How to Choose the Best Conveyor

If you work in an industry that needs to move bulk materials on a regular basis, then how that gets moved is extremely important to the efficiency of the business. So when looking for a suitable conveyor system for your factory, there are a number of different things to consider. The four main types of conveyor available are outlined below.

Vacuum conveyor systems

Vacuum Conveyors

Vacuum conveyor systems are usually the primary choice if you are looking for a system that is able to suck material out of open-top containers or when material needs to be moved over long distances. These conveyors use air to move the materials through a pipeline and are often used to move toxic or hazardous materials.

Aeromechanical (rope-and-disk) conveyors

Aeromechanical Conveyors

Aeromechanical conveyors (AMCs) are also known as rope-and-disk conveyors. This is because they consist of several disks attached to a wire rope. AMCs can move materials between ten and 85 feet at speeds of up to 120 tons/hour. They are effectively mechanical vacuum conveyors and can move batches and operate at any angle. They are even available in around-the-corner configurations. A major benefit of AMCs is that degradation is almost negligible due to the moving current of air. The main disadvantage is the moderate to high maintenance costs.

To see what choices are available to you, check out the website of a conveyor specialist such as http://www.aptech.uk.com/pneumatic-conveying/vacuum-conveying/ today.

Flexible-screw and pneumatic conveyors

Flexible-Screw Conveyors

Flexible-screw conveyors are probably the simplest and cheapest conveyors for moving various materials up to 65 feet at rates of up to 40 tons/hour. If required, several of these conveyors can be linked together to cover greater distances. This type of conveyor is good for moving granular, powdered or flaked materials and is able to deliver accurate and efficient batches. The main advantages of these conveyors are their simplicity, quick installation, low initial cost, long life and low maintenance cost.

Pneumatic Conveyors

Pneumatic conveyors are possibly the most versatile conveyors available. Subsequently, they tend to be the most expensive. They have almost no limit on product type, distance, capacity or routing and are regularly used for major tasks. The main disadvantages of these conveyors are that they require large amounts of filtration and have high initial installation costs.

There are several other types of conveyors available, including bucket elevators, rigid-screw conveyors, vibratory feeders, flat-belt conveyors and air slides.

Summary

This article outlines four main types of industrial conveyor for moving bulk materials in a factory setting. It covers vacuum conveyors for sucking material through a pipeline over long distances, aeromechanical (rope-and-disk) conveyors that can move batches at any angle, and flexible-screw and pneumatic conveyors, comparing their distance, speed and cost to help businesses choose a suitable system.

Questions this article raises

• Which conveyor type offers the best value for a small factory with limited budget?
• How do maintenance requirements compare across these different conveyor types?
• What factors beyond distance and speed should influence choosing a conveyor system?