Category: Conveyors

material handling and fabrication

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Material Handling Conveyor

Posted on | by kryan

material handling and fabrication

At first glance, choosing a material handling conveyor might sound relatively simple. However, there are several important factors that you need to take into account from the cost of the equipment, the material you want to handle, and the type of operation you would like to run. In addition, you should also be aware that there are several material handling challenges and choosing the right material handling conveyor can alleviate them.

When you consider all these aspects properly, you’ll know that you’ll have the best custom material handling solution for your needs. But what are the things you should consider? In this post, we’ll answer this question in detail.

Material

When choosing a material handling conveyor, the type of material you’re planning on handling is perhaps the most important consideration. This means, to choose the most effective material handling conveyor, you’ll need to consider and understand:

  • The state of the material.
  • What the composition and particle size of the material is.
  • How flowable the material is.
  • How abrasive the material is.
  • The temperature and moisture content of the material.

These aspects will shape the custom material handling solution you choose and will give you peace of mind knowing that you’ve chosen the right solution based on your unique needs and requirements.

Operation

Apart from the type of material you plan on handling, how you want to handle it is also an important consideration. In other words, you should take into account the type of operation you’ll be running. Here, you’ll determine whether your operation is:

  • Conveying. Conveying simply means transporting the material from one point to another.
  • Feeding. Feeding is more intricate and requires that the material be fed into the system at pre-determined rates.

No matter what your specific requirements are, certain conveyors work better for certain types of operations.

Cost

Understandably, you’ll also consider the cost of the conveyor. However, this is not as simple as choosing the most affordable option due to budget constraints or choosing the most expensive because you want better quality. When choosing the most affordable conveyors, you might pay more in the long run on maintenance or lose income when the equipment fails. Conversely, you might feel that you’re not getting your money’s worth when going for the most expensive conveyors if it’s not the right fit for your needs.

Ultimately, to choose the right material handling conveyor, you’ll need to find the balance between your budget, the cost of the equipment, and what your return on investment will be. In other words, you should consider the value you’ll be getting. Fortunately, material handling manufacturers like Richards-Wilcox Conveyor can help you assess your needs and what solution will be best suited to you.

Maintenance

Your material handling conveyor will inevitably need maintenance. It has mechanical parts that need to be inspected and maintained regularly in order to ensure efficiency. If not, it could have a negative impact on your revenue and business. With this in mind, you’ll need to consider the maintenance requirements when choosing a material handling conveyor.

In addition, while the cost of the equipment is the initial investment, maintenance also carries a cost component that you’ll need to consider.

Environment

When choosing a conveyor, you’ll also consider the work environment you plan on using it in. This is simply because the environment might dictate what equipment you need. For instance, if there’s the potential for fires or explosions, you’ll need special equipment. Likewise, when your employees work closely with the equipment, there are some health and safety concerns you should consider as well.

Footprint

Finally, you should also consider the footprint of the conveyor. You’ll have to consider the size and design of the conveyor as well as the space you have available. Understandably, you want to make the most efficient and effective use of the space you have.

Fortunately, a conveyor systems and engineer specialist like Richards-Wilcox Conveyor can provide you with invaluable information and assistance to ensure you get the most efficient system based on the space you have available.

Find the Right Material Handling Conveyor with Richards-Wilcox Conveyor

Choosing the right material handling conveyor will ensure that you achieve your throughput goals and that your processes are as effective and efficient as possible. Hopefully, this post helped illustrate the aspects you should consider when choosing a material handling conveyor.

To learn more about custom material handling solutions, get in touch with Richards-Wilcox Conveyor. We are specialists in conveyor systems engineering and we focus on creating custom solutions that meet the needs of our valued customers.

assembly line conveyor systems

Assembly Line Challenges and How to Solve Them

Posted on | by kryan

assembly line conveyor systems

As a manufacturer, your business depends on your assembly line. It helps you serve your customers better by providing the high-quality products they want and expect. Selling these products, in turn, ensures that you generate consistent revenue. So, it makes sense that you want your assembly line to be as efficient and reliable as possible.

Unfortunately, at some stage, you’ll face some assembly line challenges that could impact your output and, as such, your revenue. Fortunately, many of these challenges can be avoided or solved relatively quickly. And when they are, your assembly line can be up and running as fast as possible.

Lack of Maintenance

Lack of maintenance is a major problem that can lead to reduced output and significant maintenance and repair expenses when equipment breaks. A lack of maintenance can be for a variety of reasons from a lack of skills to deal with modern equipment to budget constraints.

There are a few simple solutions to this challenge. For example, monitoring systems allow you to monitor your assembly line constantly, which allows you to identify any issues before they become significant enough to cause complete breakdowns. Likewise, the right equipment can also play a role. For instance, Richards-Wilcox Conveyors’ range of assembly conveyor systems are reliable and require less maintenance. In turn, this ensures more productivity.

Decreased Efficiency and Productivity

Another major challenge is decreased efficiency and productivity. This can be a result of wear and tear, which then reduces output. We’ve already mentioned that monitoring and using the right equipment can be effective strategies to eliminate these challenges.

Another cause, however, is unbalanced station workloads. These lead to bottlenecks in the system that not only decrease efficiency and productivity but could also lead to reduced quality. The main cause of these imbalances is a lack of visibility over the system and improper planning.

As a result, the solution is, to a large extent, proper planning. At Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we engineer custom assembly line solutions that are engineered for maximum speed and efficiency, taking into account the customer’s budget and space constraints.

Low Product Quality

When your assembly line does not perform optimally, you’ll inevitably face product quality issues at some stage. As mentioned earlier, all these issues stem from improper planning. Fortunately, they can be eliminated if you follow the right process from the start.

At Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we design assembly line conveyor systems that are best suited to your factory’s unique needs, and our design process starts with proper planning. This gives you a system that’s optimized for productivity with a layout that facilitates the smooth transfer of products from one point to the next and allows for easy loading and unloading.

Also, during the design process, conveyor simulation is a crucial component. The purpose of this is to demonstrate the system’s operation, identify any potential issues, and fine-tune the design before installation. This allows us to explore different designs while at the same time, saving you time and money.

Long Changeover Times

By now, you know that market trends evolve consistently, and, with this evolution, the demand for products changes. As such, it’s crucial that you understand this evolution and you’ll need to adapt your offering based on what the market expects. At other times, especially with advancements in technology, all or part of your assembly line should be replaced.

Either way, this will require a changeover. Unfortunately, for many manufacturers, this takes up too much time. In turn, this leads to reduced output. Conversely, because this takes so much time, manufacturers avoid changeovers altogether, which then leads to inventory overproduction.

The solution is proper planning and taking the right approach to changeovers. For instance, you could implement your assembly line in such a way that it’s not necessary to shut the entire system down during a changeover or utilize long weekends to minimize downtime. At Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we focus on understanding your unique needs and can incorporate the necessary measures to reduce changeover times into your design.

Human Error

Finally, you should never discount human error when it comes to the efficiency and reliability of your assembly line. In fact, it could be one of the most common challenges you’ll face.

Eliminating this hinges on two aspects – incorporating more automation and improved training. With automation, you’ll eliminate manual tasks, which, by design, reduces human error and training gives your team the tools they need to be more efficient and productive.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully this post helped illustrate some of the common assembly line challenges you’ll face. More importantly, we hope that you now have some idea of how to solve them. To learn more about our range of solutions to these challenges, including our monorail conveyor systems and enclosed track conveyors, and how we can make your assembly line more efficient, get in touch with Richards-Wilcox Conveyor today.

batch systems conveyor

Manual vs. Automated: What’s the Best Powder Coating Line for You?

Posted on | by kryan

batch systems conveyor

As powder-coating applications take the finishing industry by storm, clients are coming to Richards-Wilcox Conveyor for help designing, integrating and reconfiguring their own finishing lines.

These clients have a lot of questions about powder coating. But there’s one we’ve been hearing more than any other:

“When designing a powder-coating line, should I invest in a manual batch-type system or an automated line?”

The answer isn’t as clear-cut as you might think. In fact, it all depends on your workflow, your volume, your budget, and your floorspace.

Let’s take a closer look.

Manual Batch-Type Systems vs. Automated Lines

For those who don’t know, a manual batch-type system is the more hands-on variety of powder-coating production line. In batch systems, operators begin by manually preparing parts, moving items from one device to another using carts or a manually operated conveyor. Once a batch of parts is ready, it is then coated and cured.

As the name suggests, an automated line automates this process. Rather than using human labor to prepare batches of parts, an automated conveyor system continuously moves individual parts through the entire process, from prep and drying to application, curing and cooling.

So, which is better: manual batch or automated?

The truth is that neither system is inherently better—both have their benefits and drawbacks. One is more efficient, while the other is more flexible. One is more expensive, while the other is more labor-intensive.
How do you find the right system for you? Start by considering these four factors.

batch vs automated system

#1: Volume & Regularity

In general, automated lines are best suited to coating higher volumes of parts, as long as those parts have consistent sizes and shapes. If you’re coating thousands of similarly sized parts per shift, automated is probably the right fit.

Batch systems are typically slower than their automated counterparts, but they’re also more versatile. While automated systems must be reconfigured to account for irregularly shaped parts, manual systems don’t. It may be more efficient to go manual if you’re working with lower volumes of irregular parts.

#2: Floorspace

Manual systems typically require fewer components – for example, one oven can be used to both dry and cure parts – which makes them a good fit for businesses with limited floorspace.

However, just because you’re tight on space doesn’t mean an automated line is impossible. Richards-Wilcox Conveyor has worked with clients to make automated lines fit in surprisingly limited spaces.

#3: Speed

Manual batch systems are generally slower than automated. If your powder-coating system outpaces the manufacturing process, then that may not be an issue. But if your powder coating process is delaying output, then you may need to speed things up with automation.

Automated lines can be designed for rapid throughput, creating a constant flow of parts to keep pace with other manufacturing processes. If you need speed, go automated.

#4: Budget

Manual batch-types systems are typically seen as the budget-friendly alternative to automated lines. The upfront cost of manual systems is significantly less; and although they require more human labor, their maintenance costs and operating costs are often much lower.

Then again, the relative efficiency of a system all depends on the other three factors we listed here. If your system is operating at full capacity, producing thousands of products per shift and keeping pace with your other manufacturing processes, an automated line may be necessary to help you meet production goals.

batch vs automated system

We’ll help you identify and design the optimal system for your finishing line.

Whether it’s a smaller manual operation or a large-scale automated line, Richards-Wilcox can create a system that maximizes your efficiency and helps your business achieve its goals.

From designing layouts and installing conveyors to integrating robotics and automation, we leverage decades of experience and key partnerships to create the right solution for your needs.

Learn more about our work with finishing line systems.

powder coating

Why the Finishing Industry is Betting Big on Powder Coating

Posted on | by kryan

powder coating

Driven by technological advancements, external pressures, and opportunities to enter new markets, many producers are switching from liquid paint to powder coatings. Let’s take a look at why this switch is happening and what you should know about powder.

What is UV-Curable Powder Coating?

UV-curable powder coating is an alternative to liquid paint. Applied using an electrostatic spray gun and finished with high-powered UV light, powder is used in a wide range of industrial finishing applications, on products ranging from plastic car parts to wooden patio furniture.
Thanks to its low curing temperature, powder coating can be used on substrates that liquid paint cannot—just one of the many differences between the two.

powder coating

Powder vs. Paint

In terms of the performance and look of their final products, powder coating and liquid paint are comparable. Some newer powder formulations have even outperformed liquid in chemical- and weathering-resistance.

At the same time, there are some major differences between the two.

For one, powder coating can be applied to a variety of non-metallic substrates that liquid cannot. While liquid formulas often require extreme heat to cure, powder coating can cure at a relatively low temperature. Therefore, powder can be applied to materials that cannot withstand ultra-high temps, such as wood composites and plastic. Today, producers are using powder coatings in a variety of non-metallic substrates such as MDF, HDF, glass, gypsum fiber board, ceramics and plastic.

Another advantage of powder coating is the speed and efficiency of its curing process. While liquid paint often takes minutes to cure, powders can be cured in less than 10 seconds using UV light. Thanks to its quick curing, systems that use powder can move faster, produce more, and consume less energy along the way.

A Changing World

powder coat finish

In today’s climate, arguably the most important difference between powder and liquid paint is that powder is seen as a sustainable alternative. In general, powder coatings produce less waste and toxins. Meanwhile, producers are working towards making powder part of a “true circular economy” by reprocessing powder waste and formulating resins from recycled materials.
While not everyone agrees on the relative sustainability of powder vs. liquid formulations, what really matters is that many governments and corporations have reached the consensus that powder is more sustainable. As a result, shifting regulations and corporate commitments are pressuring producers to switch to powder, and those pressures will likely intensify in the years to come.

Recap: Should You Use Powder?

powder coating

While some producers will continue using liquid paint for the time being, many are switching to powder. That’s because powder is:

  • More flexible: Thanks to its low curing temp, powder coatings can be applied to a variety of wood composites and other non-metallic substrates. For those in the finishing business, using powder can open up entire new markets, such as plastic vehicle components and wooden home furniture.
  • More efficient: Powder coating’s low-temperature curing process takes less time and consumes less energy.
  • More sustainable: As governments and corporations pressure producers to use more sustainable processes, using liquid paint is increasingly costly and cumbersome. A system that uses powder coatings may have greater longevity.

Want to Bring Powder Coating to Your Production Line? We’ll Make It Happen.

Richards-Wilcox Conveyor has partnered with a wide range of producers to design, install and integrate finishing applications, including powder coating. From designing layouts to integrating robotic applicators, we leverage decades of experience and partnerships with the best in the business to create smarter, safer, more efficient solutions.

To get started, submit a contact form or call us at 800-253-5668.

For more technology that’s revolutionizing the finishing industry, read our blog How Automated Conveyors are Revolutionizing Industrial Paint Application or take a closer look at Richards-Wilcox’s Finishing Line Conveyors.

automated conveyors

How Automated Conveyors are Revolutionizing Industrial Paint Application

Posted on | by kryan

automated conveyors

When it comes to automation, the most traditionally labor-intensive processes are the ones that stand to gain the most.

So why has painting been so slow to catch up? What recent advancements are changing that? And how can automated conveyor systems make your production line more productive and efficient than ever?

The Painting Paradox

In the world of industrial production, painting has long been a paradox.

On the one hand, it seems like a natural fit for automated conveyor systems, robotics and other Industry 4.0 technologies. Traditionally, painting is a labor-intensive process; in some facilities, employees must manually transport each product via forklift or wheel cart to a booth, then manually spray the product, drag it out of the booth to dry, and push it into a hot oven. All that manual labor makes the process slow and expensive—not to mention a potential safety liability, as employees must work in close contact with hot surfaces and machinery. Therefore, you would think these facilities would be eager to find solutions that would help them cut down on labor, right?

painting conveyors

Historically, that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, many businesses that paint products on an industrial scale have been slow to adopt the very technologies that would help them cut labor costs and achieve better production volumes.

Why? In many cases, it’s because painting is a delicate, exacting process that requires fine motor control and adaptive decision-making—capabilities that were, until fairly recently, beyond most automated technologies. And the equipment that could achieve this level of precision and flexibility was out of the price range of most operations.

Fortunately for these businesses, the technology has caught up to their needs, costs have dropped significantly, and a growing number of painting operations are now embracing automation. In fact, this technology is becoming so widely used that many businesses must adopt it simply to stay competitive.

More Than a “Fresh Coat”

painting conveyor

For painting applications, automated conveyor systems are more than just a “fresh coat” of tech. They transform nearly every step of the process.

Now, rather than a forklift or manual wheel cart, conveyor systems can transport products across a facility, freeing floorspace and reducing the need for labor. Meanwhile, robotic arms equipped with servomotors integrated into conveyor systems offer the precision and flexibility that was once only possible with human labor, and Richards-Wilcox’s innovative Conveyor Rotation system allows parts to be indexed on a rotating axis, helping facilities further automate their painting processes.

Businesses that paint products on an industrial scale have a lot to gain from automating their production line with conveyor systems. When implemented properly, these technologies can make your operation:

  • More efficient, allowing you to cut labor costs, reduce waste, and increase your available floor space.
  • More productive, increasing your production speed and volume, while reducing the probability of human error.
  • Safer, reducing the need for employees to be in close contact with hot surfaces and potentially dangerous machinery.

Transforming Omega’s Painting Process

robotic conveyor

One of our clients is now seeing the benefits of these technologies in action.

Omega Tool Corp, a global company that paints plastic vehicle components in their Canadian production facility, recently partnered with Richards-Wilcox Conveyor to help automate their painting process. Using simulations and in-depth knowledge of their workflow, our team designed and installed a highly adaptive solution. Thanks to sensors and robotics integrated into their conveyor, the system not only transports and paints products automatically, but adapts to different sizes and shapes of components as they come down the line.

For Omega, the payoff of integrating this technology has been huge—they have less waste, greater flexibility, and better production volume than they could achieve manually.

Their facility is real-world proof that automation can revolutionize the industrial painting process. Businesses just need the right partner to bring it to life.

How Richards-Wilcox Can Help Transform Your Industrial Painting Process

When it comes to painting applications, most facilities are just scratching the surface of what automation, robotics and advancements in conveyor systems can help them achieve. At Richards-Wilcox Conveyor, we help you integrate these principles and technologies in a way that makes sense for your facility, your workflow and your output goals.

From designing conveyor solutions for new facilities to integrating Industry 4.0 technology into existing lines, Richards-Wilcox helps you create a smarter, faster, safer and more efficient operation—one that’s ready to compete today and evolve for the rapidly changing world of tomorrow.

Learn more about our legacy of innovation or get in touch with Richards-Wilcox to learn what we can do for you.

conveyors for finishing systems

Power & Free Conveyors for Finishing Systems

Posted on | by kryan

Power and free conveyor systems, also typically referred to as asynchronous conveyor systems, are built on a two-track system where one track is powered and the other is not. This offers several advantages. Possibly the biggest advantage is that it allows loads to travel at different speeds and loads can be started or stopped independently of each other.

This provides enhanced flexibility in finishing systems and can make production processes more efficient and improve product quality. In this post, we’ll look at Richards-Wilcox Conveyor’s range of power and free conveyor systems in more detail.

conveyors for finishing systems

The Richards-Wilcox Range of Power & Free Conveyor Systems

The range of power and free conveyor systems provide unparalleled flexibility for a variety of parts and processes. Let’s look at our range in more detail.

Twin-Trak Side-by-Side Conveyor

The Twin-Trak Side-by-Side conveyor system is the ideal solution if you have limited overhead space and need to free up space for other power and free equipment. It features weight capacities that allow you to carry loads of 10 to 1,000 lbs, and, with the system, you can switch into and out of the main line of travel more frequently. In addition, you’re able to build the system from existing Richards-Wilcox systems, which, in turn, brings about a cost saving.

With its features, the Twin-Trak system can help you increase throughput by eliminating typical wait time and optimize production by ensuring the right parts arrive at the correct operations in a continuous flow. This ensures that you improve your efficiency while, at the same time, maintaining product quality.

Over-Way Heavy Duty Over and Under Conveyor

With a carriage capacity of up to 2,000 lbs in a tandem configuration, the Over-Way Heavy Duty Over and Under conveyor system combines power and flexibility with a heavy-duty over under conveyor configuration. This is a result of its rugged design and the fact that it’s constructed of high-quality components. For example, its enclosed track ensures that no contaminants enter the system and protects the chain from dirt, abrasion, and solvents.

These features, combined with its state-of-the-art control systems, allow you to optimize production and ensure that the right parts arrive at the right operations at the right time. It also eliminates unnecessary production rehandling and manual transporting and maintains a full log of production information. This results in the ability to increase efficiency and maintain production quality.

Over-Way Inverted Floor-Mounted Conveyor

The Over-Way Inverted Floor-Mounted conveyor is the ideal medium-capacity solution in robotic finishing systems, and combines power and capability with the flexibility of floor-mounted systems. The system is available as modular components that are pre-welded at the factory and, as such, is easy to install, maintain, and change.

Despite its ease of installation, the system’s self-supporting structure is designed with an additional guide track that provides enhanced stability where position accuracy is critical, and it offers weight capacities ranging from 10 to 1,000 lbs.

The system is also designed to keep products clean and provides optimal ergonomics in that the work surfaces can be adjusted. Ultimately, by integrating processes typically serviced by multiple types of conveying equipment, it’s able to optimize production while reducing energy expenditure.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, you’ve now learned more about our range of power and free conveyor systems and how they can help you make your finishing processes more efficient. To learn more about these systems, get in touch.

With extensive experience, our expert staff can help you engineer a finishing system based on your unique needs, requirements, and budget that will improve your production quality, make your operations more efficient, and help deliver higher quality products.

conveyor productivity

Tips to Improve Conveyor Productivity

Posted on | by kryan

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

Posted on | by kryan

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?

Posted on | by kryan

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 control system

Benefits of Conveyor Automation

Posted on | by kryan

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.