Nerak Continuous Bucket Elevator

Nerak’s continuous bucket elevators are designed for the high-throughput handling of bulk materials in applications requiring a single discharge point. Suitable for products such as food materials, powders, aggregates and recycled materials, these systems support efficient and controlled conveying while maintaining product integrity.

The system uses a continuous chain of interconnected buckets to transport material along horizontal, vertical and inclined paths within a single bucket elevator system, eliminating the need for additional transfer points. This enables smooth, uninterrupted material flow while reducing handling and minimising product degradation.

Continuous bucket elevators are typically selected where centralised discharge and maximum conveying capacity are required. The continuous flow design supports higher operating speeds and consistent throughput, making the system well suited to high-volume processes with simplified routing requirements.

Each system is driven by Nerak’s proprietary rubber block chain, reinforced with embedded steel cables. This link-free design supports quiet operation, eliminates lubrication requirements and reduces wear, resulting in low maintenance demands and reliable long-term performance.

The compact system footprint allows integration into space-constrained environments, while easy-clean design options support hygiene-sensitive applications where cross-product contamination must be controlled.

As a UK manufacturer, Nerak designs and builds each system to suit the specific material characteristics and operational requirements of the application, ensuring consistent performance within integrated handling systems.

Product Trials

If you would like to understand how your products will perform within a Nerak system, our Product Trial Service allows you to test materials under real operating conditions.

Trials can be carried out by our team or attended in person at our Brecon facility, where you can work directly with our engineers to assess system suitability and performance. Contact us to arrange a trial or discuss your requirements.

Installation

Nerak supports every project through to installation and commissioning, ensuring systems are delivered and integrated efficiently within your operation.

To understand typical installation timescales and what to expect on-site, visit our Installations page for further information.

The Nerak continuous bucket elevator consists of two endless and parallel rubber-block chains with robust, plastic or steel buckets running between the two. The buckets are connected by flexible strips to create a gap-free and resilient conveying system
The elevators are available in both S and C configuration
Depending on the application, the Nerak continuous bucket conveyor is equipped with one or more in-feeds. At the infeed, the product is fed into the buckets from the top at a controlled rate. The feed opening is sealed to the bucket belt
Nerak continuous bucket elevators have only one discharge point and the buckets are emptied by gravity. Depending on the discharge characteristics of the product, a bucket knocker can be incorporated into the design
Each elevator is built with safety and inspection panels (in solid or mesh materials) allowing internal monitoring and ease of access for maintenance and cleaning
The elevators are manufactured from mild steel (with a powder-coated finish), stainless steel or galvanised steel
For food environments, easy-clean and magnetic metal-detectable bucket options are available
Conveying heights of up to 50m are possible and ATEX compliance options can be incorporated during the design process
All safety and control devices are wired back to a locally mounted junction box for connection to the customer’s control system

Food
Chemicals and soap powder
Aggregates and minerals
Pharmaceuticals
Recycling and waste

A continuous bucket elevator is usually the right choice when you need steady vertical movement of bulk materials with controlled, reliable throughput. It is well suited to powders, granules, aggregates and other materials where product flow, dust control and efficient elevation are key requirements.

Yes, continuous bucket elevators are suitable for high-throughput applications. A continuous bucket elevator can handle large volumes of material while maintaining a controlled product flow, making it a strong option where capacity and consistent vertical transfer are both important.

Yes, continuous bucket elevators can handle powders, granules and aggregates. The right continuous bucket elevator specification will depend on the material’s bulk density, flow behaviour, abrasiveness, dust level and required throughput.

A continuous bucket elevator reduces transfer points by moving material directly from the pickup point to the discharge point in one enclosed vertical path. This can reduce the need for multiple conveyors, chutes or intermediate handling stages, helping to improve flow and reduce spillage or product degradation.