Conveyor belts are a crucial element of logistics, enabling faster processing and sorting for all types of packages. When you are developing or renovating your warehouse, these unsung heroes deserve additional attention, as they can significantly impact your supply chain management. In this article, we’ll review the most important elements of choosing the correct conveyor belt system for your warehouse so that you can maximize both profit and safety.
Prioritize Safety
Safety must always come first in any warehouse, and this includes conveyor belts. While proper training is paramount, such as discouraging workers from wearing scarves that may get caught in conveyor belts, the conveyor belt system you choose should also have safeguards that will prevent workplace accidents.
These can include visual aids, automatic stops, Deadman switches, and emergency buttons that automatically stop the belts. Additional safety measures are especially important if your manufacturing facility uses high temperatures, sharp instruments, or caustic chemicals that could seriously injure or kill a worker. As you review different conveyor belt systems, consider all the ways that a workplace accident could occur and choose the one that minimizes risk.
Review the Product Specifications
The types of products that you will be working with will determine what kind of conveyor belt you will need. For example, rubber isn’t going to do well in a food processing plant, as small pieces of rubber could flake off and cause quality control issues. Steel wire conveyor belt systems would be preferable here.
Conversely, mesh conveyor systems are a poor choice for electronics manufacturing, as they could abrade delicate products. Rubber or another softer material would be preferred for some elements of the process.
You’ll also need to consider the weight of your products and the speed at which they’re moving through the system. Heavy products moving at high speeds will need heavy industrial conveyor belts that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. If pieces are lighter and move slowly through the system because they require a lot of hands-on customization by your workers, then you won’t need these heavy-duty conveyor belts.
Think About Environmental Elements
Your conveyor belts must withstand the warehouse environment, including temperature, humidity, and any particulates produced during the manufacturing process. For example, some manufacturing processes, such as pasteurization and flash freezing, require extreme temperature changes. These fluctuations can be rough on certain materials, while others can withstand them with ease. Humidity will also contribute to belt material considerations. While stainless steel won’t rust, rubber or other materials may degrade over time in a humid environment.
Lastly, consider any corrosive materials or particulates that may be part of the manufacturing process, such as grease, paint, oil, or paper shavings. These can easily cause fires if the belt is not properly maintained and exposed to high temperatures.
Future-Proof Your Conveyor Belts for Scalability
Your company will likely add new product lines and offerings over time, which means that your conveyor belt system must be designed to accommodate shifts in your process and products. Will you be able to add more capacity to your system, or is it so specialized that it cannot handle more? Can its materials allow you to manufacture different products or would you have to develop a completely new system? These are all factors you should discuss with your supplier based on your five-year business plan.
Consider a Customized Design
Custom conveyor systems ensure that you get a perfect fit for your manufacturing and logistics needs. These specialists will learn about your product lines and identify the right materials, designs, and capacity to help you reach your full potential. In some cases, this only requires tweaking a standard conveyor system, while for more advanced manufacturing, you may require an entirely bespoke system.
In any case, working with conveyor belt experts can prevent issues with your system, such as belts degrading quickly because your products are degrading the material. They will also identify improvements to your design so that products move faster through the system and your workers can be used more effectively.
A Conveyor System Requires Equal Attention to Other Manufacturing Processes
Far from just a way to get product from Point A to Point B, conveyor belts can have a huge impact on productivity, quality control, and safety. The proper conveyor system can ease worker strain and protect your products as they move through the supply chain.
To ensure that you have the right conveyor belt for your needs, think about your product specifications, manufacturing environment, and future needs. Working with conveyor belt specialists will ensure that you get the perfect fit for your processes, improving the return on investment.
