Up until recently, assembly lines were literally straight-forward operations, with workers lined up in a row performing specialized tasks as products moved down a sequential line.
But with some of the innovative new material handling equipment highlighted at a recent Chicago area trade show could change all that.
More than 37 material handling suppliers of conveyors, equipment, and modular structural framing component displayed their latest products at The ASSEMBLY Show, which was held last fall at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Illinois.
The show highlighted several new products that allow manufacturers to reconfigure their assembly lines in non-traditional, yet more efficient ways.
Innovative Flow Rack
One of the exhibitors, Creform Corp., unveiled a new pipe-and-joint structural system that can be used to assemble flow racks, workstations, stands, display boards, carts and even automated guided vehicles. Plus, like Tinker Toys or erector sets, the more than 700 different types of pieces can be reconfigured and recycled to fit different needs.
For example, Creform’s flow rack can be put together to move heavy totes and boxes from a standard conveyor to a remote workstation. And when that configuration is no longer needed, it can be disassembled to provide a different manufacturing solution — without having to buy all-new equipment every time a production line is modified.
Conveyor Configuration Software
Not sure what type of conveyor system will optimize your production? A new software program from Glide-Line called Interactive Modeling Program and Application Configuration Tools (IMPACT) can create a three-dimensional model of the conveyor configuration you need based on your application requirements.
The IMPACT system will even tell you what pieces you need to buy and how much your conveyor system will cost. The system offers more than 600,000 standard configurations, but also can be customized for more specific tasks.
Conveyor with Flexibility
A new type of conveyor belt system presented by Bosch Rexroth called the VarioFlow comes in different pieces that can be assembled in a near-infinite number of variations so businesses can transport small items to workstations or move large products along complex routes or through environments with limited space.
A motor mounting position can be centralized and smart connection technology allows for easy conversions and system extensions. Slide rails that feature lateral mounting can cut down on the wear and tear and assure reliable assembly and quiet operation. There are even ascenders and inclined conveyor sections that can move items up and down assembly lines. Plus, the whole system is reversible.
Linear Synchronous Motors
The MagneMover Lite system from MagneMotion Inc. features a “smart” track that uses linear synchronous motors and a “dumb” mover powered by magnets that propel movers around a conveyor track. With few moving parts — for example, no belts, gears or external sensors — the system requires little maintenance.
Rather than moving large pallets, the system uses 60-millimeter wide pucks, each of which can carry 1 kilogram of payload.