Let’s talk pallet / palletizing / pallet handling conveyors!

Okay, so ya’ll know I have grown up in this industry. That usually means that I am all up on the jargon, but that isn’t always the case. Take for example, “pallet conveyors.” There are three main types of conveyor that someone who calls up and wants to talk to me about pallet conveyors could be meaning, and boy, do you need some context clues… My mind usually goes to the FlexLink X85 pallet system. But that is because the first pallet conveyor I built was, yeah, you guessed it: an X85 pallet system. So, I haven’t even been clear in my own wording. Fun. Anyway, I figured this would be a pretty good topic to explore since we do offer pallet conveyors, palletizing conveyors, and pallet handling conveyors.

You would really think those things would mean the same thing, wouldn’t you? But no. That would be too easy.

But that’s okay. I am here for you, and for me, because I screw this up too…

Pallet Conveyor

First up, we are gonna explore the pallet conveyor. This bad boy is all about getting your pallets (the big wooden or plastic ones, not to be confused with the small metal or plastic ones) from point A to point B. You know, like the loading dock to a storage area, or from a storage area to a production line. Pallet conveyors typically consist of a series of rollers or a chain-driven system that moves the pallets along a set path. They are often used where pallets need to be moved quickly and efficiently. Like in a warehouse or manufacturing facilitie. They’re like the highway of the material handling world. Simple, reliable, and always ready to get the job done. Titan Industries is one of our popular choices.

Palletizing Conveyor

Next, we have the palletizing conveyor. It’s designed to transport products to a palletizing station where they can be stacked onto a pallet. Palletizing conveyors typically use a belt or roller system to transport the products to the palletizing station. They may also include features such as sensors or scales to automate the palletizing process. Palletizing conveyors are often used in applications where products need to be palletized in an organized and efficient manner, such as in distribution centers or manufacturing facilities. A well-planned palletizing conveyor is a work of art (but don’t tell the guys in engineering I said that). We can use product from partners like mk North America for these applications.

Pallet Handling Conveyor

Last, but not least, we have the pallet handling conveyor. These are what I grew up thinking were called pallet conveyors.  They carry smaller pallets, so not the big wooden ones, through work cells. These conveyors are typically used in manufacturing and assembly processes. They transport small pallets or workpieces from one work cell to another to create assemblies. Pallet handling conveyors are often designed with modular construction. Which allows for easy customization and reconfiguration to fit the specific needs of the application. They can include features such as accumulation zones, lift and transfer units, merge and divert units, and a variety of sensors to optimize material flow and improve efficiency. Since they are generally modular, there are a bunch of different types and the best fit is determined by your product and process. FlexLink has a lot of great pallet handling systems.

So there you have it, folks. Pallet conveyors, palletizing conveyors, and pallet handling conveyors each have their own unique strengths and specialties. Whether you need to transport big pallets from point A to point B, provide products to a palletizer or stack products onto a pallet with precision, or handle small pallets through work cells,  we have a conveyor that’s perfect for the job.

And now we know the difference!