The Role of Conveyor Systems in Material Handling 

Conveyor systems for warehouses make transporting and delivering goods more efficient. If you want to increase your warehouse productivity, investing in a conveyor system for material handling has many benefits.  

Let’s look at the role of conveyor systems in material handling.  

What does a conveyor system do in a warehouse? 

A warehouse conveyor system can transport large volumes of product in a short period of time. This type of material handling equipment is an incredibly efficient option for moving goods throughout a warehouse. It can help cut time and manual labor.  

What are the benefits of a warehouse conveyor system? 

A conveyor belt system in a warehouse will help you optimize productivity, reduce downtime, move materials faster and maintain a consistent flow of products.  

One of the main benefits of warehouse conveyor systems is the ability to redirect manual labor to other more important work or reduce labor as needed.  

Another very important—but often overlooked—benefit is safety. When your employees are no longer manually moving heavy boxes or materials, it can reduce the risk of workplace injuries. 

Most warehouse conveyor belt systems have built-in safety features that further protect employees. Automatic shutdowns and emergency stops help keep your warehouse safe and prevent potentially damaging accidents and injuries.  

The added ability to prevent warehouse accidents and injuries makes conveyor systems a good decision for many businesses.  

Can conveyor systems be customized? 

Conveyor systems can be customized for your jobsite or warehouse. Whether you are moving heavy items or odd-shaped items, the right conveyor system helps eliminate human error and costly holdups.  

What are the different types of conveyor systems? 

There are a variety of conveyor belt systems for material handling in warehouses.  

• Truck Loading/Unloading Conveyors: Unloads materials directly from a truck and/or loads them into a truck, quickly and efficiently 
• Packaging Lines: Helps finish the boxing of products, including taping and labeling, which saves significant time versus employees doing this work manually 
• Retail Operations: A portable gravity conveyor belt system moves cartons from a truck to storage area, without the risk of injuries that are common with manual labor and with less risk of damaging fragile items like bottles or glass 
• Sorting Operations: Flows mixed packages straight to the sorting crew, rather than relying on the sporadic delivery of pallets that need unloading 

To determine the right one for you, the team at G&W will discuss your products, your setup and your goals. We can customize a system that works exactly as desired. 

Who can benefit from a warehouse conveyor system? 

Any business or industry that moves product can benefit from a conveyor system. Warehouses in any industry such as retail, restaurant, grocery, beer/wine/alcohol, shipping and manufacturing.  

What needs to be considered when choosing a conveyor system for your warehouse? 

There are several questions you need to ask when choosing a conveyor system (and really any type of material handling equipment) for your warehouse.  

Here are the most common questions related to warehouse conveyors. 

Does your warehouse conveyor need to adapt to different products?  

The product mix in your particular warehouse will help determine what conveyor system works best for you. Some warehouses carry only one product, while others handle a large number of different-sized products, some with different handling needs.  

What space is available in your warehouse for a conveyor system?  

Fitting a conveyor system to the space available is very important. Conveyor systems come in many different sizes, so you can find one that fits your physical footprint.  

What speed is needed for conveying your products in the warehouse?  

Conveyor systems can offer different speed options, helping you ensure your conveyor can maintain and improve productivity levels.  

Can you have more than one conveyor system in your warehouse?

The number of conveyor systems you have in your warehouse depends on the products, the quantity, the space and more. For some warehouses, one conveyor system would be perfect. Other warehouses may use multiple conveyor systems to transport goods.  

How can G&W help you with conveyor systems? 

If you need conveyor systems, the team at G&W Equipment can help. We’re experts in material handling equipment, including customized conveyor systems.  

To find the perfect fit for your warehouse, we will: 

• Audit your worksite to determine space and needs for a conveyor system 
• Identify current problems in workflow so we can eliminate them 
• Discuss your productivity goals 
• Give you our best recommendation 

G&W works with two trusted brands of conveyor systems: Automated Conveyors and FMH Conveyors. We can provide customized conveyor systems as well. It’s always our goal to ensure your system is the most efficient for your products and your warehouse space.  

We can provide everything you need to improve efficiency and space in your warehouse. If you want to cut time and manual labor while reaching maximum efficiency, G&W can help you get there. Through our material handling products, automated storage and retrieval systems, pallet systems and more, we can transform your warehouse and help you reach your highest level of productivity.  

Talk to G&W today about material handling solutions like conveyor systems for warehouses.