In some cases, warehouse and factory operations require a greater degree of flexibility than a fixed automated conveyor system can provide. Some operations vary day-to-day quite drastically, it may be a change in production rates, a change of the product being manufactured or handled, or a complete change in the operation of the building, due to seasonal variations.
With this change in operation, end users need solutions for material handling that can provide a large amount of flexibility. North Conveyors Ltd provide a wide range of flexible conveyors (also known as flexi conveyors). Flexi conveyors can (as the name suggests), flex in length and shape, they can be moved into position using their castor wheels, and their infeed and outfeed points can be adjusted to suit a wide range of situations. Flexi conveyors are constructed using an expandable mechanical structure, allowing their shape and length to be adapted.
Powered Flexible Roller Conveyors
Powered flexi roller conveyors and gravity flexi roller conveyors have a wide range of uses in a warehouse or factory. Examples of uses are, vehicle loading & unloading, transport of product between two manufacturing operations, transport of product between two eCommerce packing operations, transport of product from a packing area to a robot palletiser. Due to their versatility, and relative low cost, flexible conveyors can be adopted for a wide range of uses, quickly allowing a warehouse or factory operation to change the layout of their materials handling system, to perform new tasks “on demand”. Warehouse and factory operations that can adapt quickly to new consumer demands, will stay ahead of the curve, in terms of being relevant and competitive in modern manufacturing and logistics operations. Shorter production runs of product, produced more frequently, is how the trend is developing.
Flexi conveyors are available in two types. Gravity flexible roller conveyors and powered flexible roller conveyors.
Skate wheel flexi conveyors
Gravity flexible roller conveyors use either gravity to convey the product forward, or they require operators to push the product along. Gravity flexi conveyors are available in roller type, or skate wheel type. Skate wheel flexi conveyors are a slightly more cost-effective solution, but there are some limitations on the range of product that can be conveyed, compared with a roller type flexi.
Powered flexible roller conveyors are available in two types, which perform two specific functions, transport of product, and accumulation of product. Transport type flexi conveyors will simply transport product from the infeed point, to the outfeed point. Whereas the accumulation versions uses Zero Line Pressure (ZLP) zoning technology to accumulate product along the length of the conveyor, without product touching.
Speak with North Conveyors Ltd today, to see how we can help provide flexibility to your operation.
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