Ultimation Recognized as Leading Integrator for Jervis Webb Conveyor Systems

Jervis Webb conveyor systems have been in use for over 100 years, and with Ultimation’s help, the Webb brand continues growing. There’s no better technology available for durable overhead conveyor equipment and Webb systems have always been the “gold standard” in conveyors. Ultimation recently received the award for the largest systems integrator and parts distributor for Webb conveyor systems for 2018.

Webb’s overhead conveyor technology is available through a network of integrators that manage the design, build and installation of Webb systems. They integrate the base components into fully functional overhead conveyor systems complete with the necessary support steel, carriers for parts, electrical systems, installation and software programming. This arrangement enables Jervis Webb to focus on the conveyor mechanical components like track sections, trolleys, drives and take-ups. Other integrator partners with broader experience can then implement “turn key” conveyor solutions for their customers. Ultimation CEO Jacqueline Canny received the award for the largest Webb integrator for 2018 at the group’s recent national integrator meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

Ultimation CEO, Jackie Canny, is proud of the growth that Jervis Webb and Ultimation are achieving with this business arrangement. “Our Jervis Webb overhead conveyor business segment has grown dramatically since Ultimation’s first system with Webb in 2012. We are delighted to now be recognized as the largest integrator and parts distributor. We’re supporting Webb’s business growth with systems and parts throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and South America. Webb is the best conveyor equipment available in the market, and Ultimation is growing quickly in this business segment” said Canny.

Jervis Webb conveyor largest distributor

Ultimation’s internal sales team with CEO Jackie Canny and Engineering and Sales VP John Daugherty

Learning more about Jervis Webb conveyors and conveyors in general

You can learn more about Jervis Webb’s rich history in the conveyor business in this post. Want to learn more about the different types of Webb overhead conveyors available? This product category page explains the types of overhead conveyors and their uses.

If you’d like general help comparing floor conveyors and learning about other conveyor types, which types to use and how to specify them? This step by step guide will help.

5 Conveyor Design Trends for 2019

The beginning of a new year is a chance to look back at where the industry has been and look ahead to the future. Ultimation’s engineering and sales teams recently discussed the conveyor manufacturer landscape and weighed in on their view of 5 conveyor design trends for 2019.

1. Keep It Quiet

The modern industrial workplace can be a busy and noisy place sometimes. So conveyors shouldn’t add to that. In addition to incredible energy efficiency, modern 24V DC powered roller conveyors that use either Itoh Denki or Interroll motor driven rollers are super quiet compared with chain driven conveyors. We see conveyor manufacturers replacing older style chain conveyors for automated conveyor systems at an increasing rate in 2019. Because they are low voltage and each individual motor has relatively low torque, people can often work in close proximity to the conveyors as well.

powered roller conveyor

2. Squeeze It In

Conveyor manufacturers have long sought to use otherwise under-utilized industrial space for productive purposes. Conveyor design pioneer Jervis B Webb enabled the use of the overhead space above the factory for the modern overhead conveyor. But what about conveyors that use other spaces elsewhere in the supply chain that doesn’t get used as productively as they might? That truck and trailer driving next to you down the highway might just be a moving automated conveyor system on wheels. Ultimation’s innovative tire and wheel delivery trailers hold up to 800′ of powered roller conveyor delivering products to the Tesla assembly plant. Conveyors make sure the products are loaded and unloaded quickly, always stay in the critical production sequence and the easily damaged top face of the wheel is always kept safe.

tire and wheel delivery trailer

3. Stay Small, Stay Flexible

Highly automated conveyor systems are great. Our engineers love to design and install them. But sometimes less is more. And while robots are very flexible, the tooling required to hold parts in position for robots is often more expensive than the robot itself. Lots of Ultimation’s customers are looking for conveyor types like simple belt conveyors or roller conveyors to get their productivity efforts moving ahead. Lean production, less walking, less bending — and less capital spending. Many of them ship the same day.

Conveyor types

 

4. Spread It Around

The time spent commissioning large automated conveyor systems can be substantial. Speed it up with distributed, autonomous control. Distributed motor starter systems like the Rockwell Allen-Bradley ArmorStart range have been used by conveyor manufactures for years. Using 24V DC powered roller conveyors with network integration (Think “Internet of Things”) can reduce the time spent in the field for conveyor manufacturers and expensive controls engineers. We especially like the new  Interroll MultiControl Card and at under $200 it can control up to four MDR motors, link to various networking systems and provide its own pre-programmed distributed autonomous control routines. In layman’s terms, it can control the buffer and feeding of lines without needing an expensive central processor or lots of engineers. Conveyor technologies are increasingly using these distributed control systems.

Interroll MultiControl

5. Throw It Out, but Keep the Frames!

The new year is a great time to clean up and to think about new equipment. But before you throw out that old gravity roller conveyor, did you know you can upgrade it to make it a motorized roller conveyor instead? Ultimation developed retrofit kits to convert existing gravity roller conveyor systems using both Itoh Denki and Interroll 24V MDR technology. We supply everything you need for the conversion including power supplies, motors, idler gravity rollers, drive belts, cables, and power suppliers. Some of our customers have miles of gravity roller conveyor they will eventually convert to motorized conveyors.

 

powered roller conveyor

 

Need help learning about conveyor design, other conveyor types, which types to use and how to specify them? This step by step guide will help.

Ultimation is a leading conveyor manufacturer and we’re happy to share more information about conveyor technologies and conveyor design trends with you.

How Does a 24V MDR Conveyor Work?

How Does a 24V MDR Conveyor Work?

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Or in this case, a video. In showing how 24V MDR conveyor (or motorized roller conveyor) works the benefits are easy to see.

Ultimation’s internal sales team thought a quick demo was the easiest way to show how 24V MDR conveyors work.

Ultimation Internal Sales Manager, Jenni Collins, explains the benefits. “It’s actually pretty simple. This ten foot section in the video has two motorized rollers, three photo eyes to detect the boxes and one Interroll multi-control card. The motors are connected to the other rollers with Durabelt o-rings. The control card is constantly checking if space is available at the next zone of the conveyor. As soon as space opens up, the  24V MDR conveyor sends the next package along.

Because the boxes never push up against each other, they call this zero pressure accumulation. Basically, it’s an automated buffer that enables a process at each end of the conveyor to operate at different speeds and the conveyor takes care of moving the parts and creating a buffer. Because the motors only run when the product needs to be moved, they’re really efficient. “

24V MDR Motors

 

Ultimation offers MDR systems in three different levels using both Interroll and Itoh Denki motorized MDR rollers.

  • Individual MDR motors and components: We have a huge selection of MDR motors and other components like power supplies, O-ring belts and gravity idler rollers ready to ship. They are available for online purchase
  • Retrofit kits for existing gravity roller conveyors : Many of our customers have a significant amount of gravity roller conveyor, and they need to automate it to improve efficiency. Ultimation has kits available that can be used to retrofit Ultimation, Hytrol, Ashland and Lewco gravity conveyors. These kits include all necessary parts and cables. Learn more about these kits here
  • Ultimation 24V MDR Power Supply Units: These power supplies are available in 110V, 240V and 480V configurations, enabling customers to easily provide power to up to 8 MDR motors
  • Ultimation plug-n-play MDR modular conveyors: Available in various configurations, these 10′ conveyor lengths come ready to run with motors, conveyor frames, control card and photo-eye sensors. They are available for online purchase

If you would like to learn more about how 24V MDR conveyors work, you can contact Jenni or any of our sales team. We can help take the mystery out of MDR systems for you!

Need help learning about other conveyor types, which types to use and how to specify them? This step-by-step guide will help.

 

 

 

 

 

Ultimation adds Interroll MDR systems to fast growing 24V MDR range

Ultimation expands as Interroll Distributor

Ultimation has added the Interroll range of 24V MDR (Motor Driven Rollers) conveyors to the line up. Interroll systems can be configured as “ready to run” modules in 10 foot sections, as retrofit kits for existing gravity conveyors and as individual component sets.

Ultimation’s President, Richard Canny, is forecasting that 24 volt conveyor technology will continue to displace older technologies. “Customers love the quiet, energy efficient conveyor systems that motor driven rollers enable. Because the motors only run when the product needs to be moved, the duty cycle of these conveyors is low. Ultimation began designing and building MDR systems about 7 years ago, and we are experiencing fantastic growth in the deployment of the technology. We’ve been working with Interroll for some time now, and we’re now ready to expand as an Interroll distributor and system integrator to offer the full range of their products.”

Interroll distributor

 

Ultimation offers MDR systems that incorporate these components:

  • Interroll EC310 RollerDrive Motor Driven Rollers: These are the latest technology available in the MDR range. As an Interroll Distributor, Ultimation plans to carry the full range of EC310 motors. They can be ordered here
  • Interroll MultiControl Card: This state of the art motor control card can control up to four individual MDR motors. It is compatible with EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT and PROFINET network technologies. Individual MultiControl cards can be linked together to control conveyor without the need for a PLC. MultiControl cards can be purchased here.
  • Ultimation 24V MDR Power Supply Units: These power supplies are available in 110V, 240V and 480V configurations, enabling customers to easily provide power to up to 8 MDR motors
  • Ultimation plug-n-play MDR modular conveyors: Available in various configurations, these 10′ conveyor lengths come ready to run with motors, conveyor frames, control card and photo-eye sensors. They are available for online purchase

Need help learning about other conveyor types, which types to use and how to specify them? This step by step guide will help.

Conveyor Roller Replacement: What You Need to Know

How to replace conveyor rollers

Gravity conveyors are used in distribution warehouses, assembly lines, and shipping departments throughout the world. With routine maintenance and care to the frames, conveyor rollers, and other parts, a gravity conveyor can last for many years. The rollers in these conveyors can get dirty or damaged, and eventually they need replacement. Thankfully, conveyor rollers are easily replaceable, and doing so will extend the life of the conveying system. Another common situation is there simply needs to be more rollers added to an existing system to help parts move more smoothly along the conveyor when replacing conveyor rollers.

Ultimation marketing specialist, Kali Cresent, explains how to go about the process of gravity conveyor roller replacement. “The best way is to start with the frames first. Before measuring up the rollers, check the size of the frame that the rollers will fit in. This is the single most important measurement.

 

Know exactly the information you need before placing a replacement roller order. Here is Kali’s list of the information Ultimation requires:

1.4" Gravity Conveyor Roller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Between Frame (BF) Distance: Measure the frames that the rollers will fit into from one side to the other in inches or mm. Replacement conveyor rollers are often referred to according to the BF (Between Frames) size they are made to e.g. 18″BF Gravity Roller. Common between frame widths are 10″, 15″, 16″, 21″, and 22″
  • Diameter of the roller: Common sizes are 1-3/8″ (1.4″) , 1.9″, 2.5″ and 2-9/16″. It’s tough to measure this with a tape measure, so use a pair of calipers or more precise measuring instrument to ensure you have the right diameter
  • Retention system: In order to fit into the frames, rollers are generally spring loaded on one side. But sometimes rollers have springs on both sides, or use pins through the shaft instead of springs
  • Surface finish: Galvanized (zinc plated) is a common finish, while heavier duty rollers are sometimes mild steel
  • Axle configuration: North American gravity roller conveyors usually have hexagonal axles of 7/16″ or 11/16″ for medium and larger diameter rollers. Smaller rollers typically use a 1/4″ round steel axle. Measure the size of your existing roller axles
  • Grooves or drive system: Rollers may have dual grooves (for O-Ring drive systems), pulleys for ribbed drives or sprockets attached
  • Centers: Measure the center distance from one gravity roller to the next. This will help you calculate how many you need!

Once you have that information, you can buy online or call us for help. If you’re wanting to learn more, read on….

How conveyor rollers are assembled

  • Crimped
    •  A crimped gravity conveyor roller has a tube which is crimped down over the bearing to hold it in place. Bearings installed in this
      manner are non-replaceable.
    • Edges of tube are bent towards the center.

Crimped Replacement Roller

 

 

 

  • Press Fit
    • A press fit roller has a tube which is counter bored to the correct inside diameter for the bearing to be press fit into
      place or slip fit for large diameter rollers.

Press Fit Replacement Roller

 

Roller Tube Material alternatives

When replacing conveyor rollers, an important defining factor is the material the conveyor rollers are constructed of. The most common type being galvanized steel as it is cost effective, and resists rust. Other materials include; stainless steel for wet applications and for food preparation, and PVC or polyurethane coated rollers for non-marring applications.

Roller Diameter and Gauge

Roller diameter is determined by measuring the width or outside diameter of your roller. 1-3/8″, 1.9″, and 2-1/2″ diameters are common sizes, but other special sizes exist. Normally standard gauges (wall thickness) are based upon roller diameter. Think about the way the conveyors are used when replacing conveyor rollers. Locations that are loaded by fork lifts or where items are impact loading (dropped), these rollers should have a thicker wall than the rest of the conveyor system, giving it a greater load capacity and strength. Remember, don’t round your measurements, use a precision tool, such as calipers, to measure roller diameter.

Axles and Retention

The axle size is determined by measuring the diameter of a round axle or measuring from flat side to flat side on a hex axle. Common axle sizes are 1/4″ round, 7/16″ and 11/16″ hex axles. Most axles are made from plain steel. The vast majority of axle types are spring retained on one end, but may also be pin retained so that the roller may be locked into place with the use of retaining pins.

  • Identifying Axle Retention
    • Spring Retained
      • Determine the axle retention by pressing one end of the axle in; if the axle pushes in, it is spring retained on the
        opposite end.
      • Repeat this process on the other end of the axle, if the axle reacts the same it is dual spring retained.
      • If the roller has sprockets or grooves it is important to identify which end the spring is on.
    • Pin Retained
      • Pin retained axles will have holes in the ends of the axles to insert the pins. When the pins are removed the axle
        can be removed.
      • Identify the type of pin. Our standard options include the cotter pin and hog pin.

Pin Retention for Conveyor Rollers

 

    • Not Retained
      • A plain axle will not have any type of retention. No pins or springs will be holding the axle in place.

  • Axle Length

    • For a proper fit, you will also need to know your axle’s overall length and extensions. Use a tape measure to measure from the end of one axle to the other to get overall length, and for axle extension (how far the axle sticks out from the bearing on each end) measure from end of the bearing to the end of the axle. This must be done on both sides as the axle extension might be different on each end. Measure to the nearest 1/32″.

Bearings

Non-precision bearings are standard for most rollers in conveyor roller replacement projects. These are free rolling bearings and are cost effective. Greased packed bearings are normally used for power conveyor applications or harsh environments. Precision ABEC 1 bearings are used when noise levels are a concern or when the rollers will be required to travel at a high speed.

Ultimation gravity conveyor

 

Replacement conveyor rollers are a viable method of prolonging the life of your conveying system. Ordering replacement rollers is an easy process when you can provide the above information. However, there are many instances where you may not have access to all of the information needed. In any situation, please do not hesitate to call Ultimation Industries at 586-771-1881. We can walk you through the process, and help ensure you get the right rollers as quickly as possible.

Need help learning about other conveyor types, which types to use and how to specify them? This step by step guide will help.