Talking About Industrial Machinery

5 Signs It's Time To Upgrade To A Pneumatic Conveyor System To Replace Your Mechanical Conveyors

Whether you're working in a food processing facility or transporting grain that's coming in fresh from the fields, conveyor systems are the fastest and most efficient way to transport materials in predictable patterns. Many companies start out with mechanical conveyors with open-bucket designs because they cost a little less in the beginning, but soon find that they need to upgrade to a pneumatic conveyor instead. Consider making the switch if you are dealing with any of these five challenges that the right conveyor system can fix.

Cleanliness Concerns

Are you moving materials that must stay as clean as possible in a less-than-sanitary general environment? No matter how many covers and tunnels you install for mechanical conveyors, there's still a lot of air flow that can mix dust and debris into products that require a more controllable transfer process. Since pneumatic conveyors depend on fully enclosed tubes to create the right inner air pressure for quick and efficient movement of lightweight materials, there's automatic control of contamination built right into the design. Advanced filtration and tight-fitting seals ensures that the entire system remains clean.

Space Issues

Is your current conveyor system taking up too much space, especially when it comes to the motors powering the movement of mechanical units? Pneumatic conveyors are quite space saving and often fit where other conveyance equipment wouldn't work. These systems tend to be installed overhead, much like other conveyors, but the overall weight is lower, and the tubes are quite small and easy to route around the room as needed. This reduces lost work space, cuts down on the need for costly reinforcements to support heavy equipment, and reduces injuries in case of an accident.

Long Distances

Pneumatic systems rely on air pressure rather than moving mechanical parts, so you can create a long-distance system for nearly the same price as one that only crosses a short distance across a room. If you want to connect multiple areas and run a transfer line all the way across a facility or factory, the tubes in a pneumatic system can stretch practically any length while relying on the same pumps and air handlers. For example, both a 20 and 600 foot run of conveyor can rely on the same pneumatic equipment and have a similar price tag despite the surprising difference in length. This makes pneumatic conveyors more economical for businesses that are growing and expanding rather than for very small ones just starting out.

Cleaning Challenges

Choosing a pneumatic system also keeps the general area cleaner by preventing spills and dust disturbances. If you're working with a very light, powdery, or fluffy substance that doesn't pack well into containers, it is definitely time to install an enclosed system instead to cut down on the amount of airborne dust and reduce the cleaning workload in your factory, warehouse, or processing facility. Contamination goes both ways, and equipment that would allow other products to mix with your food or medical materials can also create unsafe conditions for the workers in the area. Don't forget to install proper dust collectors regardless of what type of conveyor you choose.

Maintenance Chores

Finally, the reduced number of moving parts also cuts down on maintenance chores for pneumatic conveyors. Mechanical systems have a lot of individual components that all eventually wear out and require reconditioning or replacement. While pneumatic equipment still needs to be inspected regularly and kept cleaned, it's not hard to do this yourself once you become familiar with the way it operates. You'll quickly learn when to call for servicing based on how the air output or operation noises change.

For more information on pneumatic conveyor systems, contact a company like HAF Equipment Inc.


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