C MThe construction industry relies on a wide range of equipment and machinery to allow efficient operations to take place. There is a need to move bulk goods and materials safely and efficiently across working sites. For example, trucks may be used to transport heavy goods to specific locations, and heavy-duty lifting equipment is commonly used to erect structures that form the basis of buildings. One key piece of construction equipment is a conveyor. This article focuses on this vital form of machinery, with an explanation of what it is and some of the key benefits that using a conveyor can bring to your construction firm.
How do conveyors work?
A conveyor is a piece of heavy machinery tasked with moving materials in bulk from point A to point B. They are recognized as a safe and effective way of moving high volumes of materials without the need for a large labor force, thus saving time and money. Typically, a belt or roller system is used to move the material. This surface is made from durable materials, allowing it to cope with heavy loads and a consistent flow of materials over extended periods. Conveyors may be stationary (if they are a permanent part of an industrial operation), but in the construction sector, they tend to be mounted on tracks or wheels to enable them to move around the site.
Benefits of conveyors
Conveyors are used extensively across many forms of construction and in a range of different projects. The main benefits of using such equipment will now be explored.
Reducing labor costs
It is estimated that labor costs typically range between 25% to 35% of the total construction project cost. This can rise to as much as 60% of the total project costs in larger projects. Conveyors, along with other heavy machinery can reduce the need for high numbers of staff on site. Consider that conveyors need to be operated with only one worker who will start the process and monitor the materials that are being moved. Many conveyor systems can move hundreds of tonnes of material per hour. If human workers manually undertook this same operation, it would take far longer to achieve, increasing labor costs significantly. There would also be the risk of injury to the workforce as they would be required to undertake repetitive heavy lifting work at speed. In short, conveyors represent an efficient and safe way to move bulk materials across a project site.
Conveyors and sustainability
In an age where the construction industry needs to adopt more sustainable working practices, conveyors can play their part to help. By using conveyors on a construction site, other vehicles are no longer needed to move goods in bulk from point A to point B. Typically, this would have required the use of large trucks that were only tasked with moving the materials over relatively short distances. The CO2 produced by such vehicles is often far higher than that of modern conveyors, especially those that use energy-efficient motors and control systems that minimize energy usage while the machinery operates.
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