We have just updated the labeling system to give each conveyor a unique serial number. Customers can refer to the serial number in case they need spare parts for their conveyors. All they have to do is call us and quote the unique serial number printed on the label.

Replacement parts can be shipped straight away eliminating long delays trying to figure out what is needed. We identified a need for this in the market a long time back and have implemented a serial number system a few years back. We have now updated the ID labels to also show information regarding the type of conveyor, basic measurements, and motor configuration, project number and build date. All those identifiers help us to clearly identify which replacement parts the customer is after. It is a very rare event that a conveyor breaks down but if one of our conveyors does it can mean thousands of dollars of lost production time. We therefore recommend that the main wear parts like timing belts are kept in stock and maintenance personnel has them on hand.  Reordering new parts is made very easy with the new ID labeling system. It is also worth noting that each conveyor is now delivered with a printed manual which has all the operating procedures as well as maintenance schedules printed. All our conveyors are CE compliant and this fact is shown on the ID label as well as in the manual.  We are trying very hard to be ahead of everyone else, making an investment in our systems a big win for our customer.

When operation any piece of machinery operators must make sure that they are run in a safe manner to make sure no harm is done to anyone. Zero workplace injuries must be the ultimate goal. Some manufacturing machinery can be automated in a way so that human interaction is not needed. In that case the machine can be completely guarded with an enclosure. The interaction between humans and the machine in general operation in this case is impossible or at least diminished and therefore a safe work environment is given.

Belt conveyors are often a piece of manufacturing machinery that cannot be guarded off completely. They are often used in a way where workers come in contact with them directly.  This is one reason why belt conveyors must be designed and built to the highest relevant safety standards. Off course these safety standards are different depending on which country these conveyors are built in and to which standards they have been made. In general it can be said that developed countries have high safety standards in place where as others have none at all.

As an operator of conveyor equipment or any machinery an employer has the duty to implement them in a safe way. Local laws must be adhered to. It is important to understand that in most cases the responsibility for the safe operation of machinery lies first and foremost with the employer.

It is for this reason that it is often the best and safest way for manufacturing companies to source their belt conveyors from local companies which build their products to all the safety standards required in that area. Another alternative is to source them from a highly industrialized country with high safety standards and then make sure the conveyors meet the local requirements.

In general, belt conveyors have two areas of safety issues. The first would be around the motor and pulley drive assembly. A high quality conveyor unit will have this area completely guarded. The other area are pinch points that mostly arise around the drive and idle rollers as well as any other pinch points.  This is mostly a problem area that cannot be completely eliminated. Pinch points can mostly be reduced to a minimum but remain to a certain point.

There may also be issues arising by incorporating a conveyor with other pieces of machinery. If for instance a conveyor mounts to a static sorting table then a new pinch point will arise between the conveyor and the table.

This is where a risk assessment has to be conducted by the company. Basically, all the equipment has to be studied in its current setup. Problem and safety hazards have to be eliminated and areas that cannot be eliminated totally must be minimized to a reasonable and manageable amount.  Remaining risk areas have to be identified. Staff must be trained accordingly so they can safely operate the equipment.

It must be said at this point that this is a general guide and that local laws must be considered when implementing any machinery.

When implementing a conveyor in your manufacturing process for transportation of goods of any kind there are many factors to consider.  We here at Robotunits specialize in conveyor technology. Even more important is the fact that we also specialize in lean manufacturing principles and consider specific manufacturing situations to build a truly efficient conveyor solution for any given situation. The technical knowledge of conveyors combined with the latest lean manufacturing principles allows us to advise our customers with the absolute best solution.  At the end of the day, the conveyor is just a part of the overall manufacturing process. We work hand in hand with our customers to determine all variables and provide them with solutions that make their manufacturing process more efficient. This means we look at already existing surrounding machinery and build a conveyor system accordingly.

By considering all those important steps we can truly help you to achieve a more efficient manufacturing process and increase your bottom line profit!