Conveyor rollers are cylindrical parts incorporated in the upper part of a conveyor frame to facilitate the movement of goods. The purpose of roller conveyors is to speed up the transport of products between two or more areas of a warehouse or production centre.
A roller conveyor is an automatic internal transport element dedicated to the movement, accumulation and distribution of goods to specific locations. These static systems can be made up of a set of rollers, chains or both.
Conveyor rollers are galvanised steel components with precision bearings that serve to move loads. With a standard spacing of about 6" between each roller, conveyors ensure continuous, safe flows of goods between different areas of a warehouse or between production and storage zones.
This is the case of multinational packaging solutions company ALPLA. The business’s logistics complex in Golborne, England, consists of two buildings — one dedicated to manufacturing and the other to storage. These two structures, however, are separated by a public road. ALPLA turned to conveyors to gain efficiency in transferring pallets between the two areas. “We needed a system that would connect both buildings and automatically move the goods from the production plant to the warehouse. We wanted to do away with manual handling and the use of heavy vehicles,” says Liam Grimwood, UK Plant Engineering Manager at ALPLA. The double roller conveyor line installed by the Mecalux Group works 24/7, ensuring daily transfers of around 2,500 pallets.
Conveyors are flexible solutions adaptable to the needs of each customerThe diameter and length of the conveyor rollers can vary depending on the unit load to be handled: pallets, boxes or containers. To move Euro pallets, for example, each roller should measure 3" in diameter.
The characteristics of conveyor rollers make this type of solution suitable for facilities run at ambient, refrigerated and frozen temps. Thus, the logistics centre of Congelados de Navarra in Fustiñana, Spain, uses roller conveyors to move goods among different areas, e.g., to the entry to the freezer warehouse and under the sorting lines.
The versatility of this logistics solution means it’s possible to create configurations adapted to the needs of each customer, the warehouse layout design, the type of unit load handled and the logistics processes in place.
Conveyor lines can also integrate other logistics solutions, such as full pallet stackers (to change the pallet type or stabilise the base of defective pallets) or lifts (to move goods vertically and overcome height distances).
Most conveyors incorporate a control system that guides the movement of goods. (The exceptions are plug & play conveyors, which don’t require any programming). In automated logistics facilities, a warehouse management system (WMS) coordinates the execution of the conveyor movement together with the rest of the automatic elements operating in the centre.
Conveyors incorporate multiple elements that can be coupled and combined according to route or unit load. These are the three kinds of roller conveyors most typically found in warehouses and production centres:
Although these are the most common conveyor solutions, they can also be combined with other elements, e.g., incline conveyors, hydraulic tables and lifts to connect different levels
Mecalux roller conveyors speed up the movement of boxes in CCV’s warehouseThe Mecalux Group has designed and implemented roller conveyors in numerous facilities. Let’s check out three examples:
Conveyor rollers are a key element in transferring materials between two or more areas of a warehouse: they guarantee the proper functioning of conveyors. This automatic internal transport solution is extremely versatile, as the diameter of the rollers and the configuration of the conveyor line can be customised to match your particular needs.
At Mecalux, we have extensive experience designing and installing conveyors for all kinds of customers. Our solutions have boosted the productivity of multiple warehouses around the world. Interested in improving your throughput when it comes to product movements? Don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our expert consultants will advise you on the best solution for your company.