Overhead Chain Conveyor System
Continuous, overhead parts handling for paint lines, assembly, and staged production.
The Overhead Chain Conveyor System from GlobalRoll is engineered to move parts and assemblies above the floor, freeing up valuable space while keeping your process flowing. Ideal for paint and coating lines, work-in-process buffering, and staged assembly, this system uses standardized chain-driven modules and configurables carriers, brackets, and supports tailored to your parts and process.
Applications & Use Cases
Overhead Chain Conveyor Systems are a natural fit wherever gravity and floor space are working against you.
- Overhead part movement through paint and coating lines
- Work-in-process transfer between assembly stations
- Buffering and storage loops for parts awaiting downstream processes
- Routing parts through ovens, drying tunnels, or curing areas
- Delivering components to manual or automated workstations from a common supply line
- Freeing floor space by moving product overhead instead of at floor level
System Overview
GlobalRoll’s Overhead Chain Conveyor System uses a continuous chain and carrier arrangement to suspend and move parts through your process. Custom carriers and brackets are designed to hold your specific parts, while track layouts—including curves, rises, drops, and spurs—guide parts through paint booths, ovens, assembly areas, inspection, and pack-out.
Each overhead conveyor family is defined by engineered templates that specify chain type, track profile, carrier geometry, brackets, and drive/take-up assemblies. Instead of designing a one-off system from scratch, GlobalRoll configures these templates to match your part envelope, weight, process steps, and building constraints. That means predictable performance, smoother commissioning, and an easier path to future modifications or expansions.
Key Features & Benefits
Features
- Continuous overhead chain design with configurable track layouts
- Customizable carriers, hooks, and brackets to match specific part shapes and weights
- Drive, take-up, and tensioning assemblies sized and selected from standardized templates
- Configurable elevation changes, curves, and spur lines for complex routing
- Option for indexing or continuous movement, depending on process needs
- Integration-ready for paint booths, wash stations, ovens, curing tunnels, and assembly cells
- Multiple hanger spacing and load configurations to optimize capacity and line density
Benefits
- More floor space: Moves parts overhead and away from aisles, forklift paths, and workstations.
- Improved process flow: Routes parts smoothly through multiple operations without manual transfers.
- Consistent cycle times: Stable, predictable part movement supports quality and throughput targets.
- Better ergonomics: Reduces manual lifting, carrying, and staging of parts.
- Easier scaling: Template-based designs make system extensions and modifications more straightforward.
- Lower risk: Proven components and routings reduce uncertainty during installation and ramp-up.
Configuration Options
We configure each Overhead Chain Conveyor System around your parts, process steps, and building layout using standardized GlobalRoll modules.
Mechanical & Dimensional Options
- Part Envelope: Sized to support your maximum part dimensions (height, width, depth), with clearance for process equipment
- Line Length: Configurable runs from short overhead transfers to full-building loops
- Track Layout: Curves, rises, drops, and spur lines arranged around booths, ovens, workstations, and structural obstacles
- Carrier Design: Custom hooks, hangers, and brackets engineered for your parts’ mounting points and orientation needs
- Hanger Spacing: Adjustable hanger spacing and loading patterns to balance capacity and part spacing
- Support & Steelwork: Overhead support structures designed for load, deflection, and integration with existing building steel
Drive, Control & Zone Options
- Drive Types: Standardized drive packages sized for chain pull and load; multiple drive options for long or complex layouts
- Speed Control: Fixed speed or variable-speed control to match process times and cure/paint requirements
- Motion Style: Continuous movement or index-style motion depending on paint, wash, or assembly process constraints
- Position & Sensor Options: Sensors for jam detection, chain position, carrier counts, and process triggers
- Control Integration: Designed to integrate with oven controls, paint booth systems, PLCs, and plant-wide control networks
Available Accessories
- Load/unload stations and ergonomic work areas
- Drip pans and containment for paint and fluids
- Manual or automatic switching at spur lines
- Identification features for carriers (e.g., tags, sensors)
- Safety guarding, platforms, and access points for maintenance
- Integration brackets for blow-off nozzles, spray guns, and inspection devices
Technical Highlights
Exact specifications depend on your parts and process, but Overhead Chain Conveyor Systems typically include:
- Load Capacity per Carrier: Defined based on part weight and distribution, engineered with safety margin
- Line Speed: Configured to match process dwell times for wash, paint, drying, curing, and assembly
- Chain Type: Selected from standardized options based on load, environment, and required life
- Operating Environment: Designed for typical industrial spaces, paint and wash areas, and elevated temperature zones near ovens (with appropriate materials and finishes)
- Power: Standard industrial power supply tailored to drive and control requirements
- Materials & Coatings: Track, carriers, and hardware materials selected to handle paint, overspray, wash chemicals, and temperature as required
Typical Layouts & Use Cases
A common Overhead Chain Conveyor layout starts at a load station where parts are hung onto carriers, then moves through a sequence of wash, paint, and cure stages before returning to an unload area. Along the way, spur lines can route parts to rework, inspection, or alternative finishing processes. The overhead path is designed to work around booths, ovens, building columns, and other equipment while maintaining clear aisles and working space below.
Example Use Case
A manufacturer needed to route metal components through a wash station, primer booth, topcoat booth, and curing oven, then provide a buffer before final assembly. GlobalRoll configured an Overhead Chain Conveyor System with a main loop passing through each process, a controlled-speed section through the oven, and a spur line for rework. Custom carriers were designed to hold each part in the correct orientation for coating. The result was a consistent, traceable finishing process that reduced manual handling, improved coating quality, and increased throughput.
Quality, Traceability & Maintenance
Overhead Chain Conveyor Systems are built using GlobalRoll’s engineering-controlled templates for drives, track sections, carriers, and steelwork. BOMs, weldments, and routings are documented and controlled so that every installation aligns with engineered intent and quality expectations.
Critical components such as drive units, chains, carriers, and key structural elements can be tracked through manufacturing and QA. That traceability supports preventive maintenance, parts replacement planning, and compliance with internal or external quality standards.
Maintenance considerations are built into the design. Access points, catwalks, or platforms can be incorporated where needed, and standardized component choices simplify stocking spares. Chain inspection, lubrication, and carrier checks can be built into your regular maintenance schedule with clear documentation backed by GlobalRoll’s templates and support.
These resources support your engineering reviews and project planning.
If you need to move parts overhead through wash, paint, cure, or assembly processes, GlobalRoll can help design an Overhead Chain Conveyor layout aligned with your parts, process stages, and building constraints. We’ll work with your team to define part envelopes, load requirements, and process steps, then configure a system using standardized modules and proven components.
Downloads & Resources
Use these documents to support design reviews, budgeting, and internal planning.
- Overhead Chain Conveyor System Overview (PDF)
- Overhead Chain Conveyor Technical Datasheet (PDF)
- Paint & Finishing Line Layout Planning Checklist (PDF)
- Maintenance & Inspection Quick Guide (PDF)