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21 October 2013 | Astec Conveyors Ltd

Astec Conveyor Systems install ZLP Conveyor for snack manufacturer

Astec Conveyors were approached by a major snack manufacturer to develop a stainless steel zero line pressure (ZLP) conveyor to meet their specific needs.

With hygienic requirements becoming more challenging, particularly within the food industry, Astec Conveyors have experienced increasing demand for a stainless steel product, as it provides a cleaner and more hygienic conveyor solution than those manufactured with aluminium or mild steel powder coated side frames.

This Astec system was designed to provide for smooth transportation and product accumulation without product contact or line pressure, plus optimum reliability and easy maintenance.

Individual product “zones” were created along the length of the conveyor system, each driven by a 24V brushless motorised roller that in turn drives slave rollers via linking belts. Each zone has a retro-reflective sensor to monitor the path of the products along the conveyor.

When the first product moves or is removed from the zone, the following zones (if occupied) are powered to feed forward to the next available zone and index product in sequence. Product can be removed from the conveyor at any location on the conveyor and the system will operate to allow full accumulation. Since the motorised rollers only run when required, this provides considerable energy saving costs.

This system was also used at conveyor merge points eliminating the need for vertical blade stops and a pneumatic supply.

The conveyor frame and supports are manufactured from stainless steel with 50mm diameter zinc plated grooved rollers at 75mm pitch and are designed to support easy maintenance. In the event of a drive roller or drive belt failing these can be easily removed and replaced. The profiled side frame has a removable cover that can neatly incorporate the cable runs for the drives eliminating visible wiring.

Astec control the conveyor from a PLC and not control cards on the drive rollers, which in their experience enables programme modifications and fault finding to be carried out more easily if required.

Astec Conveyors can provide bespoke design, manufacture and installation of conveyor systems to meet individual handling requirements for light, medium or heavy duty applications.

Other Press Releases from Astec Conveyors Ltd

23/10/2013 - Astec provide the missing link at Honeytop Speciality Foods Ltd Founded in 1984, Honeytop Speciality Foods Ltd, Europe’s leading volume manufacturer of high quality, authentic naan breads and various types of flatbreads, recently invited Astec Conveyors to present efficient and cost effective proposals for the integration of new packaging equipment into their production halls.
23/10/2013 - Honeytop Speciality Foods return to Astec for conveying solution Following Astec Conveyors’ recent success at one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of quality naan and flatbreads, Honeytop Speciality Foods had no hesitation in appointing Astec to design and build a bespoke stainless steel conveyor system for their new production line.
21/10/2013 - Astec Conveyors appoint Paul Fox as new Sales Manager Astec Conveyors Limited announce the appointment of Paul Fox as Sales Manager to join the rapidly expanding company providing integrated materials handling solutions to industries throughout the UK.
21/10/2013 - Astec Conveyors install Spiral Conveyor Systems at Intersnack ASTEC CONVEYORS has recently designed and installed a high level case conveyor system for the expanding company Intersnack. Previously, palletising of cases was carried out manually at the end of each production line, and then transferred by pallet truck some 50 metres through a busy operational area to the warehouse.
21/10/2013 - Sortation System continues Astec success at TNT Following on the success of Astec Conveyors installations of hi-tech sortation systems at TNT Birmingham, Preston, Durham, Slough, Liverpool, Swansea, Edinburgh and Bellshill depots, Sales Director Roger Pendleton confirmed the company had also successfully completed a further project at TNT''s depot in Crawley.