The Wrights Dowson Group is the leading supplier of screw conveyors and bulk handling equipment in the UK. We have years of experience in fashioning screw conveyors to meet the specific requirements of a wide range of industries, relying on modern innovations to create efficient designs.

Screw conveyors are helpful in several applications due to their compact design and easy installation. They can streamline bulk handling and efficiently transport material from one station in your plant to another. However, most screw conveyor’s cease performing at their best when they are raised to an incline of over 25 degrees.

Some processes require moving material at a steep incline or even vertically. This is where vertical screw conveyors come in.

What’s a Vertical Screw Conveyor?

Vertical screw conveyors are simply a vertical counterpart to conventional screw conveyors. Because they transport material directly up or downwards, they are immense space savers. The conveyor uses the same screw flights and spirals as other screw conveyors and can come shafted or shaftless depending on the product it is meant to transport.

Vertical screw conveyors can be up to fifty feet tall before they become impractical. However, the maximum height depends on the volume of the product conveyed.

Vertical screw conveyors find use in industries such as:

  • Wastewater treatment facilities
  • Dewatered biosolids
  • Chemical
  • Minerals processing
  • Food
  • Wood products

When Should You Use a Vertical Screw Conveyor?

This type of conveyor has its advantages and limitations. It works well for dried biosolids or dewatered sludge and other dry materials. They are ideal for handling dry to semi-fluid materials that range from free-flowing to slightly sluggish. Moving such materials across a vertical space is immensely useful as it would otherwise be difficult to bridge the distance.

Vertical conveyors are not recommended for lower solids materials like grit or screening. This is because the vertical alignment acts to compact the material, releasing water from the product. This accumulates in the trough. Fine grit can also clog the drain of a vertical conveyor.

How to Find the Ideal Vertical Screw Conveyor for Your Application

Many considerations go into choosing a suitable screw conveyor for your purposes. For example, you need to consider the type of material conveyed, how solid it is, what density it will be transported, and what volume needs handling. Some industries also have special requirements, such as corrosion-resistant coating or food-grade materials.

Get in touch with our experts at the Wrights Dowson Group today to discuss your needs and applications. Our engineers work with the newest technology to design screw conveyors to your specifications. They are also available for technical support and answer any of your questions!