Gentle Conveyors Help Products And Profits Stay Whole

By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online

Polymer discs offer a smooth glide to move products safely, reducing waste from damaged product, and increasing production rates

A new line of tubular cable conveyors could provide a solution for manufacturers working with fragile products.  The conveyors are integrated with upstream and/or downstream equipment capable of sourcing material from single or multiple locations.  The material is then selectively delivered to storage vessels, filling machines, or other processing equipment used on the production line.

Options for upstream integration equipment include hoppers, metering devices, bulk bag dischargers, drum or box container trippers, bag dump stations, batching and blending systems, and storage vessels.  Downstream options include bulk bag fillers, container fillers, packaging machines, and storage vessels.  A wide array of options allows the manufacturer to tailor the use of the conveyor to its specific process. 

Do you know what bulk bag discharging system is best for your company?

The conveyor functions by using high-strength polymer discs affixed to a stainless steel or galvanized cable.  The discs glide within stainless steel tubing, which moves products gently and quietly.  Additionally, the conveyor can function horizontally, vertically, or any angle in between.  The system is set up to be used in a variety of facility arrangements, including moving goods through small holes in walls or ceilings.  Like other similar equipment, the conveyor can be customized with multiple inlets or outlets and can travel materials over very short or very long distances.

Because the conveyor system handles material gently, the system is well suited for any manufacturer dealing with food products that are prone to breakage or degradation caused by movement or series of minor impacts over time.  Manufacturers of items like cereals, coffees, teas, frozen vegetables, grains, nuts, beans, pet foods, seeds, chips, crackers, and spices that can easily break with rough handling could find a solution through such a conveyor system.  However, food products are not the only items that could benefit from a gentle conveyor system.  Other items used in processing and packaging, such as bulk chemicals, minerals, chopped fiberglass, regrind, pellets, and other friable materials, are perfect for gentle handling as well.

By reducing breakage during production through more gentle movement along production lines, food processors can save money and increase operational efficiency.  Less broken or damaged food or material means less money wasted and more units of product being completed during the same window of time.