Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors Make Moving Materials Effortless
When you need to move materials from one level to another, you have several options, including forklifts, elevators, and of course, manpower. However, one of the most affordable and reliable ways is with a vertical material lift from Wildeck. A vertical reciprocating conveyor, also known as VRC, is an enclosed lifting mechanism that allows you to move materials between floors with minimal effort and risks. Here is a closer look at why your facility needs material lifts and what types of vertical reciprocating lifts are available.
Benefits of Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors
VRCs are one of the best ways to move materials between elevations. They can be used to move items to an upper floor, or multiple floors onto a mezzanine, or from an existing level down to a lower basement level. They are ideal for this application for many reasons:
- They Are Cost Effective – They are much less expensive upfront than elevators and forklifts. They also require much less maintenance.
- They Are Safe – Using a vertical reciprocating conveyor is one of the safest ways to move materials between levels. You don’t have the injury risks that forklifts bring, and you don’t have to worry about workman’s comp claims from your workers having to manually move the materials.
- They Are Easy – Vertical material lifts are very simple to operate, and since they are classified as a material conveyor, there is no additional training required by OSHA, so anyone can use them.
Material Lift Options:
From pallets to boxes to carts, there are many types of materials that can be moved using vertical conveyor systems. However, the type of VRC you use will depend on what you need to move. There are two main types of material lifts: mechanical and hydraulic.
- Mechanical – Mechanical vertical lifts provide a smooth, fast, continuous operation for transferring materials between levels. They can lift loads ranging from 100 to 30,000 pounds at a rate of 28 feet per minute, and they can go up to 150 feet high. The mechanical lift is the preferred lift for applications that have continuous operation, high cycles, high speeds, high capacity, or have to access multiple levels. They do cost more upfront than a hydraulic lift, but they require less maintenance over time.
- Hydraulic – Simpler to operate with lower upfront costs, hydraulic vertical reciprocating conveyors can haul loads ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 pounds. They can go up to 19 feet high at a rate of 20 feet per minute. The hydraulic lift is a more cost-effective solution for standard applications moving pallets, carts or containers between two floors.
If you want to move materials in a safe, cost-effective way, Wildeck’s vertical reciprocating conveyors are the answer. At A-Lined Handling Systems, we can help you create the ideal material lift configuration for your load, speed, and height requirements. To learn more, contact us today.