6 Signs You Need a VRC
Want to raise your material handling game? A vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) provides safe and efficient lifting of materials of almost any weight and size between multiple levels in your facility—without the hassle and expense of a full elevator installation. Here are some signs it’s time to upgrade your facility with a VRC.
1. Accidents or Near Misses
If you’ve had a recent near miss or suffered an accident, then you’re probably looking at alternatives to your existing lifting equipment. Moving materials between levels brings the risk of trips, falls, or loads falling onto workers.
No matter your material lifting application, VRCs are always designed to prioritize the safety of your staff.
2. Pinch Point Pile-Ups
Stacks of materials piled up waiting to be moved is a classic sign your lifting solution is letting you down. It means you should probably rethink how you’re using your space because storing materials where they don’t belong is a potential safety risk.
VRCs provide a smart, scalable, and surprisingly affordable solution for getting materials where they need to be.
3. Damaged Materials
If your materials are getting damaged while being moved or while waiting to be moved then it’s time to get a handle on your transfer solutions. Moving goods more than necessary or using old equipment increases the chance of damaging your products or supplies. That’s an avoidable expense that adds up.
VRCs help keep your materials moving and have multiple safety measures in place to protect your products while they are in transit.
4. Unused Space
Warehouse space is at a premium these days and unused space is costing you money. If you have unused or under-utillized space that you cannot reach with your existing equipment, then it’s time to look at a VRC.
VRCs are designed specifically for your space and will allow you to make the most of your building’s footprint by providing access to hard-to-reach spaces.
5. Maxed-Out Equipment
Material handling equipment such as scissor lifts, hoists, cranes, and forklifts all have speed, capacity, and reach limitations. Worse, overburdened equipment is a serious safety hazard.
VRCs offer a fully customized solution capable of moving materials of almost any weight, shape, and size, safely and efficiently.
6. High Maintenance and Repair Costs
Some material handling equipment have higher “carrying” costs than others due to frequency of inspection, maintenance, and/or certifications. These costs can become burdensome, especially if your equipment is not safely meeting your material handling needs.
If your equipment maintenance and repair costs are adding up, installing a VRC can help reduce those costs while improving your operational efficiency and increasing workplace safety.
Why a VRC?
Vertical reciprocating conveyors are a safe and economical way to move materials between floor levels in factories, warehouses, distribution facilities, industrial plants, institutions, or anywhere that materials need to be moved from one level to another.
VRCs offer an optimized solution that can:
- Move materials between multiple floor levels safely and easily
- Lift loads far heavier than can be raised by other equipment
- Lift more material at once than other handling solutions
Since VRCs move only materials and not people, they can be installed in places where elevators cannot. This allows you to add significant lifting capacity and open up more floor space without the certifications, inspections, and costs of installing a people-moving elevator.
Why PFlow Industries?
PFlow Industries is the leading manufacturer VRC equipment for a wide range of industries. We specialize in designing VRC solutions that fit your specific material handling application, whether you need to incorporate a VRC into your existing space or are including one as part of new construction.
Our mechanical and hydraulic lifts are customized to fit your exact needs and feature advanced, patented safety features to protect both workers and materials. What’s more, PFlow VRCs are less costly to install, operate, or maintain than an elevator.
Whether you’re an end-user looking to improve your material moving capacity or a material handling equipment dealer looking for a better solution for your clients, click below to learn how a PFlow VRC can help you elevate your material handling game.