Q: Are there any powder coat conveyors that you would recommend? We operate a metal furniture manufacturing plant inside a prison. We make a number of items here, but the big things are tables and grills for state parks, as well as lockers, tables, and beds that are used in correctional facilities.
Our line is an old wet paint line that has been converted. It goes through a wash booth, drying oven, powder coat booth, and then a curing oven. This line is old, and parts are no longer available.
We do hang a lot of weight. Some of the items are as much as 600 pounds each. Please help or give me a starting point.
A: You have two routes to take: used or new. You can canvass the used equipment market and try to land a deal from an obsolete or liquidation-imposed operation. Used conveyors, being difficult to disassemble and transport, are typically available at auctions. Performing an internet search will yield scores of auctions that may involve decent quality conveyors.
If you have the budget for a new system, your choices are many. Considering your product mix, you can consider an overhead conveyor or a floor-mounted one. Overhead conveyors are more common in the finishing industry due to their versatility, economy, and the neatness of keeping the floor mostly clear. They can be basic with a continuous monorail driven or can be sophisticated such as the varieties of power and free carriers. Power and free types allow you to stage work without affecting activities up- or down-stream. They also allow for transitioning to multiple routes through alternate lines if desired. Obviously, they carry a premium for this sophistication.
Floor-mounted types take up floor space and are much more difficult to alter or reroute as operation needs change. They do, however, offer high weight capacity at a reasonable cost. Maintenance can be more easily accomplished because access is more available than an overhead configuration.