Design goals for the FlexRake included eliminating the need for extensive site engineering and the use of massive frames. The unit was designed to adapt to many styles of barscreens. It was important that the unit be easily removable to allow for maintenance of screens, gates, and other equipment or structures.

These criteria resulted in the unique design of the FlexLink™, a 316 stainless steel investment casting. When assembled as a chain, the link was engineered to create a chain that would bend in only one direction. This created rigidity for the chain to become its own frame. The chain's ability to bend allows it to become its own lower sprocket as well (as demonstrated in Figure 4, page 2).