Conveyor Systems

StreamTech system engineers are expert in the specification and development of robust conveyor system concepts that add value to our customers' operations with minimum cost and maximum flexibility. We use advanced design software and tools to allow us to quickly concept and communicate system designs faster and more effectively, allowing you to share more easily between your team and ours and thus drive to a suitable solution.

We have a minimalist, simplistic approach that is kind of a 'zero based budgeting' process for conveying systems. Every inch should be justified based on what value it adds to your business! In fact, for many clients we recommend only small 'slands' of conveyor or sometimes none at all. We feel that this sets us apart from many of the conveyor-focused firms in our industry. The best conveyor system design starts with an analysis of the value-adding functions and associated labor, and it groups and ties those functions together in a fluid way that enables your operation to perform at peak efficiency. Accumulation conveyor, sometimes overused today, is needed where peaks and valleys of adjacent or parallel operations cannot be synchronized and some buffering is required. A few common methodologies are described below.

Pick and Pass Systems are useful where orders have a lot of lines and have to visit many zones in the warehouse. So the order is routed from zone to zone, adding content until it is complete. An advantage of a Pick and Pass system is that it does not require consolidation prior to shipment. Pick and Pass systems often benefit from intelligent conveyor routing systems so that every order does not have to transit the entire warehouse. Limitations of Pick and Pass are susceptibility to hidden errors and the need to inspect all the contents of an order to ensure quality.

In a Wave Picking System, portions of orders are picked in parallel and the partial orders are sent to a consolidation area (the shipping dock may be used for consolidation). Consolidation requirements can add or detract from the functionality of a wave pick system. Sometimes consolidation can be provided by the parcel carrier. Lots of consolidation handling can be a negative and detract from the benefits. Also peaks and valleys of activity as orders are released can result in low labor utilization and overloading of consolidation or shipping sorters. Wave picking systems can offer a quick response to orders as the tote or shipper does not have to transit the warehouse. If product is in full case form and/or packaged at zone discharge, this method can provide excellent results.

Cross Docking Systems

In a perfect world, you would keep zero inventory. Some Cross Docking operations are this lucky that items being received today can also ship today, although sometimes special compliance labeling and sorting is required. StreamTech can provide the necessary intelligence to your existing conveyor system or provide a new one to allow you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sort-to-Pack Systems. With a small, consistent product form factor, a simple conveyor system and sortation, leveraging directed picking technologies, it may be possible to operate your facility in a true "pull" fashion. The "Goal" of every Lean pilgrimage since Alex Rogo's. The bottleneck (often the pack-out process) is used to pace the entire operation. As orders are completed and shipped, this triggers more orders providing for a fluid, easy to manage system. A side benefit is that the automatic sortation typically provides 100% automated quality control.