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Bucket Elevators

One of the most efficient ways to elevate bulk materials vertically is with a bucket elevator. A Bucket Elevator consists of a series of buckets attached to a belt or chain with pulleys or sprockets located at the top and bottom of the unit. The buckets are located in a casing or housing to contain the material. Bulk materials are loaded into each bucket as the bucket moves past an inlet point. KWS designs and manufactures a wide variety of bucket elevators based on the characteristics of the bulk material and the process requirements.

Engineering Guide Industry Solutions

Head Section of Centrifugal Bucket Elevator

Advantages of Using Bucket Elevators

Designed to handle a wide variety of bulk materials – from average to very free-flowing
Many different bucket and casing sizes available for capacities up to 15,000 cubic feet per hour
Completely enclosed for dust and weather-tight operation
Inlet section can be control fed or flood loaded with bulk materials

Bucket Elevator Conveyor Benefits

KWS designs and manufactures Bucket Elevators to meet the needs of many industries, such as Chemical, Minerals Processing, Food, Wood Products and Wastewater Treatment.

KWS Bucket Elevators are custom designed for your application. Bulk material characteristics, capacity and overall height are considered when designing Bucket Elevators. KWS is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer. Every component and assembly is manufactured in the USA by highly skilled craftsmen. All KWS welders are certified in accordance with American Welding Society (AWS) Codes. KWS Bucket Elevators are manufactured to rigid quality standards.

Boot Section of Continuous Bucket Elevator

Shaftless Screw Conveyor - KWS Manufacturing

Available Features / Options

Custom Engineered For Your Specific Application
Wide Range Of Construction Materials – Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel and Abrasion-Resistant Alloys
Belt and Chain Type Elevators Available To Meet Your Specific Requirements
Screw-Type Or Internal Gravity Take-Ups Available

Design Worksheet

Bucket Elevator Design Worksheets

Resources for Bucket Elevators

Problem Solvers

Continuous Bucket Elevator for Wood Fiber Recycling Plant

KWS bucket elevators provide for a superior seal, keeping material contained within the bucket elevator, preventing unnecessary material loss.

Problem Solvers

Bucket Elevator for Charcoal Briquetting Process

KWS provided a heavy-duty centrifugal-type bucket elevator, traditionally used in coal handling applications because of their robust low-maintenance design.

Problem Solvers

KWS Redesigns Bucket Elevator to Double Capacity at CertainTeed in Portland, OR

KWS designed and manufactured a unique bucket elevator to deliver twice the capacity in the same casing size as the existing elevator.

Problem Solvers

Elevating Abrasive Sand at BASF/Master Builders Solutions in Streetsboro, OH

KWS provided heavy-duty centrifugal-type bucket elevators lined with a replaceable abrasion-resistant plate longer life.

Problem Solvers

Feeding and Elevating Glass Cullet for Owens Corning in Newark, OH

Since glass cullet is very abrasive, inside areas of the bucket elevator and screw feeder were lined with chromium carbide overlay to extend its life span.

Problem Solvers

Inclined Screw Feeder and Bucket Elevator for Metering and Elevating Abrasive Materials at GMC Roofing

The new KWS screw feeder and bucket elevator were designed for the abrasiveness of the application and allowed significant savings in project costs.

Problem Solvers

Wood Chip Storage and Metering System for Pyrolysis

KWS provided a unique design for the growing pyrolysis industry that met the tight space constraints of the plant and for easy installation and maintenance.

Features & Benefits

Excluder Rings Stop Bulk Material Leakage

Excluder rings are used as a secondary shaft seal to prevent leakage of bulk materials at the drive or tail shafts of conveyors and elevators.

Problem Solvers