Transport network
The Transport network consists of
The Transport Network is the primary means of moving items from one area to another. It is an essential component of any factory in the game.
Belt transport system
The Belt transport system is the main transport means in a base. It consists of 3 elements:
These come in 3 tiers of varying speed:
Learn more about the simulated physics of the belts, or how to optimize the flow of items.
Inserters
Inserters will always place items on the far side of a belt, and will prefer to take items from the closest side.
| Item | Max power | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
180 W (burner) | Most basic inserter, needs burning fuel. |
 |
13 W | Basic electric inserter. |
| |
18 W | Basic inserter able to grab Items from 2 tiles distance. |
| |
30 W | Working at double speed. |
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40 W | Able to connect to Circuit network and Logistic network, to specify working conditions. Can grab also specified item-types only. |
Chests
Chests are used to store items. Chests Storage/Stack like items together:
| Item | Max stacks | Description |
|---|---|---|
| |
16 | Basic storage chest. |
| |
32 | Larger basic chest. |
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48 | Basic chest with maximum capacity of 48 stacks. |
 |
48 | Connectable to Circuit network. |
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48 | Used for Logistic network, Circuit network. |
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48 | Used for Logistic network, Circuit network. |
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48 | Used for Logistic network, Circuit network. |
| |
48 | Used for Logistic network, Circuit network. |
Other entities with stacks
As said, stacks are needed to store items. Entities with stacks are
- Burner inserter, Burner mining drill,
- Furnaces,
- Assemblies or even the
- Vehicle/Car or Vehicle/Train but also
- Gun turrets
- Robots and Inserters (but only very small)
- your Inventory (plus the quick bar, the weapon bar and what you have in hand).
Storage
Storage is a concept, about storing enormous masses of items. Under normal circumstances, you don't need to store many items. Especially in the beginning game every item counts and that means, you should try to keep the ways short (belts store a serious amount of items) and don't use chests so much. Instead, you should keep the items in flow, pass them as fast as possible/affordable from production step to the next step to create higher leveled items, instead of storing it.
So, when speaking from storages, we mean concepts, which are really needed to keep the production in flow. Some of them work only together with Logistic network. Most used for: