Manufacturing companies contributed $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy according to the most recent annual data. Manufacturers, of which 98.6 percent qualify as small businesses, have become more agile, more productive and leaner in recent years. These advances have reduced both time to market and labor costs. Factory automation has been a key driver behind many of these improvements, and pallet conveyor systems continue to be a crucial component for virtually every manufacturer seeking to improve efficiencies, agility and profits.
A pallet conveyor system transfers materials and work in process from one point of the production line to another. Those items may be heavy, bulky and hard to handle manually, or small, lightweight and delicate. Pallets typically range from around 10 by 10 inches to nearly 48 by 48 inches. They are capable of carrying loads weighing less than a pound or up to several hundred pounds. Because conveyor systems are designed as modular components (or modules) that are easily joined together, moving items over long distances, changing elevations and around corners can be easily accomplished.