Buyers often ask what happens between their drawing and the crate that arrives. This is our route, step by step.
We make stainless steel conveyor belts in our own factory: incoming material is verified, wire and round bar are drawn in-house, wire is formed, the belt is assembled and welded, robotically where applicable, then straightened and inspected. Custom orders go through an approved drawing, trial production and a first article before mass production.
We are YIYI Mesh Belt (Ningjin Yiyi Mesh Belt Co., Ltd.), a manufacturer of engineered metal conveyor belts for equipment manufacturers, professional distributors and industrial end users, based in Ningjin, Shandong, China. Our manufacturing experience dates back to 1998; the current company was established in 2008. I am Sunny Ye. The older version of this article was a general guide to buying from China. This version shows how we actually make a belt.
At a Glance
| Site | About 27,000 m² manufacturing site, including about 12,000 m² of production workshop, in Ningjin, Shandong, China |
|---|---|
| Equipment | About 280 units of production and supporting equipment, including 9 automatic welding robots |
| In-house | Wire drawing, round-bar drawing, forming, assembly, welding, straightening, in-process and final inspection |
| Specialist partners | Selected processes and components, such as surface treatment, under our project specifications |
| Quality system | Quality management system certified to GB/T 19001-2016 / ISO 9001:2015 |
How Do We Check Raw Material Before Production?
Every incoming batch of stainless steel is checked before it is used. We match it to the steel mill Material Documentation, verify the material, and run spectral and hardness testing. The material record follows the batch, so a finished belt can be traced back through processing and inspection to the material it came from.
A belt cannot be better than the steel it is made from. Our founder, Aries Zhang, likes to say that finding a good supplier is harder than finding a good customer. That is why material control is the first step, not an afterthought.
| Check | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Material Documentation from the steel mill | Confirms the grade and batch declared by the mill |
| Material verification | Confirms the batch matches the documents |
| Spectral testing | Confirms chromium, nickel and, for SUS316, molybdenum |
| Hardness testing | Confirms the material suits drawing and forming |
Our traceability chain runs: raw material → material verification → drawing and processing → wire and bar dimension checks → product manufacturing → inspection records → finished product.
For grade questions, read SUS304 or SUS316 for a conveyor belt.
Sunny's view: When a buyer asks how we know the steel is right, I describe this table. It is a better answer than any adjective.
Why Do We Draw Our Own Wire and Round Bar?
We run one stainless steel wire-drawing line and one round-bar drawing line, so we can draw wire and rods to the diameters our belts need from verified material. Drawing in-house shortens the chain between the steel mill and the belt, and lets us check wire and bar dimensions ourselves before forming.
We added stainless steel wire drawing and round-bar drawing in 2024. Before that, like many belt makers, we bought drawn wire and rod. Doing it ourselves means we control diameter, surface and the record that links the wire back to its coil.
- Wire diameter is checked after drawing
- Round bar dimensions are checked before rods are cut
- Tensile testing is available to check wire and rod properties
Not every size or material is drawn in-house for every order; some specifications still use purchased wire or rod under the same incoming checks. The point is control: we can check what goes into the belt.
For the effect on cross rods, read how cold drawing affects spiral freezer belt cross rods.
Sunny's view: Ask your supplier where their wire comes from. If the answer is "a trading company", ask how they check it.
How Are Spiral Wire, Rods and Links Formed?
Drawn wire is formed into spirals, flat strip, trapezoidal patterns or links on dedicated forming machines, and rods are cut and prepared to length. Each formed part is checked against the drawing in a trial run before full production, because a small error in pitch or shape repeats along the whole belt.
Different belt families need different forming. A Spiral Freezer Belt needs formed spiral wire and rods; a Trapezoidal Mesh Belt needs formed wire with a regular pattern of spaces, which we make on 15 automatic production machines; a Chain Driven Belt needs mesh plus chain.
| Part | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Spiral wire | Wire diameter, spiral pitch, shape |
| Rods | Diameter, length, end preparation |
| Trapezoidal wire | Pitch, wire diameter, number of spaces |
| Links and edges | Shape and dimensions against the drawing |
Selected components such as some chains and sprockets, and specialist processes such as pickling, electropolishing and heat treatment, are sourced from partners under our project specifications and finished-product quality requirements. Core belt forming, assembly, welding and quality control stay in our own factory.
Sunny's view: The trial run of the spiral wire is where I want problems found. After that, every error is multiplied by the belt length.
How Are Belts Assembled, Welded and Straightened?
Formed parts are assembled into the belt structure, then rods are welded to edges or links. We run 9 automatic welding robots and use robotic welding where applicable, because consistent welds are easier to finish and inspect. The belt is then straightened and checked for flatness, pitch and structural dimensions.
Welding is where a belt becomes one piece, and where many quality problems start. We focus on three things:
- Consistency: robotic welding where applicable gives the same weld at every rod end.
- Finish: weld points must be smooth and rounded, because rough welds wear drum bars and rails.
- Position: welds must sit where they do not interfere with the drum, the rails or the tier above.
After welding, the belt is straightened and checked for flatness. A belt that is not flat can lift in a turn or track to one side.
Read more in how to avoid weld burrs on spiral freezer belts.
Sunny's view: Robots give consistency, people give judgement. We use both, and every belt still passes an inspector.
How Does a Custom Order Move Through the Factory?
A custom order starts from a drawing the customer approves and signs. We then make a trial section and a complete first article, confirm them, and move to mass production with in-process checks. Every formal belt receives a 100% final inspection before packing, and drum or geometry verification is added where the project requires it.
Our formal custom order flow:
- Customer-approved and signed drawing
- Trial production
- Complete first article
- Approval and confirmation
- Mass production
- In-process QC
- 100% final inspection
- Packing and shipment
For replacements, the drawing is prepared from the physical old belt, available drawings and equipment information. Photos and basic dimensions support a preliminary quote, but a worn dimension is not the original design.
The trial step is explained in detail in how trial production and first article approval reduce risk.
Sunny's view: The signed drawing protects both of us. If it is right on paper, it can be made right in steel.
What Is Inspected Before a Belt Is Packed?
Every formal belt receives a 100% final inspection before packing. We check pitch and spiral pitch, drive matching where applicable, flatness, cleanliness, welding quality, smooth and rounded weld points, width, length, structural dimensions, appearance and packing condition. Inspection tools include spectrometer, hardness tester, calipers and a coordinate measuring machine.
Having test equipment does not mean every order includes every test. Material checks run on incoming batches; dimensional and visual checks run on every belt; specific tests or documents for a project are agreed at the inquiry stage.
A 100% final inspection means every belt is checked. It does not mean a belt can never fail, because running conditions, loading and maintenance also decide how a belt performs.
Our quality management system is certified to GB/T 19001-2016 / ISO 9001:2015. That certifies how we manage quality, not a specific product.
Capacity, honestly stated
Our overall capacity is about 200,000 m of belt per year, and about 350 to 400 m of finished Spiral Freezer Belt per day. Capacity is not lead time: each order's lead time is confirmed by product, specification, quantity and schedule.
Sunny's view: If you visit, ask to see the inspection records for a recent belt. That shows you more than the machines.
When This Is Not the Right Approach
A factory tour or a list of machines does not prove a belt will fit your machine. Fit comes from the drawing, the evidence behind it and the trial section. Judge a manufacturer by how it handles your drawing, not by the size of its workshop.
We also do not make everything. Plastic modular belts are not part of our range, and selected components and specialist processes come from partners under our specifications.
From Our Engineering Experience
Buyers who visit us, in person or by video tour, usually ask to see three things: the wire drawing lines, the welding robots and the inspection area. We welcome factory visits and video tours, because seeing the route answers questions faster than a brochure.
Our site also has a 6,000 m² solar installation area. We mention it because buyers ask; it does not mean our production is fully solar-powered.
FAQ
Do you make your own wire?
We run one stainless steel wire-drawing line and one round-bar drawing line. Some specifications still use purchased wire or rod under the same incoming checks.
How many welding robots do you use?
We run 9 automatic welding robots, as part of about 280 units of production and supporting equipment.
Which processes are done by partners?
Selected specialist processes and components, such as surface treatment, are sourced under our project specifications and quality requirements.
Is every belt inspected?
Yes. Every formal belt receives a 100% final inspection before packing, covering pitch, flatness, welding, dimensions, cleanliness and appearance.
Can I visit the factory?
Yes. We welcome factory visits and video tours. Contact us to arrange one.
Conclusion
Our route runs from verified material and in-house drawing through forming, welding, trial production and a 100% final inspection. Ask us to show you any step.
Want to see how your belt would be made?
Send your drawing or old belt photos. We explain the route for your belt, and you are welcome to arrange a factory visit or video tour.
See our manufacturing →WhatsApp Sunny📄 Spiral Freezer Belt Production & Quality Control (PDF) · Email: info@yiyimeshbelt.com
Related reading: How trial production reduces risk · How cold drawing affects cross rods · How to avoid weld burrs · Why in-house wire drawing matters (yiyimeshbelts.com)
Product pages: Wire mesh conveyor belt types · Metal conveyor belt materials (specifications, photos and quote request)
Sunny Ye
Global Sales Director, YIYI Mesh Belt · 15 years in metal conveyor belt projects
I work with spiral freezer builders, distributors and plant teams on belt selection and replacement. Questions about this article? Send them to me directly.
Follow Sunny on LinkedIn · Last updated: 2026-10-15
