Conveyor belt vs rollers, which is cheaper?

Conveyor belt and powered rollers have been moving all kinds of materials for decades. There are several factors to consider when evaluating which type of system will best suit the operational conditions.

Automation in material handling has created tremendous advances toward control of materials using photo-eye sensors and PLC programming as well as providing detailed preventative maintenance diagnostics to avoid interruptions in workflow.

Warehouses, manufacturing plants, logistics companies, and many other industrial sites and applications are perfect for transporting materials by a conveyor system, but the question is which system is best to move materials?

The industry practice has been utilizing conveyor belt for items that are irregular in shape, smaller in size, and fragile in nature. Rollers are generally used for cartons, pallets, totes, etc.

Powered Conveyor Belt

The use of powered conveyor belts has been a part of many industries for many years. Mines, farms, manufacturers, and even a few restaurants have used powered conveyor belt systems in one configuration or another.

The important thing to remember about conveyor belt systems is they are powered by electricity or other energy sources. Unlike gravity roller systems that use gravity and inertia to move materials, powered conveyor belts utilize electric motors and drives to move items.

That means motors, drive belts or chains, and other equipment is included in the engineering. Conveyor belts are generally more precise in conveyed item positioning due to its high friction material resulting in little to no slippage. Slippage is most common during start stop operation. Coupled with a positioning encoder, the readings registered by the encoder can be reliably used to exactly predict the position of each item on the conveyor.

The higher coefficient of friction for conveyor belt also means it is more suited for incline and decline operation.

Powered Roller Conveyors

Sensor detects object on the conveyor and store data for processing

Roller conveyors that are powered, have the ability to precisely control materials as they move across the conveyor system. Automated warehouses use powered roller systems to convey material across multiple conveyor lines for final delivery.

Due to the multi-directional capabilities powered roller conveyors provide, complex delivery systems can be installed to improve warehousing productivity and efficiency.

One type of powered roller is called a 24VDC MDR, short for Motorized Driven Roller. That means the roller system uses a 24V DC built in drum motor to turn the rollers, which in turn convey whatever is sitting on the conveyor line. Smart technology has combined photo-eye sensors and PLC programming to control movement so materials don’t accumulate along the conveyor and are directed to the correct delivery point.

Keeping materials from piling up on the conveyor is known as Zero Pressure Accumulation and aids in preventing accidents and damage to materials on the conveyor line.

Another common type of powered roller conveyor is the external driven type powered by external AC worm gear motors. These are generally for heavier application where higher loads (generally 100kg and above) are required.

Conclusion

Moving materials can be accomplished in many ways. Conveyor belts and powered rollers allow for the movement of materials without human interaction as well as without interruption in the flow unless it is wanted. Once again, several factors affect the cost of each system.

The different styles of each system include many customizable features and specialized handling capabilities which can alter the costs significantly. In very general terms, roller conveyors are cheaper due to it modularity, ease of installation, and simpler components. However, one should pick a system that more closely matches the application rather than just looking at the price tag.

Being a partner of Interroll, we offer best in class integration services with world renowned brands.

The Experts at AMC Dynamics Can Help Answer the Question

To ensure the best conveyor system is specified and delivered, it is important to consult with professionals with many years of experience and many different applications of the technology. The experts at AMC Dynamics are ready and able to help anyone interested in conveyor systems. Customers can go online to the AMC Dynamics website and learn about the products, projects, and professionals that have made the company successful for over 30 years. Customers are encouraged to send any questions or requests and speak with a customer support expert at +60 7244 8858. The professionals at AMC Dynamics can answer the question about which system is best for any business.