Conveyor systems are the core part of many manufacturing environments from parcel sortation to food production. With conveyor systems being an integral part of manufacturing and packing systems it is vital they are designed effectively so that they can be smoothly integrated into your business.
We look into the three top considerations for businesses looking to install a conveyor system:
- The space available
- What the conveyor system will be used for
- Environmental impact
Elmleigh are specialists in conveyor system integration and work very closely with every client to develop a tailored programme that covers both conveyor system design and integration.
What is a conveyor system?
A conveyor system, put simply, is a type of machinery that moves goods from point A to point B either automatically or manually. Conveyor systems are often essential systems within manufacturing environments across a range of different industries. Elmleigh, offer a complete hands-on process when it comes to the design and fitting of different types of conveyor systems, specifically in the food and drink and parcel distribution sectors.
The space available
One of the prime considerations for our engineers and your production goals, when designing a conveyor system, is the space that is available. Understanding the factory’s current layout and the relationship between the existing equipment is very important in the design process. Not all factories and spaces are going to be the same and each will also have its unique set of challenges to overcome. For example; limited space and pre-existing equipment will impact the design and installation of your new conveyor system.
In an ideal world, Elmleigh would have a blank canvas to work from, but in reality, that’s not the case. More often than not, the installation of a conveyor system is required due to growth and expansion, and therefore our team are not only there install a simple conveyor system, but are required to help plan for the future needs of your business.
At Elmleigh, we offer a bespoke start to finish process that includes:
- Project planning
- Surveying your current site
- Designing the conveyor system
- Manufacturing and assembling the conveyor system
- Installing the final conveyor system
- Scheduling maintenance and upgrades where required
Our hands-on approach allows us to effectively design a conveyor system that best fits your space and is seamlessly integrated around other existing equipment.
What the conveyor system will be used for
The function of the conveyor system is another essential consideration when designing. It is important that our engineers ascertain the specific user requirements of a system so that it can be best designed and implemented for this purpose. The primary function is going to differ for each business for example, it could be to reduce manual handling or provide a specific function. It is also important for us to determine what you will be moving as this needs to be considered in the design process; creating a bespoke system that can handle the materials being moved.
Parcel sortation systems will have vast differences to food production sites which must be reflected in the conveyor system design. Elmleigh can design and install both automatic and manual conveyor systems depending on the needs of your business and your budget. Food production often comes hand in hand with automated production equipment and is extremely time-sensitive, making automatic conveyor systems more commonplace within these businesses. On the other hand, parcel sortation may require more spacious conveyor systems to accommodate for larger parcels.
Environmental impact
The environmental impact of conveyor systems is a very important factor to consider in the design process. When designing a conveyor system, Elmeigh always consider what materials are going to be used and the energy that is required to run these systems. Lower energy consumption means:
- Reduced environmental impact
- Reduced energy costs
In today’s climate, with energy prices rising considerably, it’s essential to look at how a new conveyor system could benefit your company.
Typical materials that are used for conveyor system machinery include: rubber, thermoplastics and various metals. All of these materials can be recycled and reused at the end of their life, or have derived from previously recycled materials. At Elmleigh, we are actively recycling and reusing materials where possible to reduce our impact on the environment. This is demonstrated through our Waste Carriers License, which we take great pride in holding.
Additionally, when making the decision to implement a conveyor system into your business’s process, it can be helpful to determine the environmental benefits such a system will have for your own business. Upgrading outdated systems can improve energy efficiency, while installing a completely new, or even faster system, can help ensure the manufacturing process is quicker, reducing the number of half-load lorry trips, for example.
Elmleigh offers a complete end-to-end service for the integration of mechanical automation systems across the food and drink and parcel distribution sectors. If you would like learn more about the design process of our conveyor systems then please contact us here and one of our team would be happy to help.