CONVERTERS & CONVEYING
Conveying quandaries For our feature on converters and conveying, we spoke to Crown Conveyor’s Tara Hawker about what conveying currently has to offer
Conveying is an integral part of the packaging line, enabling smooth production which will ensure that products leave the factory perfectly packaged.
S Q
o, to make sure you are up- to-date with what is available in the sector, we
interviewed Tara on what exactly the conveying sector can bring to make your company’s products the best they can be.
What do packaging managers need to look
for in their conveying systems? In my opinion, conveyor systems have now become more than a stainless steel frame and rollers to push a product from A to B. Technology nowadays is allowing for a more sophisticated manual handling operation to exist, giving the industry more choice on choosing an application to suit their needs. Therefore, any company just has to make sure they pick the right system for their production line. Many conveyors now have a
life span of 15+ years, whereas before they would probably only last maximum of five years dependent on various factors including build, usage and maintenance regimes. Therefore, companies have to make sure they are getting a system that lasts as long as the industry standard. If you take shortcuts on this, cost is not the only issue, but downtime, disappointed clients and damaged company reputation are all possibilities. Choosing a conveyor supplier
to suit a particular application has also become easier thanks to this continuous evolving technology. Websites are usually the first port of call as many conveyor companies depict case studies with photographs. You can look at these to decide where to go.
Q
What needs to be taken into account by
managers when specifying their systems? The need of the buyer of the system needs to look at the product and factory schematics, and the A to B scenario. The potential buyer can look for usually up to three conveyor manufacturers to advise on a solution, as this gives the buyer more scope for not only different solutions but is also a confidence builder that the solution can be completed to a high standard. A number of factors also need to be taken into account, including: • Will the conveyor system adapt to product changes? • Is there ease of maintenance? • Are the conveyors versatile? • Are there warranties and after- sales support?
Q
What is the latest technology available in
the sector? A modern conveyor nowadays has a vast range of technologies available to suit most applications. In the past, the speed of the conveyor used to be determined by a variable speed gearbox, whereas modern technology has allowed the use of inverters to control the conveyor speed. Also, in conveyor systems, the inverters can control recipe changes, rate changes and product size changes in a continuous production flow, thus allowing best utilisation of the equipment. Modern conveyors are also
adaptable to OEM equipment. They can incorporate bar code readers, H.M.I units, servo drives and robotic systems, for example. It’s a cliché, but the possibilities are endless! Materials used in the modern
conveyor have vastly improved as well. For example, the rollers, as well as the motors, are now quieter and more efficient . The belts used on modern
conveyors have also grown in versatility and reliability for today’s modern production.
Q
What legislation has changed how conveying
systems work? The main fundamental change in legislation is of course health & safety. The safety of the operator using the equipment and the equipment itself is paramount. The buyer should therfore discuss with the conveyor manufacturer all of the required safety requirements including fixed or interlocked guarding, tripping devices, cleaning safety, clearing possible blockages and other safety issues. A conveyor manufacturer
should have incorporated all of the above and more in the required design specification and should also have a training programme for the operators to use the systems, coupled with a manual for the system and relevant CE documentation.
Q
Do conveying systems for food have different
requirements than those for pharmaceuticals? Food type conveyors are primarily manufactured from stainless steel and plastics which are suitable for direct contact with food products.
Aluminium is not normally used in the construction due to the effects of the sanitisers which may be added to the water when cleaning. They are designed so that they
can be easily and thoroughly cleaned, and are suitable for a wash down environment. Dependent on the hygiene requirement for the particular product, this can incorporate such options as cantilevered beds, which allow for the belts to be easily removed for cleaning off of the conveyor. Pharmaceutical conveyors are
very similar to food conveyors in that they are usually manufactured from stainless steel and plastics suitable for direct contact with food or pharmaceuticals. Anodised aluminium may also be used for the framework or beds of the conveyor when not in direct contact with the product. The main variation is that the
conveyors for pharmaceutical applications tend to be used in a dry environment without the need for wash down. Cleaning tends to be by hand using special cleaning wipes.
Tara Hawker is marketing manager for Crown Conveyors. For more information, visit
www.crownconveyors.com.
Conveying systems, says Tara, have really benefitted from the latest technologies. It also
means that you, the customer, now has a wide range of systems to choose from
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