We have talked previously about the various things you must consider when planning a conveyor system, but this week we wanted to go into a bit more detail in regards to conveyor proficiency, and capacity. In other words things to consider in regards to the volume, and weight of product you are looking to move from A to B on your bespoke conveyor system.
Let's kick things off with a definition and contextual explanation regarding capacity. Capacity is the maximum amount that something can contain, but concerning conveyor capacity, it could mean a few different things:
The maximum amount of product that could be moved along in a measurement of time
or the maximum amount of produce the conveyor system can hold measured in weight.
To put it succinctly capacity is can be defined as the weight or volume per hour of a bulk material that can be safely and feasibly conveyed using a conveyor system.
In both of these situations there are many things to keep in mind:
How fast is the conveyor system traveling? if the product is heavy or needs assessing or measuring then this could impact how fast the conveyor is traveling, and the speed of the conveyor system will impact the amount of product that is moved in a period.
What is it carrying? back to the first point made, the type of product equates to how much of it can be moved, so size, weight, shape, and density all play their part in determining this metric.
Where does it need to go? so does it need to go up an incline, or down? the angle at which the conveyor is traveling will impact its capacity. Also, the distance that the conveyor system needs to travel is important because normally the longer the distance the product needs to be moved, then the lower the capacity will generally be.
Where will the product sit? the size and space on a conveyor belt will be its width, so this will determine to a degree how much of a product can fit in the space, and the more space a conveyor system has the more of that product can be moved.
Capacity is very important and it will become an essential metric to understand concerning your business outputs, including profitability.
So why is conveyor capacity important to your company when the initial planning of the system occurs?
It will need to be efficient, and by this, it is meant that it needs to be able to cope with the amount of product that is being produced, too much and it won't be able to keep up the pace, and too little then you will be in a deficit, and waste will occur. Remember that you still need to pay for a conveyor that is not being used.
You need to choose a system that meets your capacity needs regarding your future plans. Does it need to be modular to build upon because you have a contract that could fluctuate and demand more from you or are you aware of a change in contract in a few years and you would need to eventually downsize? Modular systems can be added to, or taken away from, as required. You can start small and build upon it as contracts and situations allow.
Capacity is a simple high-level concept, in that it is about the amount of product that can be moved in a given time. However, there are many factors and inputs to this equation. Always keep in mind that a conveyor system is an important investment and one that comes with a cost. As we often say on this blog the conveyor is the unsung hero of the manufacturing and distribution world, one that is often given little consideration, and one that is often an afterthought. Capacity is very important and it is something that will have an impact on your investment and profit. CCL can help you understand and work out capacity and we are happy to do so. Get in touch for a friendly chat with our experienced sales team.