a lighter open-mesh belt is sufficient, Flat-Flex® and Honeycomb belting handle washing, cooling and coating stages, while the Rolled Baking Band provides a solid surface for direct baking. For an overview of how these belt types are matched to each stage of a food process, see the APS guide to food-grade conveyor belts for food processing.
Eye-Flex® Conveyor Belts in New Zealand
Advanced Packaging Systems is the exclusive New Zealand agent for Wire Belt. The APS technical sales team can measure and specify a new or replacement Eye-Flex® belt to match an existing conveyor — belt width, pitch, gap configuration and drive arrangement — and advise on the right spacing method for a given product and process. APS supplies the wider Wire Belt range to the New Zealand food processing and industrial sector, with local stock and support from its Auckland base. Contact APS to discuss a modular conveyor belt for a new line or a like-for-like replacement.
Planning a processing or packaging project?
Speak with Advanced Packaging Systems about equipment selection, line integration, and local support in New Zealand.
- Local technical and commercial support in New Zealand.
- Obligation-free advice on equipment and line fit.
- Useful next steps, even if your project is still early-stage.
