Conveyor belts might not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about inventions that have changed the world but since their rise to prominence within industry.
So much so in fact, that there are several industries that simply wouldn’t exist without this load-bearing legend of manufacture. Let’s take a look at some of the modern industries that owe their thanks to this marvel of engineering.
Sustaining the Worldwide Shipping Industry
The worldwide shipping industry is a mighty, dominating force to be reckoned with and estimates suggest that its value might well surpass the $1 trillion mark in 2020. There are at this very moment more than 50,000 ships plying our oceans delivering the goods and merchandise that we rely on for our daily existence.
It’s an interesting thought then, that this colossal industry might simply grind to a halt were it not for the humble conveyor belt. In the shipping industry, conveyor belts are responsible for moving goods from warehouses directly onto ships in port and raw materials, and aggregates are one of their frequent passengers.
Anchoring up in port is costly for a ship, downtime is wasted time so getting loaded up quickly and moving on again is the aim. Conveyors reduce harbour time by loading ships quickly allowing immense volumes of produce and goods to pass through busy ports on a daily basis.
Depended on by Warehousing & Delivery
These days, consumers are accustomed to ordering products online to be delivered almost instantly. Warehousing and delivery as we have come to know it simply would not be possible without the load-carrying capacity of the humble conveyor belt. In terms of manpower, a conveyor belt has the ability to carry out the work of an army, dramatically reducing the time your parcel sits on the sorting shelf of a warehouse and distribution centre.
With improved delivery times and increased workload capacities, conveyor belts are the backbone of the warehousing and delivery industry allowing our high expectations as consumers to be met week in, week out.
Visit fluentconveyors.com and find out more about how a custom-designed conveyor belt can help transform your business with an improved ability to handle high-capacity orders.
The Backbone of the Automotive World
As Henry Ford popularized the idea of car ownership for the people in the late 19th century, he recognized the need for efficient and repetitive production lines and the world caught its first glimpse of the conveyor belt. Since then, conveyors have been a central aspect to the world of car production and manufacture, in turn allowing steady streams of work to flow into the hands of mechanics and engineers. In essence, the car industry simply wouldn’t exist without the conveyor belt.
As can be seen, the conveyor belt, while unassuming, and perhaps often overlooked in favor of more impressive machinery, plays a vital role in supporting several key industries in the modern world. Shipping, warehousing and cars wouldn’t have achieved even half of the success that they have without the input of conveyor belts upon modern industry.
