Trough Screw Conveyor Manufacturer in India
U-Trough Screw Conveyor Manufacturer in India
Heavy-duty U-trough screw conveyors for fly ash, cement, fertilizer, limestone powder, sand, biomass, chemical powder, and grain. Standard, ribbon, cut, and paddle flight configurations. MS, SS304, SS316. Custom lengths and diameters. Easy maintenance access. PAN India installation.
What is a U-Trough Screw Conveyor?
A U-trough screw conveyor uses a rotating helical screw inside a U-shaped (semi-circular) steel trough — the most widely used screw conveyor configuration in Indian industry for horizontal and mildly inclined bulk material handling. The open-top trough with removable flat cover plate delivers the key advantage over tubular type: full access to the screw and trough by simply lifting the cover plate, without removing any section of the conveyor.
Easy maintenance access — the defining advantage
The U-trough's semi-circular cross-section is covered by a removable flat cover plate — typically in 1–2 m bolted sections. Lifting any section of the cover plate exposes the full screw and trough for inspection, cleaning between material changes, flight replacement, or shaft bearing access. No special tools, no section removal, no dismantling — the maintenance engineer simply removes the bolted cover section and has complete access.
This easy access is why U-trough screw conveyors are the first choice for cement plants, power plants, fertilizer units, and any process plant where screw conveyor maintenance must be quick and simple — particularly on short-interval maintenance schedules or when material changes require cleaning between runs.
Higher capacity than tubular — same shaft diameter
The U-trough cross-section fills more than the standard 45–60% filling that limits tubular conveyors — U-trough conveyors can run at 30–45% of trough cross-section in horizontal installations, which for the same screw diameter delivers higher TPH than a tubular type at equivalent screw speed. The open trough also handles larger particle sizes and slightly cohesive materials that would pack in the tight bore of a tubular conveyor.
For industrial bulk materials — fly ash, cement powder, fertilizer, sand, limestone, biomass — where the material is not so fine or hazardous that the partial open-joint cover plate is a concern, the U-trough type delivers higher throughput at lower cost than the tubular equivalent.
How a U-Trough Screw Conveyor Works
Simple, reliable, and proven — four stages from material inlet to discharge, all within a trough that can be inspected and maintained without special tools or disassembly.
Material enters the U-trough through an inlet opening in the cover plate — typically connected to a hopper, silo outlet, or upstream conveyor via a flanged spout. The trough is partially filled (30–45% of cross-section for horizontal conveyors).
The helical screw rotates inside the U-trough — the flight pushes material forward through the trough cross-section with each revolution, like a nut on a bolt. The U-shape of the trough closely matches the screw flight OD, keeping material in contact with the flight for efficient conveying.
Throughput is determined by screw diameter, pitch, rotational speed (RPM), and material filling degree. VFD on the drive motor allows speed adjustment — and therefore throughput control — while the screw is running. Intermediate inlets and outlets can be added for multi-point feed or discharge.
Material discharges at the outlet opening at the far end of the trough — into a discharge chute, silo, bucket elevator boot, or next process unit. Multiple discharge openings can be fitted along the trough length for proportional distribution to multiple downstream points.
Advantages of U-Trough Screw Conveyors
Five operational and engineering advantages that make the U-trough the most widely deployed screw conveyor type for industrial bulk material handling across India.
Easy Maintenance Access
Remove any section of the flat cover plate in minutes — full access to the screw, trough, hanger bearings, and material for inspection or cleaning. No special tools, no conveyor disassembly, no section removal. Critical for plants on regular maintenance schedules or frequent product changeovers.
Higher Material Capacity
U-trough cross-section delivers 10–20% more conveying capacity per unit of screw diameter compared to tubular type — because the U-shape allows higher filling degree without material spillage from the sides. At equivalent diameter, U-trough moves more TPH per rotation.
Efficient Bulk Material Handling
The semi-circular trough profile closely conforms to the screw flight OD — minimising the gap between flight edge and trough bottom, maximising the amount of material pushed forward per revolution, and reducing material rollback at the bottom of the trough.
Simple Construction
U-trough sections are press-formed from flat plate — straightforward to fabricate in standard or custom lengths. Trough sections, cover plates, inlet/outlet spouts, and end plates are all bolted together — field assembly without welding is possible for installations in tight or elevated plant areas.
Cost Effective Operation
Lower fabrication cost than tubular type for equivalent capacity. Lower maintenance cost due to easy access — bearing replacements and flight repairs that would require full disassembly of a tubular conveyor are done in-place by lifting the cover plate. Significantly lower cost per TPH than pneumatic conveying for equivalent distances.
Multiple Flight Configurations
Standard solid flights for free-flowing dry materials; ribbon flights for sticky or cohesive materials; cut flights for materials needing aeration; paddle flights for mixing while conveying. No other conveyor type offers this range of material-handling configurations in one standard unit.
Materials Handled by U-Trough Screw Conveyors
The U-trough type handles the widest range of bulk materials of any screw conveyor configuration — from dry free-flowing powders to slightly wet, cohesive, or sticky materials that cannot be handled in tubular type conveyors.
Cement
Fly Ash
Sand
Limestone Powder
Fertilizers
Chemical Powders
Biomass Materials
Grain & Feed
Industries Using U-Trough Screw Conveyors
U-trough screw conveyors are deployed across every major Indian heavy industry sector — wherever horizontal bulk material transfer, easy maintenance access, and reliable continuous operation are required.
Cement Plants
Raw meal, cement powder, fly ash, and limestone powder transfer at raw mill, kiln, and packing plant. Heavy-duty MS U-trough screw conveyors at 24×7 operation — standard flight for cement, ribbon flight for raw meal with clay content.
Power Plants
Fly ash transfer from ESP hoppers to silos and processing equipment. Coal dust handling at bunker reclaim. Heavy-duty MS trough with air-purge shaft seals for dusty fly ash handling environments in thermal power plants.
Fertilizer Industry
Urea, DAP, MOP, and granular fertilizer transfer between blending, conditioning, and bagging. Sealed cover plate options for hygroscopic materials. SS316 trough for high-moisture fertilizer environments near coastal facilities.
Chemical Industry
Chemical powder, pigment, and granule transfer between process equipment. SS304 or SS316 trough for corrosive applications. Paddle flight for mixing while conveying at chemical blending stages.
Food Processing
Grain, soybean meal, compound feed, food ingredients — SS304 U-trough with food-grade seals and polished interior. Easy cleaning access by lifting cover plate — important for food plants with frequent product changeovers.
Mining Operations
Mineral powder and ore fines transfer between processing stages. Heavy-duty MS trough with AR-steel (abrasion-resistant) flight for highly abrasive mineral powders, silica, and mining waste handling.
Biomass Plants
Rice husk, wood chips, and biomass material transfer from storage to boiler feed. Large-pitch ribbon flight handles fibrous, low-density biomass that would compress and block a standard solid-flight conveyor.
Construction Material
Dry sand, gypsum, calcium carbonate, and mineral aggregate — between batch plant, mixing equipment, and storage silos. Heavy-duty MS trough with abrasion-resistant flight for high-wear sand and aggregate handling.
Grain & Feed Industry
Wheat, maize, soybean, and compound feed at silos, mills, and processing plants. Standard flight at low RPM to minimise grain breakage. MS food-safe trough. Access for cleaning between crop seasons and product grades.
Technical Specifications
All U-trough screw conveyors are made-to-order. Trough diameter, screw pitch, flight type, and motor power are calculated from your material's bulk density, required TPH, and conveyor length.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Conveyor type | U-trough screw — semi-circular trough with flat cover plate |
| Trough diameter | 150 / 200 / 250 / 300 / 400 mm standard |
| Conveyor length | Up to 12 m per section; multiple sections for longer runs |
| Inclination | 0° (horizontal) to 20° standard; up to 45° with special pitch |
| Screw pitch | Full pitch / half pitch / variable — per material and inclination |
| Filling degree | 30–45% horizontal; 20–30% inclined |
| Screw speed | Calculated per capacity — typically 20–120 RPM |
| Trough thickness | 3–8 mm (per material abrasiveness) |
| Trough section length | 1 m / 1.5 m / 2 m / 3 m bolted sections |
| Cover plate | Flat MS/SS plate — bolted, removable for access |
| Shaft seals | Stuffing box / lip seal / air purge — per material |
| Power supply | 415 V, 3 Phase, 50 Hz |
Conveyor Diameter Options
* Capacity depends on material bulk density, screw speed, and filling degree. Free calculation with every quotation.
Flight Configurations
Construction Materials
Download Screw Conveyor Catalogue
U-trough & tubular specs, capacity tables — PDF, free.
Download PDFHow to Select the Right U-Trough Screw Conveyor
Five parameters our engineers use to specify trough diameter, flight type, material, and drive. Share these for a free selection and GA drawing.
At horizontal installation, 1.0 t/m³ bulk density. Recalculated for your material and angle.
U-Trough Screw Conveyors — Live at Customer Plants
Real Neo Conveyors screw conveyor systems in operation — cement, fly ash, fertilizer, and industrial bulk material handling installations across India.
More installation videos: youtube.com/@neoconveyors
U-Trough vs Tubular Screw Conveyor
Both use a rotating helical screw to convey material — the trough shape determines maintenance access, dust control, inclination range, and material suitability.
| Feature | ✅ U-Trough (This page) | Tubular Screw Conveyor |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance access | Excellent — lift cover plate for full access | Moderate — requires section removal |
| Dust control | Good — cover plate with gaskets | Excellent — complete cylindrical enclosure |
| Cleaning access | Excellent — open trough for CIP or manual | Moderate — flush through or disassemble |
| Material capacity per diameter | Higher — open trough allows higher fill | Lower — filling limited to 45–60% of bore |
| Inclination range | 0° to ~20° standard (to 45° special pitch) | 0° to 90° — any angle including vertical |
| Sticky/cohesive material | Handles with ribbon or paddle flight | Risk of bore packing — not suitable |
| Outdoor weatherproofing | Good — cover plate protects material | Excellent — fully sealed cylindrical tube |
| Capital cost (same capacity) | Slightly lower — pressed trough fabrication | Slightly higher — machined tube bore |
| Best applications | Cement, fly ash, fertilizer, biomass, grain, sand | Flour, spices, chemical powder, pharma |
Need vertical conveying or complete dust sealing? Tubular Screw Conveyor →
Recent U-Trough Screw Conveyor Installations
Four recent projects with full engineering parameters — fly ash, cement, fertilizer, and biomass — demonstrating real-world capacity, trough diameter, and results achieved at customer plants.
Thermal power plant needed fly ash transferred 18 m horizontally from ESP hopper collection point to ground-level silo feed at 8 TPH. MS U-trough with standard flight, air-purge shaft seals at both ends, and gasketed cover plate to minimise dust emission. Three intermediate inlets for ESP hopper collection at different points along the trough length.
Cement plant needed finished OPC cement transferred 12 m from mill discharge to packing plant infeed at 25 TPH continuous 3-shift operation. MS U-trough with heavy-duty standard flight, intermediate hanger bearing at 6 m, gasketed cover plate, and screw-type take-off at discharge for dust-tight connection to packing hopper. Cover plate inspection access for weekly maintenance.
Fertilizer blending plant needed DAP granules transferred 10 m from import storage to blender infeed at 15 TPH. High-humidity coastal location and DAP's mildly corrosive nature specified SS316 trough and flight with corrosion-resistant shaft seals. Ribbon flight specified due to DAP's tendency to pack at the shaft under the standard solid helix.
Biomass power plant needed rice husk (bulk density 0.12 t/m³, highly fibrous) transferred 8 m from storage to boiler feed hopper at 5 TPH. Rice husk's fibrous, low-density nature and tendency to bridge required large-pitch ribbon flight — solid standard flights were tried previously and caused repeated blockage within 2 hours of operation. MS galvanised trough for outdoor installation.
Why Choose Neo Conveyors?
Every U-trough screw conveyor is engineered from your material data — flight type, trough diameter, and construction material specified to match your material, capacity, and maintenance requirement.
Trough diameter, screw pitch, flight type (standard/ribbon/cut/paddle), and trough material calculated from your material data. Not adapted from a standard catalogue — designed for your material and capacity.
18+ years of screw conveyor projects across cement, power, fertilizer, mining, biomass, and food industries. References from clients in your sector available on request.
Standard, ribbon, cut, and paddle flights all fabricated in-house — the correct flight for your material specified at no charge. No ordering from a third-party flight supplier.
Installation, alignment, shaft seal fitting, and commissioning by Neo Conveyors' own engineers across all Indian states. No third-party erection contractors.
GA drawing showing trough diameter, screw pitch, inlet/outlet positions, hanger bearing positions, and drive details included with every quotation at no extra charge.
Replacement screw flights, trough sections, shaft seals, and hanger bearings stocked for all standard diameters. Annual Maintenance Contracts available PAN India.
Related Conveyor Solutions
Explore the tubular screw, vertical screw, bucket elevator, and other conveyors that connect to or complement your U-trough screw conveyor system.
Frequently Asked Questions
U-Trough Screw Conveyor — Service Locations Across India
Manufactured at our Ghaziabad facility — installed and commissioned by our own engineers at cement plants, power plants, fertilizer units, biomass plants, mills, and chemical plants across all Indian states.
Request a Free Quote — GA Drawing Included
Share your material name, bulk density, required TPH, and conveyor length. Our engineers calculate trough diameter, flight type, screw pitch, and motor power — and send a GA drawing with quotation at no charge within 24–48 hours.
