Three Crucial Qualifiers for Material Handling Equipment Purchases

In the material handling equipment world, ease of maintenance and uptime go hand in glove. Both affect productivity and profits. “The cost of a conveyor can be far greater than purchase price,” says Dan Duchamp of Gulf Coast Wire Products, a manufacturer of crawfish traps in Kaplan, Louisiana. Duchamp knows that maintenance is a major component of “true cost,” and considers it an insidious budget thief.

When choosing a system, one must consider the cost of regular maintenance, mishaps that can put production out of business, sufficient warranty coverage and belting options that don’t require constant realignment.

Qualifier #1: Look for a system that has minimal maintenance requirements. “It’s the benefits, the things you can do with it, and the things you don’t have to do, such as maintenance. One of the main reasons we bought a DynaCon system was because it is durable plastic [polypropylene and polycarbonate] and non-corrosive,” Duchamp adds. Dynamic Conveyor Corporation (Muskegon, MI) produces the DynaCon(R) system, which features lightweight yet impact-resistant plastic construction requiring little or no maintenance.

Specify material handling equipment that can be repaired quickly and easily, without specialized labor. With unique modular design, the DynaCon system sections can be serviced, replaced or reconfigured easily because sides, belts, flights, drives and accessories are all separate units. Hit this system with a forklift, and it will likely “give,” quite possibly with little or no damage. If there is damage, replacing a section is as easy as snapping it into place.

Material handling equipment constructed of plastic construction are much easier to keep clean than metal ones. Plastic can be cleaned with water or detergents without risking rust, which may be very important to applications such as food handling.

Also, most conventional conveyors require regular lubrication in addition to continuous belt tensioning, whereas some modular systems are maintenance free.

Qualifier #2: Beltings on traditional conveyors are time-consuming to service and require frequent realignment. Look for link-style belting. When DynaCon link-style belts are damaged, you only replace the damaged section of the belt. Constructed of interlocking links, belt repair and replacement are both easier and relatively inexpensive. A diagram of how the interlocking belts work is available on the manufacturer’s website.

Belting on traditional systems, (e.g., PVC), are difficult and time-consuming to install and service, require frequent realignment, and are more difficult to clean than plastic link-style belting.

Qualifier #3: Warranty coverage. Many conventional systems and even one-off designs have a short limited warranty period. Basically an insurance policy, a short warranty policy can save on purchase price, but is often a dangerous gamble, especially when an expired warranty affects service response.

DynaCon systems carry a five-year warranty on materials and workmanship as well as a warranty on the motor and other electric components. Also consider the warranty on belts. PVC belts, such as those used on many standard fixed systems, need to be replaced every 18 months. DynaCon provides a five-year warranty on all belting.

Call to see if a modular conveyor system is right for your material handling equipment application.

Dynamic Conveyor Corporation
Jill Batka
jbatka@dynamicconveyor.com
5980 Grand Haven Road
Muskegon, MI 49441
Phone (800) 640-6850
Fax (231) 798-7739
Web site: http://www.dynamicconveyor.com