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Automation and Space: Conveyor Layouts

February 4, 2025
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Conveyor system extends overhead, above a busy shipping area to conserve floor space.

Above: Belt conveyors hang from the ceiling of a busy e-commerce distribution center, feeding shipping operations from a pick module while leaving the space below for traffic and shipping activities.

Conveyor systems transform picking, transport, assembly, and more, but occupy space in fixed positions. Tight layouts, low ceilings, facility structures and equipment compromise and compete for that square footage.   Don’t worry, though—there are creative ways to work circumvent those limitations–and in some cases make them strengths.

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Ball Transfers for Ergonomic, Efficient Product Movement

October 8, 2024
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ball transfer table at conveyor intersection

Sometimes the right tool for the job is not the flashiest. The humble ball transfer isn’t high-tech, but does a great job of minimizing reaching and straining that endangers workers. Ball transfers punch above their weight class in a warehouse ergonomics and safety program.

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Essential Conveyor Belt Maintenance Tips for Maximum Performance

July 25, 2024
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worker inspecting conveyor in a facility

Conveyors are the beating heart of any industrial or distribution facility. Their daily operation is critical for moving product through your facility and to the key functional areas. They must flow seamlessly, each one performing its task to move forward.

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How to Convey Heavy, Fragile Cartons

February 22, 2024
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Wine cases on a conveyor line

Beverage handling systems have always been challenging. Cartons of expensive wine and liquor are heavy – and dense. And prone to damage. Sometimes these loads can be perishable and need to move fast through a system from picking to packing. The need to serve both retail and ecommerce customers from the same facility also complicates these design challenges.

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How to Singulate Products on Your Conveyor System

November 28, 2023
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singulation conveyor systems merge multiple lines into single lanes of products

What is singulation?

Singulation separates and single-lines cartons and other loads into lines as they move on a conveyor. Bulk and parcel applications frequently require singulation. Conveyors and control systems use multi-speed belts, dedicated singulators, skewed rollers and side-driven motors to unscramble multiple lines of products into single-file. Think of singulation as the process of organizing cartons or other loads into a single, neat line for future processing.

Singulation is pivotal for in sorting and organizing materials ranging from boxes to fragile electronics to sturdy automotive components on conveyor systems.

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Comparison: Conveyor Systems and Autonomous Mobile Robotics

September 12, 2023
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Comparison: conveyor system vs AMRs

Conveyors and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are both used in logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing, but have critical differences in terms of functionality, flexibility, and applications. Neither system is inherently superior to the other based on the use case, situation, load and operational goals. When you need to build a product transport system, they can often work in tandem to create the best solution.

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How to Use Conveyors for Ergonomic Truck Loading and Unloading

July 18, 2023
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flexible conveyor extended into a tractor trailer for loading at a distribution center.

We recently discussed the various ways you can use conveyors to optimize the end of the line, which includes the ways they interface with trucks and trailers. The transition between the end of a conveyor system and the trucks where goods are loaded or unloaded are one of the areas where distribution centers can struggle. The traditional method has been to throw labor at the problem, but as we know in 2023, that is becoming a less useful and more difficult option.

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Conveyors: Optimizing the End of the Line

June 13, 2023
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Extendable conveyors feed truck loading docks at a distribution center.

Conveyors are primarily a transport mechanism within a facility: they move products from point A to point B to point C. Value is added at all points along the way. They’re the most efficient way to do that, even if that’s the only task they have. However, that’s rarely the only way they’re used. They’re loaded at point A, then transport the load to points of value down the line. Processes are is executed at point B, and something is finalized at point C — at the end of the line. Let’s dive into the ways you can drive value at the end of the line.

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How to Convey Large, Heavy Loads

October 25, 2022
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Conveyor with large, heavy carton

The demand for high-throughput, accurate order fulfillment isn’t only about sorting cartons, parcels and other relatively small, light packages. Large, bulky, heavy items are also in high demand and must be quickly picked, sorted and shipped.

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Gapping Conveyors: A Guide to Types and Applications

July 12, 2022
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Gapper Conveyor line in a distribution center

Conveyors that create gaps between loads—called “gappers”—are used in functions ranging from sortation to quality control to packing to machine integration. Any process that requires identical and predictable gaps between the back of a load and the leading edge of the following will probably need a gapper. Most gappers are slider bed belt conveyors, since belts provide superior control and support.

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