Roller conveyors: using gravity to reach a destination with flexibility

Transport logistics that are particularly fast, flexible and effective are needed in every warehouse and production area. Sometimes this only requires little more than the force of gravity and the laws of physics. After all, devices for continuous conveyance manage without a motor and don't just make loading and unloading easier for your employees. The range of products at {cms.var.company_name} will make it easy for you to put the optimum conveyance solution together for your company.

What are the advantages of roller conveyors?

Roller conveyors are most effective when a company installs ones that operate only by using the force of gravity on a gradient between two and five percent. This allows them to unfold all the advantages they offer in an optimal way:

Quiet transport of goods without additional energy costs

Individual speed of conveyance and yet a constant flow of material

Direction of conveyance can be changed flexibly

Can be set up and aligned flexibly – for example, to make loading transporters easy

Low-intensity maintenance due to motor-free operation, and inexpensive replacement of individual rollers or modular elements

These are the reasons why many companies with the corresponding volume of goods only ever use roller conveyors as conveyor technology. If your goods need to cover longer distances, or you require the help of a motor for transport, then you can, of course, also integrate roller conveyors into a multi-dimensional system comprised of conveyor belts, roller conveyors and similar components.

In cases like this, the gravity-based solutions will prevail everywhere that your employees need access to a transported good – for example, to unload or load an item, prepare it for shipment, or use it for other purposes.

How do I find the most suitable roller conveyors?

The dimensions and properties of the goods you usually need to convey form the focus of your selection – which, incidentally, also applies for skate wheel conveyors and ball unit tables.

Basically, weight and dimensions have the greatest importance. The weight decides whether you should use lightweight roller conveyors made of aluminium, or steel versions with a higher load-bearing capacity. It also decides which diameter the rollers need to have to transform the weight of the good into a smooth running and powerful rotary motion.

The dimensions of the goods to be moved allow you to determine the belt width and axle spacing you require more specifically. An iron rule for continuous conveyors is, therefore: the base of the transported goods must be in contact with at least three rollers on every point along the belt. This is why you should use the smallest transported goods as a basis for calculations. The largest transported goods are used as a basis for the belt width, with a little extra space to the left and right.

Of course, it also makes a difference whether you need to move robust packages or more fragile goods. This is why you can order rollers with special surface properties at {cms.var.company_name} upon request. Ask us, for example, about rollers with a PVC coating, which are the best solution for particularly sensitive goods or challenging work environments.

How do I determine my need for roller conveyors?

We offer our conveyor technology as a modular system. This ensures you have the highest possible level of flexibility and can determine your need for straight sections, curves or connecting passages individually. The straight elements are then used for form the core of the conveyor belts, and therefore also form the basis of your needs assessment.

In this case, you shouldn't just think about the number of metres, but instead, also factor in the free space required to the left and right of the belt, or space for intersections and distribution points to other elements and components of the conveyor technology.

Our team will be happy to provide you with support with your selection and will provide you with advice on how to optimally combine the different elements from our range of products. You can also ask us about custom models, curve elements or connecting passages for every roller conveyor that we usually only keep in stock as straight sections.

Of course, there is also the option of having your entire conveyor system planned by our CAD service. We're more than happy to answer your questions on this in person.

These products may also be of interest to you:

Pallet trucks | Schulz Stanztechnik ball transfer units | Gura roller conveyors

Gura Roller conveyors