Businesses and organizations that have explored their material handling options and decide to purchase a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) expect to see some optimization in their daily workflows. However, it’s not until after installation that they are able to fully appreciate the extent of the improvements in efficiency, safety and ease of use.
To ensure long-term safety and reliability of your VRC, here are some important tips to keep in mind:
User Training
Prior to operating a VRC, staff should be trained how to safely operate the machine. First and foremost, VRCs are not designed or intended to transport people. They are classified as conveyors under ASME B20.1, the Safety Standard For Conveyors And Related Equipment.
Other points to include in user training are:
- Never load a VRC beyond its posted weight limit.
- Safety gates, drop bars, and other safety features are in place to prevent harm to both people and materials. Never attempt to disable or bypass these features.
- If your VRC will not operate, learn to look for easily identifiable faults, such as a gate that is not fully closed.
Regular Inspections and Maintenance Are Key
Although PFlow VRCs are engineered to withstand the most rigorous use, like any other machinery, wear is inevitable so it is critical to follow our recommended visual inspection and preventive maintenance checklist. This will bring attention to issues before they cause downtime and disrupt your operation.
The PFlow Knowledge Base holds preventive maintenance checklists for all PFlow VRC models and the checklist can also be found in your user manual. Use the checklist to document the dates of your visual inspections and the performed preventive maintenance.
Service and Repair
If problems occur that can’t be solved by following our 4 Easy Troubleshooting Tips, place a call to our 24-hour service hotline at 414-807-0336 and follow the lockout/tagout procedure in your owner’s manual to safely place the VRC out of service until one of our technicians can look at it.
Happier Workers
A benefit of installing a VRC that managers and business owners don’t always expect is that working with VRCs makes workers happier by saving employees the physical labor of moving things between levels. They’ll suffer less fatigue and their risk of accidents will decrease.
Upgrade Your Material Handling Capabilities
Owning VRCs comes with many benefits:
- Simplifies the work of moving materials between floors.
- Lowers the risk of accidents and injuries caused by lifting and carrying.
- Reduces the likelihood of product damage through dropping or rough-handling.
- Provides a reliable and durable way to lift materials.
Whether you’re new to VRCs, want to upgrade an existing unit, or are looking to install more, PFlow can help.
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