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Where it Started

In the heart of the Bluegrass State, innovation is not just a concept; it’s a way of life. And at Span Tech, we take pride in leading the charge of ingenuity in manufacturing. There were many unknowns during the pandemic, but Span Tech helped ensure that the supply chain remained priority and that operations for many industries continued.

Baby Formula Shortage

The Outrunner Spiral was pivotal during the baby formula shortage of 2022-23, ultimately helping to save countless infants’ lives across the nation.

An emergency facility was granted and approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Our participation in this project required direct communication with White House officials.

This project was rapidly produced in a 6-week timeline with 4 Outrunner Spirals made for the facility and is now operating in the first infant formula plant built in the last 25 years in the United States.

“What we do allows us to give back to the community in many ways. Working on the baby formula line during the shortage provided a great sense of accomplishment for our team as we believed we made a direct impact,” said Aaron Woosley, Span Tech CFO. “Shortly thereafter we had a fundraiser with a local charity to purchase, what else, baby formula. Full circle!”

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Now, Span Tech is calling on the support of its community, customers, and supporters to help secure victory in the “Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky” contest. By casting your votes for the Outrunner Spiral, you can show your appreciation for innovation that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

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“Span Tech is honored to be a part of the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky’ contest and to showcase the impact of our Outrunner Spiral,” said Thomas Bratcher, Regional Applications Manager.

“It was an honor to help in such an important project.”

Understanding the Risks of Ignoring OSHA Conveyor Safety Standards: Identifying Conveyor Hazards

Before we can safeguard against risks, it is crucial to identify them. Conveyor systems, though efficient, come with their own set of hazards. These include risks like:

• Entanglement in moving parts
• Injuries from sharp edges
• Accidents due to improper use or lack of emergency control

Understanding these hazards is the first step in mitigating them, and OSHA’s guidelines provide a comprehensive roadmap for this purpose.

The Importance of Safety in Industrial Settings:

In industrial settings, where the pace of work is relentless and the machinery robust, overlooking safety protocols can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. This grim possibility highlights the paramount importance of OSHA conveyor safety standards in such environments. By implementing these standards, businesses not only comply with legal requirements but also foster a culture of safety that protects their most valuable asset – their employees.

At Span Tech, we recognize the critical nature of these risks and offer an array of standard conveyors designed with safety in mind. Our products are engineered to minimize the common hazards associated with conveyor systems, thereby aligning with OSHA’s vision of a safer workplace.

OSHA Conveyor Safety Standards

Implementing OSHA Standards in the Workplace

Implementing OSHA conveyor safety standards into daily operations is a multifaceted task. It involves training personnel, regularly inspecting and maintaining equipment, and staying updated with any changes in OSHA regulations. For companies to effectively manage this, a systematic approach towards safety education and equipment handling must be established.

Strategies for Maintaining Compliance:

To maintain compliance with OSHA warehouse rules and regulations, businesses need to develop a culture of safety. This includes regular training sessions for employees, routine safety audits, and ensuring that all conveyor equipment, like those offered by Span Tech, meets the latest safety standards. By proactively addressing these areas, businesses can ensure a safer working environment and reduce the likelihood of OSHA violations.

Span Tech offers a wealth of resources and expertise to help businesses align with OSHA standards. By consulting with Span Tech, companies can gain insights into the latest safety features and innovations in conveyor technology, ensuring their systems are not only efficient but also compliant with OSHA’s stringent safety requirements. Span Tech’s commitment to safety, as showcased in our drive to promote warehouse conveyor safety standards, makes us an ideal partner in achieving a safe and compliant workplace.

Enhancing Safety with Span Tech Solutions

Span Tech’s range of conveyor solutions is meticulously designed to meet and exceed OSHA conveyor safety standards. With a focus on innovation and safety, Span Tech offers a diverse array of standard conveyors that cater to various industrial needs while ensuring compliance with the stringent OSHA regulations. This alignment with OSHA standards is not by chance but through a commitment to providing safe and efficient conveyor solutions.

Every industrial setting has its unique challenges and requirements. We understand this and offer custom solutions that address specific safety concerns. Whether it’s incorporating advanced guarding options or designing conveyors with specific height clearance for walkways, Span Tech’s ability to tailor solutions ensures that your conveyor system is as safe as it is productive.

Continuous Innovation for Safety Improvement:

At Span Tech, the journey towards safety is ongoing. The company continually innovates and updates its product line to reflect the latest safety technologies and OSHA conveyor guarding standards. This commitment to continuous improvement means that when you choose Span Tech, you’re not just getting a conveyor system; you’re getting a future-proof solution that prioritizes safety.

Frequently Asked Questions About OSHA Conveyor Safety Standards

What are the Safety Hazards of Conveyors?

Conveyor systems, while pivotal in industrial operations, present various safety hazards. The most common risks include:

• Entanglement: Workers can get clothes, limbs, or hair caught in moving parts of the conveyor, leading to serious injuries.
• Falls and Slips: Conveyor areas often have loose materials or spills that can cause falls or slips, especially near loading and unloading zones.
• Impact Injuries: Items falling from conveyors or the sudden starting and stopping of conveyor belts can lead to impact injuries.
• Electrical Hazards: Improperly installed or maintained conveyors can pose electrical risks, especially in wet or damp conditions.
• Noise: Prolonged exposure to the noise from conveyor systems can impact hearing.

OSHA’s conveyor safety standards, such as proper guarding, emergency stop mechanisms, and safe walkway clearance, are designed to mitigate these risks.

What Are the OSHA Regulations for Conveyor Systems?

OSHA’s regulations for conveyor systems are comprehensive and are primarily aimed at ensuring worker safety. Key components of these OSHA conveyor safety standards include:

• Emergency Stop Systems: Conveyors must have easily accessible emergency stop mechanisms to halt operations in case of danger.
• Guarding: Moving parts such as belts and pulleys must be guarded to prevent worker contact with pinch points and rotating parts.
• Walkway Clearance: Adequate head clearance and width must be maintained along walkways near conveyors to prevent head injuries and allow for safe passage.
• Regular Inspections: Conveyors should be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are in safe working condition.
• Training: Workers must be adequately trained on the safe operation and potential hazards associated with conveyor systems.

What Is Warehouse Safety?

Warehouse safety rules are the guidelines and best practices that help ensure a safe environment for workers and reinforce safe behavior. The health and safety of your employees must be a high priority for your business.

8 Ways to Promote Conveyor Safety Standards in Your Warehouse

Your company likely has conveyor safety standards in place, but are you doing everything you can to make sure that your managers and employees know and follow those standards?

Below, we are highlighting eight simple steps your company can take to help promote warehouse conveyor safety standards in your facility.

1. Train Employees on Conveyor Safety Standards

Conveyor safety training is one of the easiest and best ways to promote warehouse rules and standards. Any employees who work around or on the conveyor system must be trained in conveyor safety rules and procedures. Topics covered during training should include the following:

• How to safely operate the conveyor system
• What to do in the event of an emergency
• What to wear (and not wear) when working on a conveyor

3. Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Conveyor Systems and Facility

Regular safety inspections of your conveyor system, conducted by a qualified technician, are important to maintain conveyor safety standards and keep all your warehouse employees safe. All belts, motors, pulleys and other moving components of your conveyor system should be inspected. Any damaged parts must be fixed or replaced as quickly as possible.

Regular cleaning of your conveyor system is also important, as it removes dirt and debris that can affect performance and create a safety hazard.

4. Keep Your Facility Clean and Organized

Allowing your warehouse to become cluttered and messy creates a safety issue, especially if there is clutter or mess near any moving conveyor systems. Managing inventory and ensuring walkways and exit routes are clear of clutter and mess will go a long way toward promoting warehouse safety.

6. Form A Safety Committee

Pull members from various departments to work together to brainstorm ideas for making your warehouse a safer place and to promote safety measures among the other employees.

7. Keep Records

Every warehouse and conveyor system should undergo regular inspections and maintenance. Records tracking those actions must be kept to ensure conveyor safety standards are being met.

8. Choose the Right Conveyor Systems for Your Facility

The conveyor you choose for your warehouse must be appropriate for the type of work you will be doing and the materials you’ll be moving on the conveyor system. You must also account for the size and layout of your facility to make sure the conveyor system fits safely and allows workers to move around.

Depending on the size and layout of your facility, you may need standard conveyors, a curve conveyor or a straight conveyor to safely move materials around your facility.

What Is Conveyor Belt Tracking?

Conveyor belt tracking is the process of aligning and controlling a conveyor belt so that it follows the desired path. Tracking is a process of adjusting idlers, pulleys and loading conditions to adjust and fix any tendency of the belt to run any way other than intended.

How to Fix Conveyor Belt Tracking

When tracking conveyor belts, there are steps you can take to maintain your conveyor belts as well as steps you should take when there are issues with conveyor tracking. The following tips are things to watch for if you are having trouble with conveyor belt alignment.

Make Sure The Conveyor Frame Is Level and Square

A large percentage of conveyor belt tracking issues are caused by the track being out of level or square. If your conveyor is out of level or square, the belt will move to one side or the other.

Using a standard level, you can quickly check your conveyor system’s levelness. It’s important to check both the pulleys and the frames for levelness. To check that your conveyor bed is square, snap dimensions from one corner to the opposite corner on each side of the conveyor belt. The measurements should be equal. If they are not, squaring rods on the bottom of the conveyor can be used to pull the frame into alignment.

Confirm the End Pulleys Are Square

Sometimes conveyor belt installers will steer the end pulley to track the conveyor belt. Unfortunately, this can make the problem worse. Instead, use the snub rollers or idlers to track the belt, as intended.

Check for Any Debris in Your System

It’s important to inspect conveyor belts for not just mechanical issues, but also cleanliness. If tape or other debris builds up on one or both of the end pulleys, it can lead to a crown or a raised portion on the pulley. This will result in problems with conveyor belt tracking.

Ensure Your Conveyor Belt Has Been Cut Straight

Problems with your conveyor tracking may be a result of manufacturing defects. During the manufacturing process, the belts can be cut improperly leaving a curvature or arc. If you have reason to think this may be the problem, remove the belt and lay it out flat to see if it looks straight.

What Is a Conveyor Belt System?

A conveyor belt system is a quick and efficient mechanical handling device that moves materials from one place to another. There are various types of conveyor systems, but they typically include a frame to support a set of wheels, conveyor rollers or a belt. Materials are set on top to move them from place to place. A conveyor belt may be powered manually, by gravity or, most commonly, with the help of a motor. There are many different kinds of conveyor belt systems, each tailored to execute a specific task.

Benefits of Conveyor Systems

When people move heavy items, it takes longer, costs more and increases the likelihood of personal injury. Industrial conveyor systems are faster at moving products from one place to the next. They can span multiple levels, efficiently moving items from one floor to another. And conveyor belts can unload materials automatically, eliminating the need for a person to wait at the end of the line to offload the products.

How Conveyor Belt Systems Work

In a typical conveyor belt system, a belt forms a closed loop and stretches across two or more pulleys. This enables it to rotate continually. One of the pulleys (the drive pulley) moves the items from one place to another. While traditional conveyor belt systems are straight, some units require turns to deliver the product to their destination. In these cases, cone-shaped wheels or rotors are used to enable the belt to follow a turn without tangling.

Common Conveyor System Parts

Conveyor systems have essential parts that enable them to operate properly. These parts will vary depending on the types of product being moved and how the system is being used. However, there are three main parts to every industrial conveyor system:

How to Choose the Right Industrial Conveyor System

Before deciding on what type of conveyor system is right for your application, there are three major factors to consider:

1. Material: This is the most crucial consideration when choosing a conveyor belt system. Think about the size, moisture content and whether the material you are moving flows or is abrasive/corrosive. Another consideration is whether the material needs to maintain a specific temperature. What is the composition of your material? Is it a powder or granule, pellet or fiber? Particle weight, density and size are also things you will need to take into account.
2. Function: Is this a conveying or feeding process? Conveying is transporting materials from a pick-up point to a drop-off point. If so, you’ll need to know the number of points, the amount of material, the amount of time it should take and whether there will be a problem if cross-contamination occurs. Feeding is the more straightforward of these conveyor systems, requiring a straight pick-up to drop-off point. The product may need to be delivered in batches or at a controlled rate.
3. Environment: Where is the facility located? Will you encounter high temperatures/humidity, pressure or vibrations? Are you working with fragile materials? If you use flammable or hazardous materials, potential risks and workarounds need to be assessed. The conveyor system’s size in relation to the workspace and other equipment is another consideration.

Let’s Reconnect at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

After the past year, we can’t wait to connect personally. Packaging Expo Vegas is an invaluable opportunity to network, research and experience the latest package conveyor technology upfront and in person. At Span Tech, we are family, and we want to create that same special relationship with you.

We’ll show you what sets us apart from other packaging conveyor belt companies and how we provide superior packaging conveyors for the following industries:

PACK EXPO 2021 In-Booth Demonstrations & Giveaways

At the Span Tech conveyor company booth, we will demonstrate our NEWEST fixed & adjustable guide rail product: EZGUIDE™. Eliminate packaging conveyor safety concerns and product changeover times with this innovative new guide rail. This material handling technology revolutionizes the way you look at and use standard guide rail. And the universal bracket allows for installation on ANY automated conveyor belt.

Let us show you what makes the EZGUIDE™ adjustable package conveyor guide rail so special — and every participant in the EZGUIDE™ demonstration walks away with a free giveaway!

Other packaging conveyor systems products will be demonstrated, including:

PACK EXPO Innovation Stage Presentation

1. Your Food-Grade Conveyor Must Be Sanitary

Although this should go without saying, any food-grade conveyor you use must be sanitized throughout the day for optimal food contamination prevention. That means the right conveyor for food processing should be easy to clean with parts that are easily accessible. We recommend food-grade conveyor systems such as wire mesh belt conveyors made from stainless steel or sanitary washdown conveyor systems.

2. Food-Grade Conveyor Systems Should Have Excellent Durability

No matter how small or large your food-grade conveyor is, it should be rugged enough to handle multiple types of food processing applications. This is especially important when production involves significant volumes of material handling. The last thing you want is for any conveyor equipment to suddenly malfunction after many years of reliable service. To avoid this, make sure you order your system from trusted food-grade conveyor belt manufacturers like Span Tech.

3. A Food-Grade Conveyor Must Meet Regulations

Not only should your food-grade conveyor belt material be sanitary to handle various types of products, it must also be compatible with regulations involving the FDA, USDA, BISSC and CE. Otherwise, you may face legal challenges which can put a halt to your production. Fortunately, Span Tech has you covered with microspan transfer conveyor systems and much more industrial equipment that satisfies the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

4. Food-Grade Conveyor Systems Should Minimize Costs

A great food-grade conveyor system is capable of moving large quantities of food products at all times. If any aspect of operations gets bogged down, this can lead to unwanted manufacturing or production downtime. Ultimately, this will cut into your profits as less volume of your products will leave the warehouse on time. This can also tarnish your reputation with vendors which can be even more catastrophic. Be sure to only use an automated conveyor system that is fully operational and optimized to your specific food processing needs.

Food-Grade Conveyors & Food Processing

Food processing conveyor belts are helpful for various functions in the food and beverage industries. They ensure the swift and accurate delivery of items for further processing or packaging. For most industries, every food item must pass through the conveyor belt. This means it is easy to contaminate an entire production batch if the conveyor is not adequately clean.

The big concern then is, how do you effectively clean this equipment? Unfortunately, it is not so easy to clean conveyor belts. For most companies, their cleaning techniques do not produce optimal results every time.

Things To Consider Regarding Conveyor Belt Cleaning & Disinfection

There are various regulations concerning food processing conveyor belts. And the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) has guidelines for food conveyor belts as well. These regulations aim to ensure total food safety and hygiene. Your conveyor belt maintenance manual should also have some helpful information.

However, there are various things to keep in mind before opting for a standard cleaning method. The following can also help determine how frequently you should clean your conveyor belt.

Cleaning and disinfecting food-grade conveyor systems is not only about hygiene. There are other mechanical advantages as well. Some early signs or markers that will indicate the extent of your conveyor cleaning needs include the following:

Conveyor Belt Cleaning & Disinfecting Methods for Food-Grade Conveyor Systems

Conveyor systems, like easy clean food-grade conveyors, are designed and adapted for heavy washdowns. They make it possible to achieve optimal sanitation efficiently and safely. A new technology involves the use of an autonomous tensioner and provides more efficient and cleaner tensioning.

There are various conveyor belt cleaning methods. The level of contamination and type of food conveyor often determine the method used.

Manual Cleaning Methods

You can clean your food-grade conveyor belt using some manual methods. These include:

Manual cleaning is labor-intensive and consumes a lot of time. Thus, it could delay production and reduce the company’s productivity. For these reasons, it might not be the best cleaning method. It is an affordable method, though. So, it could be effective for small food processing companies.

There is another limitation to manual cleaning, however. It might be impossible to reach some parts of the conveyor belt. In order to reach these inaccessible parts, you may need to fully dismantle the equipment, which is certainly not ideal.

Some of the tools you might require for manual cleaning include a water brush, brush cleaner, a roller and a wash box.

Semi-Automatic Cleaning Methods

Cleaning can be semi-automated. More extensive processing plants commonly undertake it. With this method, some parts of the cleaning process are automated while other operations are done manually. The automated aspects include dry vacuuming, spraying and rinsing. Brushing and scraping are manual operations in semi-automated cleaning.

Semi-automated cleaning is considerably faster than pure manual cleaning. It is, however, still laborious and time-consuming for larger processing plants. You could also need some of the materials mentioned in manual cleaning. This includes the cleaning brushes and wash box.

Fully Automatic Cleaning Methods

As you can see, there was a definite need to find a cleaning method for food processing conveyor belts — this ideal technique needed to reduce equipment downtime and be cost-effective. Automatic conveyor belt cleaning uses a mechanism called a clean-in-place (CIP) system. It is less laborious, ensures safety and reduces downtime.

Some belts use compressed air. This installation permits sustained airflow through the belt. It is an expensive method but quite effective. The return on investment (ROI) is quite reasonable as it drastically reduces spillage and ensures optimized production.

How To Clean A Belt with Dry Steam and CIP

For better results, you can combine dry steam with CIP to clean a food-grade conveyor. Dry steam has just 5% moisture content in superheated steam. This has a remarkable sanitizing effect that will rid your belt of oil, soil and other contaminants.

Using a CIP dry steam cleaner technique conserves a lot of water. Unlike the usually wet steam, dry steam saves you up to 98% water with a steam temperature of 290 °F. Therefore, there is no hiding place for microbes to go. The belt also dries almost immediately.

What Is Warehouse Automation?

Moving inventory into, within and out of warehouses and then delivering to customers with little-to-no human assistance is referred to as warehouse automation. Businesses that implement an automated warehouse system into their operations can neutralize labor-intensive assignments that involve manual data entry and analysis, as well as repetitive physical work.

A real-world example of automation in action is when a warehouse employee loads an autonomous mobile robot with heavy and cumbersome packages. The robot then moves the inventory from one end of the warehouse to the other, with the inventory’s final destination being the shipping zone.

During the transport of inventory, software records the movement of the supplies, keeping all records current. Consequently, the utilization of these robots helps to improve the speed, reliability, accuracy and frequency of this task.

An automated warehouse begins with a warehouse management system (WMS), data collection and inventory control. Despite having considerable upfront costs, the immediate and long-term benefits are well worth it.

By incorporating robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) integration onto the warehouse floor, you’ll reduce human error and improve overall operations. The incredible benefits and exciting future of warehouse automation know no bounds.

Automated Warehouse Systems

An automated warehouse system or automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) is a GTP technology that uses vehicles, carousels and cranes to efficiently move inventory throughout the warehouse to warehouse storage locations.

Automated Distribution

Automated distribution includes all systems in place to create increased efficiency within a warehouse related to distribution.

What Are the Current Warehouse Automation Trends?

Here are the current automation trends that are beginning to surface in warehousing worldwide in an attempt to keep up with technological advances and growing demand.

Why Should Companies Use an OutRunner Spiral Conveyor?

If you’d like to update the conveyor system in your facility, there are three main reasons to include an OutRunner Spiral in your production flow:

Changing elevation of a product is probably the top reason customers purchase the OutRunner Spiral and other spiral conveyors. These systems give you the ability to go from one elevation to another with a relatively small footprint and without the need for special automation. Spirals are unique for this as they are literally just conveyors formed into helical shapes. If your product can be transported at an incline on a standard conveyor, it can also be inclined with the OutRunner Spiral conveyor.

Some products require time to rest for various reasons — bread dough needs time to rise (proof), some glues or chemical reactions need time to cure and other products need time to cool off or dry after being baked, washed or cooked. Like the OutRunner Spiral system, a spiral elevator allows for a very large amount of product to be temporarily held while still being on the production line.

Because the OutRunner Spiral conveyor and other spiral systems can hold a large amount of product, they are sometimes used for product accumulation. However, most spirals are not good solutions for that because once a product enters a spiral, it must travel all the way to the exit before it can re-enter the production line. Almost all spirals are “FIFO” (First In, First Out) and are not designed to run in their opposite direction. There are specialty spiral applications designed for this sort of thing, but they are very large and extremely costly.

What are the Advantages of the OutRunner Spiral?

Compared to other changing elevation solutions at Span Tech, there are many advantages of the OutRunner Spiral worth exploring. However, the top two benefits are in the system’s overall flexibility and robustness.