How To Select Mesh Belts For Tunnel Freezers – K2, F2, R2 & DDK2?
Oct 22, 2026
When it comes to tunnel freezer mesh belts, the most frequent question we receive is: "Which model works best?" Four widely used mesh belt types are available: K2, F2, R2 and DDK2. Here is our selection guide.
Quick takeaway: Select by your product.
General frozen goods → Chain‑Driven K2
Flatter conveying surface → Chain‑Driven F2
Soft seafood requiring a tight, even surface → Chain‑Driven R2
Light frozen products with low energy consumption priority → DDK2
Chain‑Driven K2 Belt: General-purpose & cost‑effective
The chain‑driven K2 belt is the standard universal design for tunnel freezers. It consists of side chains assembled with cross round rods, delivering stable conveying performance with a high open area for excellent cold air penetration.
It is highly versatile and competitively priced, suitable for most frozen food products such as dumplings, glutinous rice balls, chicken nuggets and prepared meals. It serves as the standard configuration for regular IQF freezing lines.
Chain‑Driven F2 Belt: Superior surface flatness
Like K2, the F2 belt is chain‑driven. Its key advantage over K2 is a flatter carrying surface, and it is more economical than eye‑link belts.
It is ideal for freezing bulky items including whole shrimp, steamed buns and pizza where an even product surface is required.
Chain‑Driven R2 Belt (Eye‑Link Belt): Ultra-flat surface, preferred for premium seafood
Also known as the chain‑driven eye‑link belt, the R2 belt features a single-layer, exceptionally flat mesh surface with evenly distributed cold airflow, leaving no indentations on frozen products.
It is widely adopted for premium seafood such as salmon, squid and shrimp paste, where surface finish matters greatly. The mesh opening can be made as small as 2 mm to stop small products from falling through. Its single‑layer structure minimizes dead corners for easy cleaning, meeting high sanitary standards.
DDK2 Belt: Sprocket-driven, lightweight & energy-saving
The core difference between DDK2 and chain‑driven belts lies in its drive system: DDK2 uses direct sprocket drive without chains and cross rods.
- Much lighter weight, cutting down freezer power consumption
- Small turning radius for smooth transfer at discharge points
- Fewer dead zones, easy to clean and less frost accumulation
- Fabricated from special alloy wire for high hardness and low elongation
Note: The sprocket drive has a load limit. It is recommended mainly for lighter products such as dumplings and soup dumplings.
Selection Reference Table
|
Model |
Structure |
Key Features |
Suitable Frozen Products |
Choose it when… |
|
K2 |
Chain-driven, high open area, good cold air permeability |
Versatile, economical |
Dumplings, glutinous rice balls, chicken nuggets, prepared foods |
You process a wide range of light-to-medium frozen goods and prioritize versatility |
|
F2 |
Chain-driven, finer mesh than K2 |
Flatter conveying surface |
Steamed buns, pizza |
You freeze bulky products and require an even product surface |
|
R2 |
Rod-connected eye-link structure, single flat layer |
Mesh opening down to 2 mm, sanitary, no product marks |
Salmon, squid and other high-grade seafood |
You demand superior flatness, good product appearance and high hygiene |
|
DDK2 |
Sprocket direct drive |
Lightweight, low energy consumption, easy cleaning |
Dumplings, soup dumplings and other light frozen items |
Energy efficiency and easy sanitation are priorities, and your products are lightweight |
About Kansai Wire Netting Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
We are a joint venture established by Japan's Kansai Wire Netting Co., Ltd. (founded in 1935) and Taiwan Jiuen Enterprise Co., Ltd. As a national "Specialized, Refined, Differential & Innovative" enterprise, we hold more than 70 patents and carry nearly a century of R&D and manufacturing experience in metal conveyor belts. We provide custom mesh belt selection and fabrication services for sintering furnaces, heat treatment, food processing, medical and chemical industries.
Within the food sector, we are a long-term supplier to well-known brands including Synear, Anjoy, Haiba Wang, Haidilao, Tyson, Sunner and Chia Tai, delivering professional mesh belt solutions for food processing lines.
