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Why Your Small Business Needs a Conveyor Belt
The right conveyor can make work easier and save you money. Here’s how.
- Q: My business is small. Why would I need a conveyor belt?
A: Mention conveyor belts, and most people think big: Logs moving through a sawmill, cars riding down the assembly line or boxes and bottles shuttling through factories that seem to stretch on for miles.
But conveyors aren’t just for big companies. Many sizes and styles are available to help small businesses save time, increase production and create a safer and more efficient work environment for everyone.
- Q: Sounds great, but what if I don’t want heavy machinery and engines in my workspace?
A: Then a gravity conveyor might be the right choice for you. They’re non-motorized, low-maintenance and won’t increase your energy costs. Easy to use, they’re ideal for assembly, packing, wrapping, shipping and the most basic material handling function of all – moving objects from Point A to Point B.
- Q: I don’t have a factory, or even an assembly line. What would I use a conveyor for?
A: Anyone who loads and unloads merchandise - whether it’s delivering produce to restaurants and farmer’s markets or shipping boxes of handmade hiking gear – can use the help of a conveyor. One great choice: A flexible conveyor that expands like a slinky and curves to create the exact route you need. You can even buy carts with conveyor-style roller tops for easy transporting, loading and unloading.
And they aren’t just for manufacturing – here are just a few businesses that benefit from conveyor belts:
Boutique Vineyards
Winemakers use conveyors to harvest fruit, move grapes from bins to destemming machines, fill bottles, pack crates and load wine for delivery to restaurants and shops.
Nurseries & Greenhouses
Conveyors move everything from flats of annuals to potted plants through greenhouses with ease. They elevate plants to a more ergonomic working height, reduce heavy lifting and eliminate the hassle of trying to maneuver in tight spaces and blocking aisles with nursery carts.
Landscaping Companies
Landscapers use portable conveyors to move stone, dirt, concrete and other back-breaking loads up and down slopes.
Small Farms
Conveyors carry bales of hay up to lofts, move free-range eggs from nesting box to packing room, transport hydroponic vegetables and herbs from production to the cutting machine and more.
Contractors Portable conveyors make it easier – and safer –to move shingles, roofing and plywood up to a roof or carry demolition debris to the Dumpster.
- Q: I only employ one person – me. What do I need a conveyor for?
A: Ever wish you had someone to help load items onto your pick-up or delivery truck? There’s a conveyor for that! Just a few feet long, a folding delivery conveyor is portable, easy for one person to handle and loads right in your vehicle. It works like a ramp, only the wheels are on the conveyor to help move the objects along.
- Q: It seems like a big investment. How can it actually save me money?
A: Smaller conveyors, some of which are priced by the foot, are less expensive than you think. Even better, they offer a great return on investment, often in a short amount of time, with money-saving benefits like:
- Reduced product damage and loss.
- Increased efficiency and revenue.
- Lower labor costs.
- Faster production and delivery to your customers.
- Reduction and prevention of injuries, downtime and absenteeism, doctors’ bills, worker’s compensation and insurance costs.
Even if your workload is light, conveyors can help prevent repetitive motion injury and long-term wear and tear on your body. And in terms of healthcare costs, consider this: A small conveyor can cost less than your health insurance deductible!
To find out what kind of conveyor belt is right for you, read Q&A: Easy Information for First-Time Conveyor Belt Buyers.
Located in Donald, Oregon, Material Flow has supplied new and used conveyors to both local businesses and companies throughout the United States since 1994.
