Smarter Movement with Material Handling and Conveyor Automation

Today, many companies are shifting toward smarter material handling and conveyor automation. As production lines scale up, manual handling of materials becomes costly and error-prone.

Material handling automation helps products move more swiftly through production lines. These automated conveyance solutions improve throughput, enhancing the speed and safety of industrial applications.

The Evolution of Material Handling Automation

Automated systems optimize product flow on the production floor. These systems help to reduce bottlenecks and minimize labor-intensive and rote tasks. Automated conveyor systems, including specialized pallet conveyors, help you cut back on the needed manual labor while still optimizing your line to handle even higher volumes.

Manual handling relied on human labor in the past. This reliance required manual conveyor belts, forklifts, and meant lower precision. It also put workers at greater risk as they moved heavy and dangerous materials from one place to another.

Today’s advancements in automated conveyor systems have increased precision. Load tracking and adaptive routing are possible with simple programming adjustments. The entire process is streamlined, letting you get more done safely.

While there are many advancements in material handling and conveyor automation, there are a few places where innovation has really improved working conditions and shored up gaps in coverage and efficiency.

For example, autonomous transport vehicles (ATVs) have replaced human-operated carts and even traditional conveyors. ATVs help move product while keeping walkways clear and improving safety. After all, it’s far better to break parts than to break people.

Vision-guided robots are another cutting-edge advancement. These robots are integrated with cameras that help them “see” to adjust for part differences, perform real-time quality control, and bin pick more efficiently. The operator can simply push the bin of parts into place, and the vision system can pick out the correct components without the need for manual sorting.

AI-driven systems help factories become smarter. These advanced systems can collect and analyze data to optimize workflows and quickly predict maintenance needs. The more data that is gathered, the better operations are streamlined. The systems can help us predict where inefficiencies are occurring and where they may occur in the future.

The Benefits of Automated Conveyance Systems

There are many benefits to investing in automated conveyor systems. Some offer such an excellent ROI that the investment quickly pays for itself. Here are a few of the major benefits of adding automated conveyance systems to your workflow.

• Higher Throughput: Automated conveyance systems keep products moving right along, eliminating inconsistencies and production gaps caused by manual handling.
• Faster Production Cycles: Enjoy faster assembly lines too. One automotive manufacturer reduced assembly time by 30% after implementing an automated pallet conveyor system.
• Reduced Labor Costs: Automation is a sound way to reduce labor costs and shift your workforce away from routine, simple tasks to jobs that require creativity and human input.
• Fewer Injuries: Protect your workforce by moving those heavy lifting and repetitive motion tasks to machines. Fewer injuries also help lower insurance costs and improve employee safety.
• Scalability & Flexibility for Growth: Modular conveyor systems allow you to adapt your layout to meet increasing demands without a complete facility redesign.
• Built-in Buffering: Store product backlog to prevent disruptions when a machine goes offline. You can build a buffer of parts, so if one area goes down, the downtime won’t result in significant losses.
• Improved Inventory Management: Smart conveyors integrate with WMS (Warehouse Management Systems) for real-time tracking, eliminating overstock, misplacement, and inventory delays.

Overcoming Common Material Handling Challenges

There are several common material handling challenges that automation can help you resolve.

The first challenge is moving heavy product. Automated conveyor systems are modular and can be adapted and adjusted to various weight capacities. These adjustments allow your team to easily move product throughout the production floor without risking injury or product damage.

Many warehouses and production spaces also face the challenge of limited floor space. ATVs and smart layouts help ensure material handling systems fit within spaces efficiently. One of the biggest concerns our clients face is how to fit everything they need in the space they have, and we can help optimize layouts to maximize efficiency.

Workflow efficiency is always a concern, but one that well-designed automation can significantly improve. With the right automation in place, you can maximize movement and production capacity while ensuring smooth and safe workflows.

Getting the right equipment in place is another challenge. Not all automated conveyor systems are created equal. You need a partner who understands your industry-specific needs and challenges. The benefits of working with a specialized equipment supplier go beyond just getting the right machinery—you’ll get seamless integration, support, and long-term efficiency.

When you choose a conveying system supplier, look for someone who has expertise in custom solutions. Every facility has unique needs and challenges. Custom-built pallet conveyors and adaptive automation help prevent inefficiencies and downtime.

System integration is key. You need to work with someone who can help ensure that your new equipment works well with existing robotics, warehouse management, and your ERP systems. A reliable supplier will continue to help you troubleshoot, upgrade, and optimize your systems post-installation.

Why Wes-Tech?

So, why should you choose Wes-Tech for your automated conveying solutions? We have a proven track record as a material-handling equipment supplier for manufacturing, distribution, and warehousing.

Our expertise in Tech-Trak conveyor systems delivers high ROI and long-term efficiency gains to your facility. We’ll help you resolve pain points with cutting-edge solutions like ATVs, vision-guided robotics, and data-driven factory automation.

At Wes-Tech, we can help you improve your processes with automated conveyance systems. We have the experience to create innovative solutions for your production needs. We also offer dedicated customer support to address issues and help you avoid downtime.

Think of us as more than just a system supplier. We’re a partner that works closely with you to refine your automation solutions. Automated material handling and conveyance solutions aren’t just an “option” in today’s world. They’re necessary to remain competitive with scalable, efficient production.

Choosing the right automated conveyor system and equipment supplier will help you reduce your costs, improve your workflow, increase employee safety, and position your business for long-term success.

Are you ready to optimize your material handling systems? Connect with Wes-Tech today to explore automated solutions tailored to your industry needs.