The Importance of Conveyor Belts in Warehouses

When it comes to manufacturing, storage, and distribution, it becomes particularly important for the warehouses to organise their operations, and investing in high-quality machines such as conveyor belts is one of them. This will make a significant contribution to effectively boosting the productivity of employees and help achieve desired results.  

Conveyor Belts are one of the most vital pieces of equipment installed within warehouses that provide a range of benefits to you, your staff, and your customers. Apart from ensuring fast and safe movement of products from one place to another, they also help in sorting and eliminating the possibility of dropping heavier objects. Let us know about them in detail and find out how they can help streamline the operations in your warehouses.  

What is a conveyor belt system?  

A conveyor belt system moves varied kinds of materials, entailing raw` materials and finished products, from one location to another. Conveyors can transport goods to the targeted location within the same floor or to distinct locations within the factory. They help alleviate material handling tasks across industries, including distribution spaces, warehouses, packaging, production, and manufacturing.  

Types of Conveyor Belts Used for Warehouse Automation 

Roller bed belt conveyor  

It is a basic conveyor belt used for performing a range of tasks with utmost accuracy in a warehouse. The conveyor depends upon rollers instead of pulleys enabling users to meet the requirements of the production. A shorter conveyor belt comes equipped with twin rollers that are enough to transport products. However, products travelling longer distances require a conveyor with more than two rollers. Some of the applications of a roller bed belt conveyor comprise sorting, assembling, packing and more. In a warehouse, they can be used for inspecting and transporting products at a high speed.  

Flat belt conveyor  

A flat belt conveyor is one of the most commonly used systems in a warehouse. It is placed on a flat surface which has a line of pulleys on each end. Furthermore, the conveyor belt depends on different kinds of materials that help lift items from one end to another. Additionally, the belt is flexible to use and contains optional features.  

Modular belt conveyor  

A modular belt conveyor depends upon a single loop with numerous interlocking pieces that are easy to maintain. The system is ideal for applications that need travelling around corners. It can move straight and go around a corner which fulfils the requirements of a warehouse. This belt conveyor can effectively resist abrasive and sharp materials. Plastic modular belts are suitable for warehouses that use special conveyor belts with no compromises on belt tracking.  

Cleated belt conveyor  

A cleated conveyor belt offers a cost-effective system created for a warehouse to provide safety to loose materials. It assists in inclining and declining materials to keep a consistent distance between products. In addition, it comes in a variety of shapes with specific applications to match exact requirements in the process of production.  

Vacuum or pneumatic conveyor  

A vacuum or pneumatic conveyor is the most ideal automation solution for ecommerce industries that quickly ship items to consumers. The system comes equipped with innovative features allowing users to get more benefits.  

Incline/decline belt conveyor  

An incline/decline belt conveyor is a suitable choice for a warehouse to transfer items up and down. This conveyor comes with a gear motor and centre drive for rotating needs. It works in alignment with other conveyor systems enabling users to gain viable outcomes.  

Speciality conveyor  

A speciality conveyor is a perfect solution for a warehouse waste management project that comes in a range of models. Apart from that, it comes with highly innovative materials to cater to the exact needs of users.  

Sortation conveyor system  

A sortation conveyor system is ideal for a warehouse to recognise items easily, which further helps in their quick sortation. It facilitates businesses to meet accurate requirements in the order fulfilment process. The system is great for ensuring the effective flow of goods to customers with high accuracy and accountability.  

Several Benefits of Using a Conveyor Belt System  

If you are planning to automate your warehouse, incorporating conveyor belt systems can make a significant difference in the majority of applications. Let us find out how automated conveyor belts can enhance warehouse productivity: 

Improved efficiency  

Conveyor belts can substantially increase the efficiency of your company, enabling you to move items from your racking to the transportation vehicles at high speed. Due to their seamless integration into warehouse management software, they ensure that there is an effortless transition between picking, packing, and transportation to retailers or consumers.  

Movement of heavy materials  

If you frequently have to transport heavy or large amounts of products within your warehouse, the best equipment to install is a heavy-duty conveyor belt. They enable you to transfer bulk materials between locations at once, rather than splitting items into smaller orders.  

Reduced labour costs  

The installation of conveyor belts will also reduce the number of staff members required to pick, pack, and move your goods. There will not be a requirement to employ as many employees to handle heavy machinery, including forklifts, and thus, it will allow you to run operations without having to consider sick pay or holiday.  

Space efficient  

When you choose to install an automated conveyor belt in your facility, you also end up saving a lot of space that could have been used for accommodating your machinery and your employees. This ensures that your business can manage operations in a smaller warehouse space, giving more room to other aspects of operations, such as storage.  

Lesser chances of human error  

One of the critical challenges that conveyor belts can help cope with is the possibility of human error. Rather than depending upon employees, conveyor belts can autonomously transfer goods to the appropriate location without involving a third party. They can also help you easily manage your picking and packing processes and reduce the chances of damaged goods.  

Increased safety  

Although, conveyor belts can have their own safety issues, they can also reduce the danger of working within a facility in numerous ways. They can be tailored to reduce the possibility of fall and slip accidents in the most precarious areas of your warehouse, such as lifts and stairways.  

Bottom Line  

Modern warehouse automation kickstarted with the installation of conveyor systems. Since then, conveyors have been playing a crucial role in ensuring the accurate, efficient automation of warehouse operations across diverse applications and industries.  

Automated conveyors can be combined with sensors, robots, and other automation equipment for efficient performance in your warehouse, ensuring more accurate, efficient, and consistent performance without incurring extra expenses on maintenance or labour.  

Want to learn more about automating your warehouse? Reach out to Addverb for the latest automation solutions and build a warehouse of the future.