Throughout the history of manufacturing, there have been technological advancements which have radically changed the way in which manufacturing is carried out. During the industrial revolution, we saw introductions of products such as the Spinning Jenny, the combustion engine and the tin can which all had huge impacts on the industry. Something which came after the industrial revolution but a piece of equipment which has had just as profound an effect on manufacturing as the aforementioned inventions is the conveyor belt, something which is still heavily relied on today. We may have more advanced conveyor systems and engineering practices which have created smarter and more efficient conveyor rollers but the product is still very similar to its original creation. Let’s take a look at just why this piece of equipment is so vital.
Uses
When the conveyor belt was first produced in 1901 it was used in coal mining for carrying the coal out of the mine, something which completely revolutionized the industry. Owing to its success in mining we then began to see other companies using these rollers in their own processes, beginning with the Henry Ford motor company which was the first to introduce assembly line-style production. In the modern world, these belts are used in every plant and factory on the planet and they are central to the entire production process.
Modernization
Whereas these belts were once clunky and prone to breaking down, in the modern world they have advanced since the early days of conveyor rollers. Now we have the ability to custom make rollers depending on the needs of the manufacturer and they are made with stronger and more resilient materials than they once were, adding durability and efficiency to the list of benefits of using a conveyor belt system. When it was first introduced the rollers were made of steel and the belts were generally made using metal fabrics such as steel which were layered for strength. Today we still see the production of steel rollers as well as aluminum and composite rollers, regarding the belt we now use stronger and more flexible materials such as nylon, polyester, cotton and Kevlar.
Key Benefits
The biggest benefit of a conveyor belt is the fact that it will take a load from point A to point B without the need for a workforce carrying loads, this reduces the risk of injury and allows more volume of products to be moved. Beyond this however, there are many more benefits of this piece of equipment such as increased speed of movement, smart systems which are able to use software to map out the route of the production process with any stops which are required, plus the fact that it is a far more effective way of carrying bulkier loads. Conveyor belts aren’t restricted by scale, evidence of which can be found in Western Sahara where the longest conveyor belt in the world was created in 1972, covering over 61 miles in length. Conveyor belts can carry great loads over long distances with speed and accuracy.
Whilst we may make modern alterations to this piece of equipment, the fact that it operates in the same way as it did over 100 years ago is a testament to the quality of the invention.
