Bucket elevators are used in various processes in the cement industry to raise materials typically 30 to 40 metres. Some of these may be belt and bucket type, others will be chain type. The size and type of chain will depend on the height and duty of the levator but output can reach 450 m3/hr. Chains range from 136kN to 1000kN breaking load.

These have buckets fixed to one or two strands of chain. The buckets are shaped so that when passing over the headwheel the back of each bucket acts as a chute for material discharged from the following bucket. Feeding of the elevator is achieved by a loading leg or chute.