Material handling needs are changing as manufacturers and distributors look for ways to keep up with the growth of e-commerce and reduce their environmental impact, according to new research from Ultimation Industries in Roseville.

Faster throughput, increased automation, and more efficient use of energy and space are some of the factors that are influencing conveyor system designs in 2023. Bakery Conveyor

“Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in requests from manufacturers for flexible material handling solutions that allow them to scale quickly and reduce energy consumption … without requiring major capital expenditures,” says Kali Cresent, general manager for Ultimation. “We expect those trends to continue — and even accelerate — into 2023 and beyond.”

Ultimation is a conveyor manufacturer, specializing in solving productivity challenges with fast-to-deploy solutions for the automotive, food processing, vertical farming, heavy equipment, warehousing, fulfillment, and delivery sectors.

Cresent pointed to five growing trends in the conveyor industry:

Cresent says a typical 5-foot Chain Driven Live Roller (CDLR) conveyor system using approximately 0.75kWh of energy for operation could save up to 81 percent in energy usage by replacing it with a same-size MDR system. MDRs are also quiet and can handle a multitude of products such as packages, tote bins, pallets, tires, cartons and more.

Lifters can help manufacturers and distributors move totes, cartons, and pallets from one level to another with carriers designed to handle multiple load weights and sizes. In vertical farming applications, overhead style material handling systems can help with all-important space optimization.

Flexible conveyors can quickly form lines or curves to get materials where they need to be, and easily stored away when not needed. A more permanent option is the addition of fixed, curved conveyors to an existing material handling system. Curves can be used in ascending or descending applications to help minimize the footprint within a multi-tier warehouse.

Some industries are taking a page from the airlines’ playbook by incorporating Interroll Portec systems that move more than 4 billion pieces of luggage annually. The speed and durability of Portec systems make them ideal for demanding material handling environments, such as distribution centers; parcel handling operations; food, wine, and beverage facilities; and vertical farms.

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) or warehouse robots are a good option for manufacturers and distributors of all sizes who need to transfer loads within their facilities quickly and without reconfiguring production lines or factory footprints. They can be deployed wherever and whenever needed, interfacing with existing conveyor systems, and providing flexibility as volumes change.

Slat Top Chain Conveyor For more information about Ultimation Industries, click here.