14 July 2026 • admin
If you run a factory or warehouse in Malaysia and you are thinking of adding a conveyor line, the first question is almost always the same: “Okay, but how much?”
It is a fair question. The honest answer is that a conveyor system does not have one fixed price, the same way a car does not have one fixed price. A basic gravity roller line for a small packing area is a very different animal from a fully automated pallet handling system that runs 24 hours a day. So instead of throwing one number at you, this guide breaks down what you are actually paying for, gives you realistic price ranges for 2026, and shows you how to get an accurate figure for your own factory.
By the end, you will know roughly what to budget, what makes the price go up or down, and which questions to ask before you sign anything.
For most small and medium factories in Malaysia, a conveyor system project usually lands somewhere between RM8,000 and RM150,000, and larger automated lines can go well beyond that.
That is a wide range, we know. Here is a rough guide to help you place yourself:
| Type of setup | Rough price range (2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Short gravity roller line | RM8,000 – RM25,000 | Simple transfer, packing, low budget |
| Powered / motorised roller line | RM25,000 – RM80,000 | Continuous movement, longer runs |
| Belt conveyor line | RM15,000 – RM70,000 | Small parts, cartons, inclines |
| Pallet handling (chain/roller) | RM60,000 – RM200,000+ | Heavy pallets, warehouse automation |
| Vertical pallet lifter | RM40,000 – RM150,000 | Moving goods between floors |
| Fully custom automated line | RM100,000 and up | Special products, full integration |
Treat these as ballpark figures, not quotations. Your real price depends on the details below. Two factories can ask for a “conveyor” and get quotes that are 5 times apart, simply because their needs are different.
When a supplier prepares your quote, they are looking at a handful of things. Understanding these helps you see why one quote is higher than another, and where you can save money without cutting corners.
This one is obvious, but it is the biggest driver. A 5-metre straight line is cheap. A 40-metre line that curves around pillars, goes up an incline and splits into two directions is not. Every curve, incline, merge and transfer point adds parts and labour.
Tip: if your factory floor is tight or oddly shaped, a custom design usually costs less in the long run than forcing a standard conveyor to fit where it does not want to go.
Are you moving light cartons, or full pallets weighing over a tonne? Heavier loads need stronger frames, bigger motors and tougher rollers. A conveyor built to carry 20kg boxes and one built to carry 1,500kg pallets are built completely differently, and priced completely differently.
A gravity conveyor has no motor. Goods roll along by a slight slope or a gentle push from your staff. It is the cheapest option and very reliable, but it needs a person nearby.
A powered (driven) conveyor has a motor that moves everything automatically. It costs more upfront, but it saves labour and gives you steady, controlled movement. For long runs or lines that need to keep pace with production, powered is usually worth it.
Mild steel is the standard and the most affordable. Galvanised steel resists rust and suits humid or wash-down areas. Stainless steel is the most expensive and is used for food, beverage and medical lines where hygiene matters. Choosing the right material for your environment saves you from paying for repairs later.
A plain conveyor that just runs is cheap. The moment you add sensors, variable speed control, “stop-and-go” accumulation (where boxes wait without banging into each other), or a PLC control panel that ties everything together, the price climbs. These features are genuinely useful, but only pay for what your process needs today. You can always add more later if the conveyor is designed to grow.
Someone has to deliver, assemble, level, wire up and test the system on your site. A short line might take a day. A big integrated system can take a couple of weeks. Some suppliers include this in the price and some quote it separately, so always check whether installation is inside or outside the number you are looking at.
Let us go through the common types you will actually be choosing between.
The most budget-friendly option. A series of free-spinning rollers on a frame; goods move by slope or a push. Great for packing stations, inspection tables and moving cartons a short distance. Because there is no motor, there is very little to go wrong and almost no running cost. If your budget is tight and your line is short, start here.
The rollers are driven by a belt or chain, so goods move on their own at a set speed. This is the workhorse of many Malaysian factories — packing, assembly, dispatch. There is a smarter version called MDR (motorised driven roller) with zone control, where each section stops and starts by itself so products never crash into each other. Very handy for fragile goods, but it does add to the cost.
A continuous belt running over a flat bed. Perfect for small items, loose parts or anything that would fall between rollers, and it handles inclines well. Prices vary a lot depending on belt width, length and whether you need food-grade belting.
Built tough to move heavy, loaded pallets automatically through a warehouse or production line. This is where you start replacing forklift trips with an automated flow. It costs more because everything is heavy-duty, but for a busy warehouse it often pays for itself by cutting labour and product damage.
A flexible plastic-chain system that bends around corners and inclines using one motor. Compact and quiet, ideal for assembly and packaging lines where space is tight. A good middle-ground option.
Also called a goods lift or vertical conveyor. It moves pallets and goods safely between floor levels — much safer and cheaper than using a forklift on a ramp, and it saves a lot of floor space. Worth considering if your operation spreads across a mezzanine or two levels.
The conveyor itself is only part of the story. When you plan your budget, remember these:
A conveyor that is slightly more expensive but comes with proper installation, a warranty and local support is almost always cheaper over 5 years than a “cheap” one that keeps breaking down.
Because every factory is different, the only way to get a real number is a proper site assessment. To make that fast and useful, have this ready before you talk to a supplier:
With that information, a good engineering team can give you a clear, itemised quote and even model the line before building it, so there are no surprises.
It is tempting to just pick the lowest quote. But in industrial equipment, the lowest price often hides something — thinner steel, weaker motors, no installation, no warranty, or no one to call when it stops working on a busy Monday morning.
The better question is not “which is cheapest?” but “which gives me the best value over the next 5 to 10 years?” Look for a supplier who designs, builds, installs and maintains everything in-house, so you have one accountable team instead of pointing fingers between three different companies when something goes wrong.
Is a gravity conveyor really that much cheaper than a powered one?
Yes. With no motor, controls or wiring, a gravity line is the most economical choice for short transfers. The trade-off is that it needs a person nearby to keep goods moving. For long runs or hands-free operation, powered is worth the extra cost.
Can I start small and expand later?
Definitely. If your conveyor is designed in a modular way, you can add sections, curves or automation later as your production grows. Just tell your supplier upfront that you plan to expand, so they build it ready for that.
How long does installation take?
A short standard line can be up and running in a day or two. A large custom or automated system may take one to two weeks, including testing. Your supplier should give you a clear timeline in the quote.
Do you service conveyors you did not install?
Many suppliers, including us, supply spare parts and service conveyor lines from any manufacturer — not only the ones we build. So you are not stuck with your original vendor forever.
The best way to know what a conveyor system will cost your factory is to let an engineer look at your space and your process. At Aliran Tenaga Technology, we design, fabricate, install and maintain conveyor systems across Malaysia — from simple gravity lines to fully automated pallet handling — all under one roof from our base in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Tell us what you are moving and where, and our team will get back to you within 24 hours with a clear, no-obligation quote.
👉 Explore our Material Handling Systems or Request a Free Quote today.
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