conveyor productivity

Tips to Improve Conveyor Productivity

If you’re looking to improve the productivity of your conveyor system, there are a few key things you can do to make a big difference. These tips will help you get the most out of your conveyor from integrating robotics to increasing speed and adding accumulation.

conveyor productivity

1. Robotics Integration

One of the best ways to improve conveyor productivity is to integrate robotics into the system. Robotics can automate many of the tasks associated with running a conveyor, from sorting and loading to unloading and packing. This can free up your employees to focus on other tasks, and it can also help to improve accuracy and efficiency.

What is more, integrating robotics into your conveyor system can help to improve safety as well. By removing the need for employees to be in close proximity to moving parts, you can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

Robotics integration may sound like it takes away jobs, but oftentimes, adding the assistance of robotics can help to create new positions that wouldn’t have existed before. For example, positions may be created to manage and oversee the robotic system itself.

2. Consider Increasing Speed

Increasing the speed of your conveyor can also help to improve productivity. Obviously, the faster your conveyor moves, the more product it can handle in a given period of time.

Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice safety in the name of speed, so it’s important to make sure that your conveyor is able to operate at the increased speed without putting employees at risk.

3. Add Accumulation

If your conveyor system doesn’t already have accumulation, adding it can be a great way to improve productivity. Accumulation allows your conveyor to stop and start as needed, without losing product.

This can be a huge help when you need to make sure that each product is properly sorted or positioned before it continues down the line. It can also help to reduce the risk of product damage, as the product is less likely to be jostled when it’s not moving.

4. Try an RFID Reader System

Adding an RFID reader system to your conveyor can also help to improve productivity. RFID stands for “radio frequency identification,” and it can be used to track products as they move through the conveyor system.

This information can be used to improve the efficiency of your system by ensuring that products are properly sorted and routed. It can also help to reduce the need for manual product tracking, which can free up your employees for other tasks.

5. Diverting & Merging

If your conveyor system handles a lot of products, you may want to consider adding diverters and mergers. Diverters allow you to send products down different paths, which can be helpful when you need to sort products or send them to different areas. Mergers, on the other hand, allow you to bring two or more conveyors together, which can help to increase the capacity of your system.

Both of these additions can help to improve the productivity of your conveyor system by increasing the amount of product it can handle.

6. Training and Maintenance

Another important factor to consider when trying to improve conveyor productivity is training and maintenance. Your employees need to be properly trained in how to use your conveyor system, and they also need to be aware of its capabilities and limitations.

Conveyor systems require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. This may include tasks such as lubricating moving parts, checking for damage, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.

By properly training your employees and keeping your conveyor system well-maintained, you can help to improve its overall productivity.

7. Consider What Works for You

When it comes to conveyor productivity, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to improve productivity is to consider what will work best for your specific operation.

For example, if you have a large operation with a lot of products to move, you may want to consider adding an accumulation zone to your conveyor. This will allow your conveyor to store products until there is enough space to move them, which can help to improve the flow of your operation.

If you have a smaller operation, you may want to focus on increasing the speed of your conveyor. This can help to move products through your operation more quickly, and it can also help to improve accuracy.

Conclusion

There are a number of other ways to improve conveyor productivity, but these are some of the most effective. By increasing speed, adding accumulation, or integrating robotics, you can make a big difference in the efficiency of your system.

distribution conveyors

Conveyor Design Considerations for Pharmaceutical Distribution

A Busy Future for Pharmaceutical Distribution Needs a Conveyor that’s Built to Keep Up

Pharmaceutical distribution systems have been getting some due attention lately. With the current demand fueling industry projections distributors are upgrading. Is it time for you to think about upgrading to a Richards-Wilcox conveyor?

The world of pharmaceutical distribution comes with its own set of requirements. A conveyor designed for cleanliness and accuracy is exactly what pharmaceutical distributors need.

A Richards-Wilcox conveyor is an ideal solution for the needs of pharmaceutical distributors. Our systems use the power of robotics and automation to ensure the greatest accuracy and output. Richards-Wilcox engineers our conveyors to meet the specific needs of the client. These systems meet and exceed the highest standards of material handling equipment cleanliness.

Our material handling solutions come with automatic control systems. Tracking, switching, diverting, merging color typing and more. The user can have all these systems automated to their requirements.

Industries know our systems for their accuracy and dependability. We will introduce every possible variable to the system to show you just how flexible it is.

distribution conveyors

Systems Built Specifically to the Needs of the Distributor

It is safe to say that most pharmaceutical needs for conveyor systems center on material handling and distribution. This is true when it comes to medicine and the components that make them. Some pharmaceutical distributors may have production uses for applications like producing equipment.

We cannot overstate the importance of taking all the clients’ needs and challenges into consideration. When designing a customized conveyor system, we engineer every detail.

If space is an issue, high-density storage is the best way to maximize what you are working with. Combine this with a side-by-side conveyor to make the most of your floor space.

Our systems also support many load and unload points. Overhead systems using your building’s airspace and floor space provide options. What challenge is your space dealing with? Our team can help you to make the best of it, without shutting down the show for months.

High Output Low Downtime

In the world of manufacturing, accuracy is crucial. Pharmaceutical distribution is certainly no exception. We design our systems to operate smoothly to maximize output. The goal of maximizing output involves minimizing downtime. To do this we design our machines with intelligence built-in.

Richards-Wilcox designs its systems to cut wear on components. This makes troubleshooting and servicing them as efficient as possible. We build our conveyors to cut downtime. We build them intuitive and accessible: reducing how often systems need maintenance work.

With Richards-Wilcox, you get 125 years of experience, dedicated engineering and in-house simulations. This means the downtime is minimal and the benefits are exponential. The whole world is watching pharmaceutical distribution: it is time to produce.

Get in touch today and let us build you the best possible conveyor system

material handling and fabrication

What Is Material Handling?

The manufacturing chain is an intricate system of processes, machinery, human input and algorithms, all designed to engage with materials in fascinating ways. When it comes to industrial material handling, however, the equipment and solutions available all have incredibly focused roles in handling, storage and transportation.

Material handling solutions are woven throughout the supply chain and in the very procurement of resources and raw materials. Given its importance, what is material handling and how does it affect so many moving parts in industrialization?

material handling and fabrication

Storage and handling equipment

When it comes to equipment, storage simply refers to the infrastructure used to temporarily house materials. Because of the broadness of the term, storage equipment can refer to anything from a single shelf to a freight container.

However, one of the most common features of storage equipment is the utility of space. From making use of vertical space in warehouses and shelving to lighter and stronger storage boxes to reduce weight and the resource cost of storage.

Bulk material handling equipment

Now we start getting into some of the specifics. Material handling equipment manufacturers design their handling solutions around the product that either needs storage, transportation or altering. One of the most common material types is bulk material, which refers to materials that are handled in loose bulks.

Loose bulks can include ball bearings, grooms, pellets, stacked piles and a host of other materials. Bulk handling technology is built around keeping this material in the appropriate predetermined clusters. There might not be much reason to reinvent the wheel, but when it comes to bulk material handling, the bucket has seen plenty of innovation.

Industrial trucks

In an increasingly globalized world, long-distance custom material handling solutions have never been more important. The industrial revolution brought about the ability to transport large quantities of goods with the power of steam and coal engines. Today, freight ships and trains represent the technological edge of industrial transportation.

There is one vehicle, however, with the mobility and capacity to keep operations running on land from small businesses to vast industrial networks: the truck. Lighter on fuel than its counterparts, more versatile in distance management and certainly easier to maintain, trucks are the lifeblood of transportation when it comes to material handling.

Automated handling

The word “handling” tends to conjure up images of delicate packages, which we in turn associate with human handling – care. For those who work with automated handling systems, however, it will come as no surprise that industrial handling technology has advanced to the point where machines form an important part of the handling process.

From the conveyer belt to the loading dock, engineers have worked for decades to create capable and reliable automated handling systems. They’ve progressed in leaps and bounds thanks to innovations both in software development and hardware design.

The result is a system of automated machines that allow the handling process to move like clockwork, creating a more reliable and efficient supply chain and manufacturing process.

conveyor rotation

The Rotation Revolution: How Pendant Rotation Can Overhaul Your Conveyor

 

Want to turn your factory around? Then we’ve engineered a literal way to level up your system.

Conveyor rotation allows you to index a part 180 degrees on a spinning axis – basically, the ability to turn a part and flip the script on your system. This powerful process can benefit your business in a multitude of ways.

Rotation can cut labor costs. If a part in a paint line can spin, a single robot can cover the entire component with pigment. If a fulfillment line utilizes auto-tote rotation, the ergonomic solution makes processes easier for a single operator. Rotation frees up valuable workers and resources for further productivity, streamlining your efficiency.

conveyor rotation

Because of this, rotation can simultaneously optimize your layout. For example, if you eliminate the need for workers or robots on one side of the system, a belt can now be placed up against a wall to free space for another component, making you the master of your floorplan.

While Richards-Wilcox Conveyor thrives on technical and sophisticated systems, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Of course, there are other methods to create rotation, but bump turns require rods, wheels, and UHMW shapes and can only do 90-degree indexing. Dual conveyor turners necessitate two belts and allotted distance to reorient product. With pendant rotation, we can reduce unnecessary elements and electronics to rely on time-tested mechanic solutions. With our 30 years of experience, our conveyors accommodate all different styles of rotation.

For example, the pivoting pendant on our Inverted Zig-Zag® Conveyor facilitates free rotation up and down vertical inclines, and also extends chain and track life: less torque, friction and wear on the chain assembly means lower maintenance costs and downtime.

Sometimes, productivity just needs a pivot. Discover how rotation can revolutionize your facility.

 

Each solution is completely customizable to your situation, and each of our systems can be easily adapted for rotation and indexing:

  • With ZigZag® chain conveyors, various styles of rotation pendants allow for free spin, 90 degree indexing, or a powered rotator that engages at a trigger point.
  • With TwinTrak® and OveRWay, we utilize free spin and index rotation on the fly.
  • With inverted floor conveyors like MonoCart™, we create a system that locks the rotational part of the carrier in place, then rotates at the correct station.

We have over 30 years of rotation experience. Think you could use it in your facility? Let’s circle back.

conveyor control system

Benefits of Conveyor Automation

Automation has become an integral part of the manufacturing industry.

Stiff competition and the need for efficiency has compelled manufacturers to automate the various key processes.

Apart from picking and packing, managers should also automate conveyor systems. Automation of conveyor system designs makes moving raw materials, finished products, and other goods easy and is cost-efficient.

At Richards-Wilcox Conveyors, we create cutting edge automated systems for assembly, material handling, and fabrication, finishing line, and specialty applications like robotic integration into a paint line for car parts.

Automation may require a huge investment, but in the end, its advantages are apparent.

Benefits of Automated Conveyors

conveyor control system

Reduced Labor Costs

Installation of automated conveyors costs a lot. However, they result in overall reduced day to day labor costs and a high return on investment (ROI).

Unlike humans, robots do not get fatigued, don’t require off days, holidays, and overtime pay. Additionally, they don’t get injured in accidents and definitely won’t sue for damages.

They can perform the work faster and consistently without the need for more human labor. All you’ll need is an overseer and a few engineers to handle any software or hardware problems that may arise.

At Richards-Wilcox Conveyors, we design conveyors customized to your factory’s needs and optimize productivity while cutting human labor costs.

Reduced Error and Injuries

Humans are intelligent but not perfect.

While robots require human supervision, they’re reliable and more consistent. Proper programming of conveyors and automation makes it less likely for costly errors to occur.

Our conveyor systems and engineering come with conveyor controls with Operator Interface Displays, the latest hardware, straightforward software configurations, and a Graphic User Interface (GUI) where the operator can see the real-time production information.

Additionally, they also feature emergency shut-down capabilities, thus reducing errors and preventing injuries. The conveyor controls also come with support documentation and comprehensive training on operation and maintenance.

Saves Space

Automated conveyor systems require less space on the passageway between conveyors as there’s no room required for forklifts and manual machines.

The production floor can open up and look less cluttered. Moreso, automated conveyors do not necessarily require to be on the floor.

If there’s limited space, we can design and install a conveyor that suspends from the ceiling to reclaim the space on the floor. But first, our conveyor simulation will demonstrate how it will work.

Before installation, we design a conveyor simulation, a computer-generated model that demonstrates how your conveyor will work. It shows you the exact components of the system and how it will function in your space.

The conveyor simulation shows how effective the system is, allows modification to customize the system to your needs, and detects any problems before it is installed.

Conclusion

Automation is the future of manufacturing. At Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we will build and install automated conveyor systems for you. We will provide you with a simulation before installation to make sure the system will work as expected. Our conveyor systems design comes with conveyor controls and everything you need to make conveying seamless.

price of steel

The Steel Skyrocket: Explaining the New State of Steel Production

price of steel

In the 20th century, steel made in America forged the American manufacturing empire.

But now, the price of steel itself is forging a 21st century chain reaction.

We want to advise our clients and partners how to proceed in a new market with steel prices at an all-time high and explain why this change has come to be.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Steel production fell by 17.2% and global crude steel production fell by 0.9% in 2020. With the looming economic shutdown last March, auto and appliance factories closed driving down demand for steel.

In response, steel manufacturers shut down the steel mills to reduce capacity. But then American factories went back to work. This is where the balance of supply and demand broke down – because the steel mill furnaces were stopped to cut costs and mills couldn’t boot them back up fast enough to meet demand when “essential” work returned a month later, the demand outpaced the supply.

Exacerbating the issue even further, tariffs on Chinese, Russian and Brazilian imports ramped up the cost of raw materials. The expense spiral continues – even scrap steel is skyrocketing.

With supply and demand so out of sync, there’s simply more need than inventory. Costs have nearly doubled since August of last year. Sadly, this means there’s a price increase coming for every industry connected to steel, across the manufacturing and contracting world.

We’re keeping our prices locked until the end of the first quarter, 2021. After that however, it may become too costly for your customers to proceed with projects. Nor can we universally guarantee there will be enough steel to complete projects at our typical rapid pace and reasonable cost.

Because we value trust and transparency with our clients and partners above all else, our advice is to order now, when you can still get steel for a steal. If you don’t believe you can complete a contract in Q1, you need to inform your customer that price and delivery are not locked in and will be negatively impacted by delaying their decision. Reiterate to your clients that that it could be up to a year before the volatility begins to stabilize under new supply and new administration.
We’ve been around for over 140 years, so we’ve seen stocks and steel rise and fall and rise again.

Steel yourselves. We’ll get through this, and Richards-Wilcox always finds a way for our customers.

Distribution Conveyors - box on conveyors

Conveyor Systems & Engineering for Distribution Applications

Richards-Wilcox Conveyor is well-versed in conveyor systems and engineering.

We have options available for many different purposes and needs, such as belt conveyors, roller conveyors, carrier conveyors, and enclosed track conveyors. This is because we know that conveyors are key not only in assembly applications but in distribution applications as well.

We can ensure that your distribution center is as efficient, clean, and streamlined as possible. Richards-Wilcox Conveyor has solutions that trim down features such as tote handling, empty carton return, and more. This saves on precious time, labor costs and efforts, and means that our uniquely designed trash conveyors can deposit waste to your recycling area automatically.

Distribution Conveyors - box on conveyors

Some excellent options for distribution applications are our Inverted Zig-Zag Conveyor & Zig-Zag Enclosed Track Conveyors.

The Richards-Wilcox Inverted Zig-Zag Conveyor is the way to go for distribution applications where slick operation is paramount. It is an ideal solution for electronics manufacturing, pin systems, kitting assembly, tote conveyors, pan conveyor assembly, and package handling.

This system has an inventive design in which our inverted pendants provide vertical flexibility that is impossible to achieve otherwise. They pivot forward and backward on the wheel axel which allows rotations of up to 30° without torque and wear on the chain. Additionally, they have adjustable (and removable) load centers, modular components that allow for a speedy installation and incredibly precise use, minimal headroom requirements so that your production space is maximized, and removable pendants for ease of maintenance, replacement, and reconfiguration.

Their capacity ranges from 25-75 lbs. per load pin.

We specially designed these inverted monorail conveyors to bring the future to your factory. They accomplish this goal in a few ways:

  • – They eliminate drip pans and sanitary hooks, extend chain and track life – the pivoting pendant means no torque and wear on chain assembly
  • – Reduces maintenance – this reduces costs and downtime
  • – Reduces operational costs – the pendants last longer
  • – Increases production – with less downtime, maintenance and conveyor costs, there is a more streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective operation

Richards-Wilcox Conveyor also offers the Zig-Zag Monorail Enclosed Track Conveyor, which is the product of almost a century of invention. Our first iteration of it launched in 1938 and since then we’ve continuously been refining it.

With its simple and modular design, this is ideal if you’re looking for overhead conveyor applications. The Zig-Zag Monorail Enclosed Track Conveyor is easily installed on manufacturing floors, in auto-body shops, receiving areas, etc. It is an ideal solution for (but not limited to) paint finishing systems, WIP buffer systems, investment casting, progressive assembly, trash conveyors, tote handling, die cast rack storage, empty carton return, plating rack storage, silver can delivery, and robotic interface.

Our Zig-Zag Monorail system has a 75 lbs./load capacity, standard packages up to 750 lb. chain pull, and vertical wheels on 6’ centers. It has many benefits:

  • – Highly adaptable system – the only overhead chain conveyor that may be upgraded to a power and free system with only its existing components
  • – Enclosed track design – products are protected from contamination that is typical from open-chain conveyors. This protection also means that the chain life is prolonged.
  • – Standard, modular components – ease of installation, modification and maintenance.
  • – 6-inch pitch – shortest in the industry. This provides tighter horizontal curves, closer load pendants and less wheel loading. These add up to as much as 33% more productivity
  • – Standard 1’-6’ horizontal and 2’-0’ vertical curves – these can allow for tight changes in direction and elevation. Floor space is therefore freed up for other operations
  • – Vertical wheels on 6’ centers – load is distributed evenly across more wheels which reduces wear. Product damage is minimized as the system can transport product anywhere

If you need more information or have more questions in order to find the perfect conveyor solution for your needs, we are always available to help you.

Here at Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we can increase your productivity, streamline your distribution, and revolutionize your operations. Contact us for design simulation, a quote, or simply more info, and allow us to bring the future to you with our customizable, innovative solutions.

Top 6 Considerations When Selecting the Right Conveyor Design

What to Expect During the Conveyor Design Process

We know how daunting it can be when beginning the process of creating a conveyor system in a warehouse. Deciding what conveyor system to pick, deciding on a conveyor design and conveyor controls, we would like to help break it down for you. In short, we:

  • – Align conveyor function and purpose to optimize productivity
  • – Obtain plant layout to determine where the conveyor is to be installed and create a path that connects it with load-unload areas and process equipment for smooth operation
  • – Identify size and weight of product to be transported and consider any process equipment the product passes through to design a carrier that allows easy loading and unloading
  • – Identify electrical characteristics, carrier spacing and track elevations to enable easy and safe interaction between worker and carrier
  • – Calculate chain pull to maintain the normal operating speed of a conveyor under a rated capacity load

Top 6 Considerations When Selecting the Right Conveyor Design

6 Considerations when Picking the Right Conveyor System

The first step of any conveyor design process is choosing a conveyor systems design. We already have a full article on the top 6 considerations for the right conveyor system to ensure you make the best decision for your warehouse, but here’s the quick version.

In order to pick from our designed conveyor systems, it is advisable to do a few things. Reflecting on conveyor history is first. Past conveyor experiences, successes and problems should be noted.

Next is specifying the conveyor operation. This is done by:

  • – Defining how many materials need moving and the window of time in which it must be completed.
  • – Knowing the demand at each drop point. In some cases, there may be multiple discharge points.
  • – Determining which conditions initiate or stop a refill. In multiple discharges, develop a suitable sequence of operations to establish refill priority so the process does not delay or halt.
  • – Deciding if cross-contamination could be an issue. This is especially imperative when considering a single conveyor for multiple materials.

A conveyor also depends on the materials used. You can categorize materials by these methods:

  • – An esoteric or trade name (example- SnoMelt)
  • – A generic name (example- salt)
  • – A chemical formula defined by its primary ingredients (example- sodium chloride, NaCl)

The form or state in which the material should be handled in is also important, along with the flowability, composition of solids, and particle size.

The environment in which your warehouse is located is key in the decision-making process.

Finally, space constraints and budgeted conveyor costs are considerations as well.

what makes our conveyor system design process unique

Designing the Right System with Richards-Wilcox Conveyor

Once we’ve consulted with you, we will choose the best conveyor fit for your operations, be it inclined conveyor design or flat, and what conveyor controls you need. There are choices that best suit electronics manufacturing, and others that are a solution for factories with limited headspace.

To ensure that you can see our choice for you in motion, we also offer you conveyor simulation to observe what the specific conveyor system looks like for your factory.

Conveyor simulation is a computer-generated model that displays the ins and outs of a proposed conveyor system. This allows the user to see exactly where the various components of a system would fit into existing space. It’s important to understand that these models are far from fixed, schematic diagrams; the simulation software is designed to imitate the workflow produced by a functioning conveyor. To that end, the software shows the conveyor system in motion, allowing the user to see graphical representations of products being moved through the various workstations in real time and in three dimensions. In addition, the user can also see the conveyor from multiple angles for detailed analysis. It’s even possible to “zoom in” for a closer look.

Conveyor computer simulation may be used either to design a new system from scratch or to explore proposed modifications in an existing system.

We also offer robotic integration for your factory, because at Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we believe in Industry 4.0 – where machines and robots work in harmony to achieve your goals. We seamlessly integrate conveyor systems with existing and engineered robotic systems, while still exceeding the quality engineers have come to expect.

Robotics integration is second nature in Industry 4.0, as more and more companies add automated solutions to their existing systems across a wide range of general industries. We are specialists in conveyor robotics integration, with quite a simple approach to a complex process: conveyor and computer work as one. Thanks to adaptive modular design, we can make any of our lines robotic.

Today, we live in the world of Industry 4.0. Manufacturing and distribution operations are getting faster, smarter, leaner, more advanced. It’s a jungle out there. To survive, you have to be efficient, effective and ready to adapt at a moment’s notice. It all starts with your conveyor. Richards-Wilcox Conveyor. Engineered for evolution. Contact us to get started.

material handling conveyors

Conveyors For Custom Material Handling & Fabrication

Richards-Wilcox Conveyor is the master of conveyor systems engineering. We specialize in engineered systems and creating custom solutions. Material handling and fabrication are crucial warehouse operations, and we excel in optimizing conveyor systems design to solve for custom material handling & fabrication. But before we talk conveyor design, there are many factors to consider about your factory and your needs

Our conveyors are ideal for many types of material handling equipment situations, like fulfillment centers and fabrication facilities.

material handling conveyors

Material handling is about getting goods and raw materials from point a to point b in the most efficient manner possible. Your chosen solution should correspond to your needs: if your traffic is intermittent or has insufficient volume and needs a variable path, then an industrial truck may do the trick where the cost of a conveyor cannot be justified. But in a flowing factory, material handling equipment manufacturers, a conveyor is a game changer for process and productivity. Cardboard boxes hanging from hooks on an overhead make for an effective pick and pack solution. A floor-mounted conveyor belt can make for effective tote handling. It’s important to have the correct corresponding types of industrial material handling equipment including hand trucks and pallet trucks (make sure they are equal to the height of the fixed conveyor for easy loading and unloading at conveyor stops).

Sometimes materials are not headed to market, but destined for warehouse storage systems like push back racks: we can also help with high-density storage solutions.

To accommodate all these various needs, there’s no better bulk material handling system than a monorail conveyor. Custom material handling solutions call for ease of use, and so Richards-Wilcox Conveyors are built with redundancy and repetitive decision-making in mind to ensure efficiency and ease of use. These cost-effective workhorses seamlessly integrate into your production line, and the setup is completely customizable to whatever type of materials order pickers need. Whether you go with our Zig-Zag® Monorail Enclosed Track conveyor, or one of our inverted floor-mounted models, your workflow comes first.

The same considerations can be said of fabrication applications.

Fabrication is a catchall term for many methods of molding and manipulating metals into various shapes and states. Machining; where excess metal is removed to achieve the desired shape, through drilling, turning, or milling; punching, the process of piercing holes through the metal; and many more permutations from folding to shearing and stamping.

Conveyor systems design can be crucial for the flow of fabrication. For such intensive volume of often dangerous work, automation is essential. Precision is a key consideration, so each Richards-Wilcox system is deftly timed, and even run through simulations so the end-user can see how the system will work, before it’s even built. Furthermore, each of our conveyor systems can be seamlessly integrated with robotic components. In this exacting world, both operator and OS enjoy extensive safety measures with built-in tolerances. We even consider your trash conveyors: the slider bed with a guardrail that creates a trough to dispose of debris to disposal points, from cardboard to metal scrap.

At Richards-Wilcox, we’ve designed conveyor systems for a vast array of companies over a number of decades. Let’s fabricate a solution together: we have the materials, and the minds to handle them.

monorail conveyors for finishing

Monorail Conveyors For Finishing Applications

Monorail conveyors are an essential starting point for any factory – they’re clean, simple, and efficient, with a low initial cost to build and maintain. With load-carrying and drive derived from a single endless chain, these efficient powerhouses are essential units in any facility. But while they can be the beginning, monorail conveyors can also bring the finish.

monorail conveyors for finishing

Because they only follow a single path, they are best dedicated to a single function or part, like a finishing application. For this reason, we offer customizable monorail systems perfect for painting applications and more.

Before you choose the system for you, it’s important to consider the following factors:

  1. What is the optimal layout for your physical space?
  2. How heavy are the parts you’ll be processing, and what size?
  3. The make of the material matters: is it plastic, metal, wood?
  4. How are you curing the product? Ovens, dip tanks, or chemical processes?
  5. Do you want the item attached to an overhead conveyor system, or will you need to use a ground-level cart on your monorail?

Should an overhead solution be the right call for you, there’s our tried and true Zig-Zag® Monorail Enclosed Track. As the industry standard for overhead enclosed track conveyors, Zig-Zag’s modular design and smooth operation make it an ideal for overhead hook painting processes and material handling necessities.

While overhead systems tend to be an industry standard, we like to flip the script on traditional systems. Our PaintLine™ Inverted Monorail Conveyor pioneers the painting process. It’s perfect for when the situation requires a clean environment like paint finishing or varnishing. Thanks to a flexible vertical pendant, PaintLine eliminates the need for add-ons like drip pans and sanitary hooks. Better yet, the pendants pivot forward and backward on the wheel axel, allowing free rotation of up to 30 degrees with no torque or wear on the chain.

Whatever part you’re looking to complete, we’d like to be part of your solution. Finish the job with the best in the business at Richards-Wilcox Conveyor.