Founded in Canton, Georgia in 1989, A&E Conveyor Systems has established a global reputation for engineering high-performance material handling solutions and automated conveyance lines. For over 35 years, A&E has combined the precision craftsmanship and design innovation of European engineering through its structural partnership with the Bieffe group with dependable, hands-on manufacturing and support based in the United States—delivering the “best of both worlds” to demanding processing environments worldwide. A&E specializes in the design and fabrication of complex line integrations for handling, conveying, and thermal treatment across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and household goods industries.

A&E’s technological foundation is built on custom-engineered versatility and a solutions-first approach to complex container handling. From developing specialized table top and three-dimensional multi-flex chain configurations to inventing the industry-leading Pur-Rinse™ waterless ionized air rinsing technology, A&E designs systems that optimize line efficiency, maintain absolute product integrity, and reduce operational utility costs. Where standard conveyor providers rely on off-the-shelf components that fail to address unique container geometries or unstable mass flow conditions, A&E delivers tailored, rugged systems built for long-term production reliability.

Trotter Equipment represents A&E Conveyor Systems across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Our regional field engineers pair A&E’s world-class conveyor design engineering and custom manufacturing capabilities with Trotter’s deep localized field experience—helping regional production facilities analyze line dynamics, select the right accumulation and cleaning technologies, and support integrated systems from initial concept through years of continuous operation.

A&E Conveyor Systems Equipment

A&E Conveyor Systems’ product line encompasses a comprehensive range of material handling and container management technologies—spanning automated conveyors, advanced rinsing machinery, thermal processing tunnels, and end-of-line packaging integration. Every A&E system is custom-designed to match the exact specifications, container profiles, line speeds, and environmental conditions required by each unique production environment.

Conveyors & Accumulation Systems

A&E designs and builds heavy-duty conveyor and accumulator systems capable of seamlessly integrating into high-volume filling and packaging facilities. Engineered to handle everything from highly unstable micro-containers to heavy industrial loads, these systems optimize product flow while eliminating container damage and line backpressure.

• Table Top & Mat Top Conveyors — High-performance straight, side-flexing, and curving conveyor systems engineered for smooth container tracking and stable transport. Available with premium acetal resin or stainless steel table top chains to match chemical, temperature, and wear requirements across glass, plastic, and metal container lines.
• Multi-Flex Chain Conveyors — Three-dimensional plastic chain conveyor lines providing exceptional structural flexibility. Capable of navigating tight-radius turns, elevation changes, inclines, and declines within a minimal floor footprint, making them ideal for complex plant layouts and small or unstable container profiles.
• Dynamic Accumulation Systems (FIFO) — Single-lane and double-lane First-In, First-Out accumulation tables that balance line flow between mismatched machine cycle times. Absorbs upstream surges and feeds downstream equipment smoothly without building backpressure, eliminating container scuffing and line jams.
• Spiral Accumulation Tunnels — Vertical, space-saving accumulation configurations designed to extend line buffer times without consuming valuable floor space. Provides continuous, non-stop product flow during downstream machine changeovers or minor faults.
• Custom & Specialty Container Handling — Specialized line components including vertical elevators, lowerators, can stackers, cap sterilizer lay-down systems, and integrated metal detector conveyors. Tailored for specialized positioning, inversion, or inspection needs across the packaging line.
• Tote & Heavy-Duty Pallet Handling — Rugged twin-strand chain, roller, and mesh conveyors designed to handle demanding material loads, from portable press discharges up to 5,000 lb pallet loads, featuring custom lift-and-rotate or lift-and-pivot configurations.

Container Cleaning, Rinsing & Washing Systems

A&E is an industry leader in container cleaning technology, supplying an expansive range of machinery for sanitizing empty containers, full containers, trays, and pallets. From simple gravity rinsers to multi-stage automated washing systems, A&E ensures absolute cleanliness prior to filling or downstream labeling.

• Pur-Rinse™ Ionized Air Rinse System — A&E’s flagship waterless rinsing machine developed for high-speed beverage canning and packaging operations. Utilizing patented Air-Vac technology, it combines high-pressure ionized air to neutralize static charges with a continuous vacuum at the container mouth to trap and remove debris. Conserves immense water volumes, eliminates residual moisture issues, and minimizes microbiological contamination risks, representing the largest installed waterless base in the industry.
• Empty Can Gravity Water Rinsers — All-stainless steel gravity tracks equipped with dual spray bars, custom-angled spray nozzles, and hinged access hoods for thorough internal and external rinsing of empty cans. Available in single or multi-lane configurations with custom-integrated drain pans and splash covers.
• Full Can Water Rinsing Systems — Stainless steel inline enclosures outfitted with powered-thru conveyors or gravity tracks and targeted spray manifolds, designed to rinse full containers immediately following closing or seaming operations to remove product overflow.
• Multi-Stage Full Container Washers — Heavy-duty stainless steel washing systems engineered to clean cans, bottles, plastic trays, and plastic pallets post-filling. Features water-recirculating reservoirs, offline bucket strainers, heavy centrifugal pumps, and optional steam/detergent injection to flush away aggressive product residues, grease, or brine overfills before downstream labeling or pasteurization.
• Overturning Blowers & Inverters — High-speed container manipulation mechanisms designed to invert, blow out moisture, and re-orient containers inline using precision-machined twist tracks or powered gripper belts.

Thermo-Tech™ Thermal Treatment Systems

A&E’s Thermo-Tech™ division designs advanced thermal treatment machinery to manage container temperatures, ensure product safety, and condition containers for final packaging operations.

• Linear Pre-Heating Tunnels — Precision steam tunnels developed to pre-heat glass jars and bottles immediately prior to hot-filling lines. Equipped with anti-drip stainless steel steam hoods, insulated side panels, PT100 temperature probes, and cut-off solenoid valves to eliminate thermal shock and container breakages.
• Shrink Wrap & Sleeve Heating Tunnels — Industrial hot steam tunnels engineered to apply uniform heat distribution across container profiles for tightening shrink wrap, decorative shrink sleeves, and tamper-evident neck branding.
• Spiral Air & Water Coolers — Enclosed single-drum or twin-drum spiral belt systems designed to uniformly cool down products via forced chilled air circulation or targeted water showers. Built within isolated enclosures to elevate sanitation standards, reduce heat treatment times, and conserve energy via a variable cold distribution framework.
• Horizontal & Vertical Contact Sterilizers — Specialized pasteurization and sterilization handling systems built with self-supporting, curved, and welded stainless steel frames. Employs rubber-buffered acetal resin chains, centralized lubrication units, and comprehensive polycarbonate shielding with micro safety switches to protect operators while manipulating hot product container orientations.

End-of-Line Palletizing & Depalletizing Systems

• Automatic Sweep-Off Depalletizers — High-level discharge depalletizing lines built for automated, high-speed sweep-off container handling. Safely handles empty glass containers or cans, delivering them smoothly to downstream container cleaning and filling lines.
• Small to Medium Production Palletizers — Flexible, custom-configured depalletizing and palletizing cells engineered for small to medium-scale manufacturing. Designed to manage a highly diverse product mix up to 140 packs per minute with rapid, tool-less changeover.

Engineering Capabilities & Design Standards

• Total Conveying Engineering & Line Design — Full-service application engineering from initial container mass-flow analysis and floor space mapping through custom conveyor drafting, line control programming, and full line layout optimization.
• Solutions-First Material Handling — Advanced structural and mechanical design capable of handling extreme plant parameters—including frozen temperature environments, unstable or non-standard container shapes, and high-capacity washdowns.
• Sanitary Stainless Steel Construction — Heavy-duty, open-frame stainless steel construction, washdown-rated bearings, and high-grade plastics selected to exceed rigorous USDA, FDA, and cGMP regulatory sanitation baselines.
• Advanced Control Systems & Automation — Integrated NEMA 4X control enclosures paired with operator-friendly PLC HMI touchscreens. Features automated pneumatic diverter gates, low/high-speed lane dividers, and slat dividers that interact dynamically with line sensors and metal detectors to balance line pressures.

Industries Served

• Beverage & Brewing — High-speed carbonated soft drink, beer, juice, and energy drink canning and bottling lines requiring rapid accumulation and high-efficiency waterless rinsing.
• Food Processing & Canning — Brine filling, sauces, condiments, and preserved foods requiring multi-stage container washing, linear pre-heating, and heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant sanitary conveyors.
• Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical — Cleanroom-compatible table top and multi-flex conveyors, container sanitizing, and robotic end-of-line palletizing for tablet bottles, vials, and diagnostic containers.
• Cosmetics & Personal Care — Custom handling solutions for highly contoured, unstable, or fragile containers across filling, capping, labeling, and shrink-sleeving processes.
• Household Goods & Chemicals — Chemical-resistant mat top and table top lines engineered to handle detergents, household cleaners, and automotive fluid containers.
• Glass & Can Manufacturing — High-level sweep-off depalletizers and mass-flow accumulation conveyors implemented at the regional container manufacturing level.

Services

• Engineering / Design — Complete application engineering, line layout design, line-speed optimization calculations, and full mechanical and electrical drafting for custom material handling layouts.
• Install / Commissioning — On-site installation support, field mechanical alignment, electrical hook-up oversight, line testing, and comprehensive startup commissioning.
• System Integration — Full-scale mechanical and electrical integration of A&E machinery with third-party fillers, seamers, cappers, labelers, case packers, and centralized plant control systems.
• Equipment Refurbishment & Upgrades — Evaluation, structural rebuilding, mechanical wear part replacement, and control system updates for existing or legacy A&E material handling assets.
• Repairs & Troubleshooting — Remote diagnostics and on-site emergency repair services, wear assessments, tracking adjustments, and line pressure tuning to maximize system uptime.

PARTS

• Replacement TableTop Chains & Modular Belting (Plastic & Stainless Steel)
• Wear Strips, Return Rollers & UHMWPE Line Guide Rails
• Pur-Rinse™ Ionizing Bars, Static Neutralizers & Air Filters
• Air-Vac Vacuum Nozzles & Exhaust Tubing Components
• High-Volume Water Rinsing Nozzles & Dual Spray Bars
• Drive Sprockets, Idlers, Shafts & Pillow Block Bearings
• Pneumatic Diverter Gates, Actuators & Solenoid Valves
• Thermo-Tech™ PT100 Temperature Probes & Steam Management Valves
• Gripper Belts, Elevating Cushions & Twist Track Components
• Depalletizer Sweep Bars, Lift Cables & Hardware
• Sensors, Photo-Eyes, Proximity Switches & NEMA 4X Electrical Components
• Sub-Assembly Replacements & Customized Line Layout Retrofits