Andrews Automation are encouraging Safer Logistics throughout 2014, specifically in the safe movement and handling of materials within warehouses, storage facilities, loading bays etc. The Safer Logistics campaign has been launched to promote health and safety awareness in logistics in…
For more information on how Andrews Automation Ltd can assist with your pallet handling requirements, please call 01405 768900 or email sales@andrewsautomation.com
The last 12 months has seen a number of applications where chain conveyors have been the best solution for client requirements. Our chain conveyors have been installed all over the UK and can also be found as far a field as India and the USA, in applications such as raw material processing and automotive component handling.
Chain conveyor solutions are a versatile conveyor system that has the capability of transporting a variety of load types and is an ideal choice for loads that have non-uniform bases such as stillages or quarter pallets, particularly those with corner feet. With chain conveyor solutions the load is transported on top of the chain allowing a safe and smooth movement. Chain conveyors are that versatile that they can be designed with various different chain pitches in mind or by utilising mutli-strand chain depending on load weights or dimensions. Drives can also be specified using a varied range of sprocket sizes to give a broad range of speeds, plus inverter drives can also be added to achieve an even more speed control.
All Andrews Automation Ltd chain conveyors are designed and built in-house at our facility in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, including all mechanical elements AND control elements. Our systems are built and tested prior to shipping allowing us to deliver our systems in modules so that our installation team can install with the minimum of fuss and in the quickest time possible.
For more information on how chain conveyors, or our other conveyor systems can help with you materials handling requirements, call our office today on 01405 768900, or email Darren@andrewsautomation.com
Andrews Automation Ltd are one of only a few conveyor manufacturers in the UK that design, build and install all mechanical and electrical element s of the systems we provide. Our facility in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, has the capacity to mechanically build and test our systems, and also has an electrical bay where our control panels are designed and built. Many of our clients take up our offer of a Factory Acceptance Test prior to dismantling the system ready for despatch and installation. This proves very beneficial in minimising the amount of time we spend on-site installing, reducing the impact on production.
A large number of the conveyor systems that Andrews Automation Ltd have provided over the years have included value added products to further assist with creating lean manufacturing processes for our clients. We are able to provide pallet wrapping solutions through our ties with Pieri in Italy, as well as include pallet or magnum strapping systems via contacts we have at SIAT, again in Italy. We can integrate bar code scanning solutions into our systems, labelling and gluing solutions, carton lifts, pallet lifts, stretch wrappers, hooders, and much more.
With all these solutions we work closely with the manufacturer to obtain the best out of the solution and where we can, install and support the entire system in-house. In recent years we have installed seven separate robot palletising solutions and together with ABB, we will continue to support our clients for years to come. Andrews Automation Ltd prides itself in all aspects of our solutions from receiving the initial enquiry to post installation support. We look to go that extra mile to ensure that client expectations have been met, if not exceeded.
For more information on how Andrews Automation Ltd’s integrated solutions can help your business, call the office today on 01405 768900 or email darren@andrewsautomation.com
Andrews Automation Ltd has recently been awarded the contract to provide a centralised returns handling solution for a major distribution company.
Following on from months of discussions and design work, a centralised returns handling system has been devised to remove the need for the Client’s network of satellite facilities, of which there are many, to process their own product returns in-house. This will enable the Client to concentrate on their primary objective of supplying outgoing product in a fast and efficient manner. Each satellite branch will be able to send their product returns in magnum containers via road to the central returns depot in Sheffield, South Yorkshire to be processed.
Our team of project engineers have designed a solution that incorporates a number of our standard materials handling products, together with a bespoke tipper unit that will handle and feed the sortation conveyors.
Fully loaded magnum containers sent in from each satellite depot are loaded onto powered roller pallet conveyors which then carry each magnum to the specially designed tipper unit. This inturn tips the contents of each magnum onto a number of belt conveyors with a view to spreading out the contents before they make their way into the Client’s sortation equipment. The tipping action is intelligently controlled so that it can adjust the flow of product accordingly if too much or too little product is being fed onto the belt conveyors. All mechanical and control systems are designed and built by our in-house team.
This project will prove to make significant savings for the Client across the group and will also improve the flow of product both in and out of each facility. The handling of product returns is a hot topic of discussion at the moment, particularly in the distribution and e-commerce industries.
If you’d like to speak to us about how we can help your business handle product returns, call today on 01405 768900 or email Darren at darren@andrewsautomation.com
Chain conveyors are also used on what we call ‘chain transfer’ systems. This is where one conveyor needs to be linked with a second conveyor. ‘Pop-up’ chain transfer systems transport loads at 90˚ with a view to transporting the load onto a second conveyor in order to continue it’s journey. ‘Pop-up’ chain transfer systems are an excellent alternative to the popular turntable as load transfer times are usually quicker with a chain transfer. The downside of a chain transfer system is the potential to change the leading edge of the load depending on the number of directional changes there are in the process.
Andrews Automation Ltd have designed and built many chain conveyor systems with some performing their duties at various sites all over the world. For more information on how chain conveyors can improve your process flow, call the office today on 01405 768900 or email sales@andrewsautomation.comAlthough Andrews Automation Ltd provides a wide and varied range of pallet handling and conveyor solutions, we have built up reputation for providing first class roller conveyor solutions for all kinds of industry. Whether you require low cost, easy to use non-powered roller conveyor, or automated Zero Line Pressure ( ZLP ) solutions that buffer or queue products as part of a production process, we are able to provide a solution to suit.
Andrews Automation Ltd has provided a significant number of non-powered, or gravity powered roller conveyors since their inception in 2003. Having developed a reputation within the wood industry, we have supplied miles of roller conveyor at sites all across the UK. Many of these roller conveyor systems are part of an integrated system that also incorporated scissor lifts and /or transfer trolleys. Although scissor lifts are sourced from our strategic partners, transfer trolleys are built and designed in-house to meet customer specifications and requirements.
Our powered roller solutions can come in many forms, from the light duty aluminium framed tote conveyor or box conveyor, to the heavy duty pallet roller conveyor that can transport loads of 1500kg and more. The powered roller conveyors provided by Andrews Automation Ltd utilise either a sprocket driven powered roller chain drive system, or a timing pulley powered belt drive solution. The final selection will be based on the application and in certain circumstances will be down to client preference.
Design and build work for our roller conveyor solutions is carried out at our facility in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, and systems are tested and broken down again prior to delivery and installation. We also have our own in-house controls team that design and built our PLC’s too allowing us to be a “one stop shop” for our clients, giving us the edge on many of our competitors.
Over the best part of 15 years, Andrews Automation Ltd have built up a reputation for providing conveyor systems and other materials handling solutions to a wide range of industries all over the UK and beyond. Many of these clients are well known household names and have approached us to provide a solution that perhaps our competitors would shy away from.
Although our flagship product is the conveyor system, in particular the heavy-duty pallet conveyor system, here at Andrews Automation Ltd we specialise in the integrated conveyor system and include many ‘Value Added’ options including pallet lifts, turntables, pallet wrappers, pallet strappers, robot palletisers, transfer cars, sortation systems, barcode scanners, pallet dispensers to name but a few.
When designing a conveyor system for a client, our in-house design team take a standard layout and whether it be a roller conveyor, belt conveyor, or chain conveyor, we will tailor the design to suit the clients application. Whether it is required to transport palletised goods, boxed goods, irregular shaped goods such as stillages, a solution can be worked on based on customer requirements.
Controls for each conveyor system is again designed in-house, and our facility at Goole has its own electrical bay where we build our own PLC’s and control panels. Although our preferred logic source is Allen Bradley / Rockwell, we are equally as comfortable is providing alternative logic systems such as Siemens for example.
A conveyor system need not require controls. Andrews Automation Ltd are also designers and manufacturers of non-powered roller conveyor systems. Having worked within the wood industry for many years, we have built up a portfolio of projects totally a number of kilometres of conveyor. A number of which have incorporated manual flip stops in order to manage and control heavy loads, and manual push transfer trolleys to guide palletised products to the correct area of the facility.
