General conveyors are an excellent solution for material handling, making them a staple in a variety of industries. For specific applications, such as sorting parcels in a warehousing facility, it is best to for something more specialized, such as a sortation conveyor. While they are great for this task, choosing them requires a great deal of technical know-how. To help you out, here’s a look at 4 tips/steps you can implement to select a sortation conveyor.
How To Select An Ideal Sortation Conveyor?
1. Identify Your Unique Requirements
The first step in selecting a conveyor is identifying any unique requirements you may have. For instance, does your particular operation have any spatial constraints? Or are you transporting goods that are fragile or require low friction for easy transportation? In the case of the latter, your sortation conveyor must have conveyor rollers. The bottom line is that your requirements will majorly determine the selection of the sortation conveyor.
2. Take Your Facility’s Layout Into Consideration
Apart from spatial constraints in general, it's vital to take the facility’s overall layout into consideration. For instance, in the case of a warehouse, the sortation conveyor will not take up the entire floor space. When planning its installation, care must be taken to factor in other facilities such as break rooms, miscellaneous machinery, points of entry and exit, and more. So for best results, devise a blueprint including the conveyor layout and added facilities.
3. Have Flexibility For Upgrade If Necessary
Operations can vary seasonally, as well as expand or decline as the operation grows. When planning for a sortation conveyor, this has to be taken into consideration. Ideally, opt for a more modular conveyor system that is easy to add and remove as per requirement.
4. Consider Product Type
Lastly, the type of product is vital to consider. This is because some types of sorting mechanisms are incompatible with certain types of goods. For instance, a pusher is a bad choice for loose items, but for unit loads such as cartons and boxes, they are a perfect choice.
For the best quality sortation conveyor solutions, please contact us at Norpak Handling. With decades of experience in offering material handling products and general conveyors across North America, Norpak Handling has built a reputation for providing quality conveyor equipment and solutions, including conveyor rollers, belts, chains, and more specialized equipment. Contact our experts today and remove all the guesswork when it comes to selecting a sortation conveyor.
