Metal fabrication refers to processes involving cutting, shaping or moulding a raw material (metal) into a final product. Metal components are available in a wide variety of dimensions and materials such as sheet metal, metal rods and metal bars. The metal fabrication process involves a wide range of skills and disciplines from profiling, bending and forming, cropping, coded welding to assembly and painting.

It is, without a doubt, a specialist process that requires expertly trained staff and advanced machinery. Coincidentally, those are also the two main factors to consider when looking for a trusted engineering company. While modern technology, machinery and computer aided design software have pushed fabrication services to the next level, there is no substitute for experience.  

Metal Fabrication And Material Handling Equipment

Metal fabrication plays a crucial role in the manufacturing sector especially when producing material handling equipment. Material handling is one of the most important aspects of manufacturing which is used in a number of sectors including steel, mining, cement and construction. 

To manufacture this kind of equipment, metal fabrication services are can produce various types of material handling equipment such as positioning and loading equipment. Among the many that are used in industries today, conveyor systems are perhaps the most important. Join us as we take a closer look at how companies use metal fabrication to produce sorting conveyor systems.

Cross Belt Conveyor Systems

Cross Belt conveyors are widely used in postal entertainment and apparel applications because of their high speed and ability to sort a wide variety of small items. While there are many benefits, some of the major advantages include the following:

  • ability to position sorting points closer to each other
  • improved quietness
  • right or left sorting capabilities
  • more versatile layouts

Tilt Tray Conveyor Systems

In this system, trays are connected together in a chain where the tray tips on both sides to dump material into chutes or on the sides. This type of conveyor system is often used in the publishing industry. Some of the major benefits of using a tilt tray conveyor system include:

  • lower noise levels
  • the ability to sort delicate, small or flat items

Pop-up Belt Conveyor System

In this conveyor system, pop-up sorters will sort containers and boxes on either side of the conveyor line. The system works by pulling the heavy boxes or containers at high speeds onto angled spurs. The chain or belt used on this conveyor will depend on the load of the package being handled. For instance, conveyor systems with a chain are ideal for heavy wooden items while rubber belts are used for lighter loads like cardboard boxes.

Pop-up Roller Conveyor System

With this conveyor system, the pop-up roller makes use of its own motor for sorting. The roller’s motor runs at speeds higher than the main conveyor. While sorting, the roller grabs the container’s leading edge and then leads it onto a spur.

Linear Sliding Shoe Conveyor System

According to some, the Sliding Shoe conveyor system is the ultimate in sorting. With a modular design, the Linear Sliding Shoe Sorter (Slat Shoe Sorter or Slat Sorter) has a bed of slats that create a virtual flat conveyor. Each slat has a sliding “shoe” aligned to one side of the package which is guided by several electronically activated sliding shoes. The precision of the Linear Sliding Shoe conveyor system enables accurate, safe and gentle handling at high speeds.

These are just a few of the most common types of conveyor systems being manufactured by expert metal fabrication companies like PRV Engineering. There are many more including the tilt slat conveyor system, bucket conveyors, dust-proof conveyors and pharmaceutical conveyor system among others.

If you are looking for a professional, experienced and reliable metal fabrication service for high quality material handling equipment and conveyor systems, you’ve come to the right place!

Fabrication At PRV Engineering

We have developed an extensive fabrication department capable of producing products and services from the very small to the larger products. Our expertise include simple and complex products to prototype testing and development.

We specialise in the manufacture of Machinery Guarding, Conveyor Systems and Materials Handling Equipment, Access Platforms and Ladders, Architectural Balustrades and Balconies, in both Stainless and Mild Steel. PRV Engineering can provide you with high performance and high quality and performance engineering solutions for all your fabrication requirements.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about fabrication services at PRV Engineering or share your thoughts on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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