Packaging

At your packaging facilities, the best conveyor solutions should make the most use of moving trays, boxes, crates and available floor space.

Retail & E-Commerce

From order fulfillment to shipping, large products to tiny products, Span Tech conveyors can be custom designed to fit your e-commerce needs.

Food Production

Span Tech designs food conveyor systems that effectively do it all: accumulate, merge, divide, incline, vertically convey, deposit, reject and reclaim.

Beverage Production

With easy sanitation and cleaning, our conveyors can handle beverage products and compounds of all dimensions.

Manufacturing

Span Tech manufactures easy to integrate, modular custom conveyor solutions that can easily be modified or redesigned for all product changes.

Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical production requires especially sterile conveyor environments designed for accessibility, reliability, and flexibility to prevent the dangers of cross-contamination across multiple products.

Cosmetics

Span Tech offers a range of solutions that are also highly adaptable, meaning they can easily accommodate the assembly and distribution of even the most delicate cosmetic materials and personal care items.
Industry Tips

A Look Into the Accumulating Conveyor Applications Shaping Industries

Accumulating conveyor applications

Overview

Accumulating conveyor applications are fundamental in today’s manufacturing environment, where efficiency and productivity are high priorities. These conveyors facilitate smooth product flow through different stages of production, helping to minimize downtime and reduce the need for manual intervention.

As a result, accumulating conveyors are indispensable in maintaining high levels of productivity across various industries.

Accumulating Conveyors in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, precision, safety, and efficiency are non-negotiable, and accumulating conveyors are instrumental in meeting these stringent demands. These highly specialized systems are engineered to handle delicate products, such as pills, vials, and bottles, with exceptional care, ensuring that they are sorted and accumulated without any risk of damage or contamination.

One of the key accumulating conveyor applications in this industry is pill sorting, where accuracy is paramount. As pills move along the conveyor, the system ensures that they are correctly oriented and positioned for further processing, such as coating or packaging. The use of accumulating conveyors here minimizes human contact, thereby reducing the potential for contamination—a critical factor in maintaining the integrity of pharmaceutical products.

In addition to sorting, accumulating conveyor systems are essential in the bottling process. These systems maintain a steady and controlled flow of bottles, which is crucial for both filling and capping stages. By buffering and accumulating bottles at different stages of the line, these conveyors prevent bottlenecks and ensure that the production process remains smooth and uninterrupted. This is particularly important for meeting production targets and adhering to regulatory standards, where any deviation could lead to costly delays or compliance issues.

Moreover, accumulating conveyor systems in pharmaceutical manufacturing are often equipped with advanced features such as zero-pressure accumulation and smart tracking. These technologies further enhance the system’s ability to handle products gently and precisely, reducing the risk of breakage or misalignment. Zero-pressure accumulation, for instance, ensures that products do not touch each other while they are on the conveyor, which is crucial for maintaining product quality, especially in high-speed production environments.

Accumulating conveyor

Accumulating Conveyors in Food Production

In the food production industry, accumulating conveyor applications are vital for maintaining product integrity while optimizing workflow efficiency. These systems are specifically designed to handle delicate items, such as baked goods, fresh produce, and packaged foods, with the utmost care. By doing so, they significantly reduce the risk of damage during the accumulation process, which is critical in an industry where product quality directly impacts consumer satisfaction and brand reputation.

One of the primary accumulation conveyor uses in food production is buffering—temporarily holding products before they proceed to the next stage of the production line, such as packaging or bottling. This buffering capability ensures that the production line remains balanced and that downstream processes are not starved of products. For example, in a bakery setting, accumulating conveyors can hold loaves of bread or pastries until the packaging equipment is ready to handle them, preventing any stoppages or slowdowns in the production flow.

Additionally, these systems are often equipped with customizable features tailored to the specific needs of the food industry, such as gentle handling mechanisms and sanitation-friendly designs. Gentle handling is critical when dealing with fragile or perishable items, as it minimizes the likelihood of bruising or crushing. Sanitation features, including easy-to-clean surfaces and materials that meet food safety standards, are essential for maintaining hygiene and compliance with industry regulations.

Accumulating Conveyors in E-Commerce and Distribution

In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of e-commerce and distribution, accumulating conveyors are essential for managing the enormous volume of packages that move through fulfillment centers each day. As online shopping continues to grow, with consumers expecting ever-faster delivery times, the role of these conveyors in ensuring efficient operations has become increasingly critical.

One of the most significant advantages of accumulating conveyors in e-commerce and distribution is their ability to manage the surges in package volume that are common during peak shopping periods, such as Black Friday or holiday seasons. During these times, fulfillment centers experience a dramatic increase in order volume, which can strain the capacity of the sorting and shipping systems. Accumulating conveyors help mitigate this by buffering the flow of packages, allowing the system to continue operating efficiently even under heavy loads.

Another important aspect of accumulating conveyor applications in distribution centers is their contribution to order accuracy. By carefully controlling the flow of packages, these conveyors help ensure that items are directed to the correct sorting lanes, minimizing the risk of mis-sorting and ensuring that orders are fulfilled correctly. This is crucial in an environment where errors can lead to customer dissatisfaction and increased return rates.

Also, accumulating conveyors are often integrated with advanced tracking and sorting technologies that further enhance their efficiency. For instance, some systems are equipped with sensors and software that can track the movement of packages in real-time, automatically adjusting the flow to optimize processing speed and accuracy. These smart systems are particularly valuable in large-scale operations where even small improvements in efficiency can lead to significant cost savings and faster delivery times.

Accumulating Conveyors in the Packaging Industry

In the packaging industry, where efficiency and precision are paramount, accumulating conveyor systems are critical for maintaining a smooth and consistent flow of products through various stages of the packaging process. These systems are designed to handle a wide range of packaging materials—such as cartons, bottles, cans, and flexible packaging—by effectively accumulating them before they are fed into the next stage of the production line.

These systems play a crucial role in managing product surges that can occur during the packaging process. For instance, when upstream production rates fluctuate, accumulating conveyors can temporarily hold excess products, preventing them from overwhelming downstream equipment. This capability is especially important during periods of high demand or when dealing with complex packaging tasks that require precise timing and coordination between different machines.

Another key advantage of accumulating conveyors in the packaging industry is their ability to handle a variety of product shapes and sizes with precision. Whether dealing with fragile glass bottles, irregularly shaped cartons, or flexible pouches, these systems can be customized to accommodate different types of packaging materials. This versatility is essential for manufacturers who need to package multiple product lines on the same production line, allowing them to switch between products with minimal adjustments.

Advantages of Span Tech’s Accumulating Conveyor Systems

Span Tech’s accumulating conveyor systems are engineered to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of industries, from food production to pharmaceuticals and packaging. These systems stand out for their innovative design, customization options, and efficiency, making them a preferred choice for companies looking to enhance productivity and streamline operations.

Below are some of the key advantages of choosing Span Tech’s accumulating conveyors:

Reduced Back Pressure

Span Tech’s accumulating conveyors are specifically designed to reduce back pressure, which is crucial for handling delicate products. By minimizing the force exerted on items as they accumulate, these systems prevent damage and ensure that products move smoothly through the production line.

Gentle Product Handling

These conveyors are built to handle products gently, making them ideal for industries where product integrity is critical. Whether dealing with fragile items like glass bottles or sensitive products like pharmaceuticals, Span Tech’s systems ensure that each item is carefully managed to prevent breakage or contamination.

Customization for Specific Industry Needs

One of the standout features of Span Tech’s accumulating conveyor systems is their ability to be customized. The company offers tailored solutions that can be adjusted to meet the specific requirements of different industries, ensuring that each system optimally supports the unique demands of its environment.

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

By streamlining the accumulation and flow of products, these systems significantly improve operational efficiency. This translates to reduced downtime, fewer bottlenecks, and a more consistent production pace, which are essential for maintaining high productivity levels.

Versatility Across Industries

Span Tech’s accumulating conveyors are versatile and adaptable, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. Whether in food production, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, or packaging, these systems deliver reliable performance that meets and often exceeds industry standards.

Reliable Performance and Durability

Built with high-quality materials and advanced engineering, Span Tech’s conveyors are designed for durability and long-term reliability. This ensures that businesses can rely on these systems for continuous operation, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and costly downtime.


FAQs About Accumulating Conveyor Applications

Accumulating conveyors are used in many industries. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear about them.

What is the difference between accumulating and non-accumulating conveyors?

Accumulating conveyors are designed to temporarily hold products in place, allowing them to accumulate before being moved further down the line. This feature is crucial for processes where synchronization between different stages is needed, helping to prevent bottlenecks and ensure a smooth workflow. Non-accumulating conveyors, on the other hand, move products continuously without stopping or holding them, making them more suitable for processes where constant movement is required without any delay. This continuous flow is often ideal for straightforward, uninterrupted transport of materials.

How does a zero-pressure accumulating conveyor work?

A zero-pressure accumulating conveyor uses sensors and zones to ensure that products do not touch each other while accumulating. Each zone on the conveyor operates independently, stopping products when the next zone is full, thus preventing contact between items. This system is particularly important for handling delicate or fragile items, as it minimizes the risk of damage from pressure or collision. Zero-pressure accumulation is ideal for industries like pharmaceuticals and electronics, where product integrity is critical.

Can Span Tech’s accumulating conveyors be customized for specific applications?

Yes, Span Tech offers highly customizable accumulating conveyors that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of various industries. These systems can be adjusted in terms of size, configuration, and features to optimize performance for specific applications, whether it’s in food production, pharmaceuticals, or packaging. This customization ensures that the conveyor systems align perfectly with the operational requirements, enhancing both efficiency and productivity​.

Trust Span Tech For Your Accumulating Conveyor Needs

When it comes to accumulating conveyor applications, Span Tech stands out for our commitment to innovation and quality. Our accumulating solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of each industry, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. With a focus on reducing downtime and enhancing productivity, Span Tech’s conveyors are a reliable choice for businesses looking to streamline their operations and stay competitive.

Contact us today to find out more about how our conveyors can help your business become more efficient.

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