Air Conveyors in Houston, TX — Bottles Ride on Air, Not Chains
Air conveyor systems convey PET bottles with momentum from air jets in a stainless steel deck — transporting and accumulating without jamming or damage, so your process machines can operate independently. Lone Star Automated Systems designs, supplies, installs, and services air conveying systems across Texas.
Directed Air Jets Move Bottles Suspended by the Neck Ring
Empty PET bottles are too light and unstable to convey reliably on their base at high speeds — so air conveyor doesn't try. Instead, each bottle hangs by its neck ring in a guide track while air jets in a stainless steel deck propel it forward with a cushion of directed air. Nothing mechanical touches the bottle body.
Beyond transportation, the system provides accumulation without product jamming or damage: bottles bank gently in the track, storing product between machines. That buffer is the strategic payoff — by storing product, the air system allows process machines to operate independently, so a brief stop at the filler or labeler doesn't cascade down the whole line.
Air conveyor typically runs overhead, freeing floor space on the run from the blow molder or bottle unscrambler to the filler. Filled bottles and containers without neck rings ride on cable or table top conveyor instead.
Built for Uptime — and for the Next Bottle Format
Bottle formats change constantly. Our air conveyor systems are equipped so changeover happens in minutes, from the floor — not from a ladder at the overhead track.
Air-Cylinder Side & Neck Guides
Air-cylinder operated side guides adjust for bottle changeover from the floor — no ladders, no track climbing. Air-cylinder operated neck guides accommodate two different neck finishes on a single track, so running a second bottle format doesn't require a second conveyor.
Accumulation Without Jamming or Damage
The air system doesn't just move bottles — it stores them. Accumulation in the track lets each process machine run at its own pace and ride through brief stops elsewhere on the line, protecting overall line efficiency without a separate accumulator.
HEPA Filtration
HEPA filters on the blower supply mean the air propelling your open, empty bottles is filtered air — a meaningful sanitation upgrade for bottled water, beverage, and other sensitive products traveling between blow molding and filling.
Table Top Interfaces, Service & Controls
A hand-crank adjustment module handles bottle height changes where the air conveyor hands off to table top conveyor. And because a conveyor is only as good as its support: mechanical service is available, and control integration ties the air system into your line's PLCs and sensors.
Where Air Conveyor Earns Its Keep
The classic run — light empty PET bottles move overhead at line speed without tipping.
HEPA-filtered air and stainless decks suit open-container sanitary requirements.
Air tracks run above the plant floor, preserving floor space and forklift aisles below.
In-track accumulation decouples machines so brief stops don't cascade down the line.
Dual-finish neck guides and floor-operated changeover support frequent format switches.
Interfaces to table top, cable conveyor, and fillers — with controls to run it all as one line.
Air Conveyor FAQs
What is an air conveyor?
An air conveyor moves empty PET bottles using momentum from air jets in a stainless steel deck. Bottles hang by their neck ring in a guide track while directed air propels them forward — no chains or belts touch the container body. Air conveyors typically run overhead, freeing floor space between the blow molder or unscrambler and the filler.
How does an air conveyor accumulate bottles?
Because bottles are suspended by the neck and pushed by air rather than mechanical pressure, they bank up gently in the track without jamming or damage. By storing product this way, the air system allows process machines to operate independently — one machine can pause without immediately stopping the line.
How fast is bottle changeover?
Air-cylinder operated side guides adjust for changeover from the floor — no track climbing — and air-cylinder neck guides accommodate two neck finishes on a single track. A hand-crank module handles bottle height changes at table top interfaces.
Are air conveyors sanitary for beverage plants?
Yes — decks are stainless steel, and HEPA filters are available on the blower supply so only filtered air touches your open, empty bottles. That matters for bottled water and other sensitive beverages.
When should I use air conveyor vs. cable or table top?
Air conveyor is the standard for light, empty PET bottles with a neck ring — especially blow molder to filler — because they're too unstable to convey on their base at speed. Filled bottles, cans, jars, and containers without neck rings ride on cable or table top conveyor.
Does Lone Star Automated Systems install air conveyors in Houston?
Yes. We're headquartered in Houston, TX and provide design, supply, installation, mechanical service, and controls integration for air conveyor systems throughout Houston, the Gulf Coast, and all of Texas. Call 713-532-4444 for a quote.
Air Conveyor Design & Installation Across Texas
Lone Star Automated Systems is headquartered in Houston, TX and serves bottlers, beverage plants, blow molders, and consumer product manufacturers throughout the Gulf Coast and statewide.
Ready to Spec Your Air Conveyor System?
Tell us your bottle formats, line speed, and the run you need to cover. We'll engineer the track, blowers, guides, and interfaces — and quote the complete system with controls and service.
713-532-4444