Indeed, the Industrial Revolution, which started in Great Britain in 1760, transformed the world we live in. No longer are we enslaved to manual labor. Instead, we can achieve more and produce more as machines and new methodologies in manufacturing and other industries become prevalent.
However, it did not take long for the groundbreaking breakthroughs in production to spill over to the whole world. Reason enough why Henry Ford, perhaps the greatest of these innovators, would rise to the occasion bringing his “horseless carriage” to every family in America.
But you can’t take away from Mr. Ford his revolutionary methods. Top of that list, of course, is the assembly line — a system that catapulted his car manufacturing business to the top, not to mention etch his name in the annals of history. What many didn’t realize is that the Ford Motors founder introduced conveyor belts to his production.
It’s true; conveyor systems are wonder workers. It seems to have played second fiddle to the fame of assembly lines. But implementing it in your industry could be just the catalyst to bring your productivity up. If you’re not really sure how, take a quick peek at the benefits of a conveyor system below.
Unmatched Speed
Whenever there’s a need for one object to be at another place in your production, a conveyor belt would be most appropriate. Simply put, it hastens the process. No need for any worker to do the walking. It happens automatically.
And yes, let’s not forget, thanks to conveyor belts, Henry Ford could reduce the time to build a car from 12 hours to just a little over one hour and 30 minutes. It’s hard to imagine that these processes were made possible about a century ago, in 1913.
The industry stalwart may not have invented assembly lines. But his genius saw how it could boost the production of cars. It was his unmatched drive for greater efficiency that pushed him to make the most of it. He got his idea from the continuous-flow production ways espoused by flour mills, meat-packing plants, and breweries of the times.
Even better, conveyor belts in industrial systems are designed to withstand larger loads. For one, top-notch conveyor manufacturing companies such as Lakeside Manufacturing are also hell-bent on pursuing continuous improvement to better their products. Small wonder their products speak of high quality and longer longevity even with prolonged use.
Think about it. Without conveyors, you’d have to use manual labor to move products. Not only will this cost a lot, but it will also translate to a huge logistical problem. First stop, human hands aren’t as efficient as a trusted conveyor belt. It’s no accident that commercial conveyors have become a centerpiece in many industries (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food).
Greater Flexibility
Even better, you can use a wide range of conveyor belt options to suit your industry needs. That way, you can come up with a timely solution to your productivity issues.
A common conveyor is the chain belt conveyor system. Designed to carry a greater volume of products, this type has become crucial in manufacturing industries. Take note that chain belt conveyors can shift and consequently sort various types of feeds.
Additionally, there’s also the slider bell conveyor built system. With varying speeds, you have them carry from 20 tons to as much as 50 tons in just one hour. The good news is such a system can be configured to meet your individual need.
Greater Productivity
Human labor is severely limited in terms of the number of hours of work. On the other end of the spectrum, a conveyor belt can operate longer with far lesser downtime. Plus, you can use an inclined base system to transport items both large and small from one elevation to another. In short, you have an uninterrupted system that can operate without delay continuously.
In manufacturing operations where materials need to move around in different areas of the plant, a conveyor can ease the burden of work. Using an automatic incline belt, you won’t have to manually unload materials processed in your conveyor belt. Even better, you can control in both directions how fast the conveyor goes.
One of the key tasks a conveyor can help with is feeding objects directly into the line. Secondly, it can also help moving items while loading and upload materials. Surely, its apparent conveyors are a big and effective boost to production. Indeed, if you need greater efficiency, relying on the merits of a conveyor is spot on. And Henry Ford should be proud.