how to choose the right telescopic conveyor for loose loads

Telescopic Conveyors, shortened from their longer name of ‘telescopic boom conveyors’, are extendable belt conveyors designed for loading trucks and trailers more efficiently.

These are space-saving devices in warehouses and factories and allow workers to transport small items in bulk to and from trucks or trailers with minimal fuss and effort. The business places the conveyor in the loading bay and the conveyor extends into the trailer to make loading or unloading smoother, more efficient and less demanding.

The Size of the Objects

If you’re working with containers, you can be working with small objects one moment and larger ones the next, especially if you’re working in eCommerce, but the same equipment must handle it all.

Loose-loaded containers often contain big items at the bottom and smaller, lighter ones at the top. It’s possible to load the smaller boxes manually but then come the heavy ones….

The Number of Touches in Handling

Often, you want to get goods onto a pallet and into a warehouse. It’s a question of ‘one touch’ handling, which entails getting the goods directly onto a pallet from the container, or ‘two touch’, which requires an additional step in sorting the goods. In the case of large goods, such as furniture, it’s better to palletise the goods directly while they’re in the container so a forklift or loading and unloading device can take them.

Smaller boxes call for additional work because you have to sort them to then place on the pallets. When there are lots of different-sized boxes, you have more sorting to do avoid mixing them on the same pallets.

Loose load handling can entail working with bulky items. The awkward size and, in some cases, shape of the materials or items makes them dangerous to handle. Telescopic conveyors minimise the amount of manual handling required and can cut humans out of loading and unloading altogether.

Telescopic conveyors speed up processes and improve productivity by allowing businesses to process more items within the same timeframe. High throughput and output are essential in business, and telescopic conveyors enable it.

Cost Savings

These aren’t the only financial savings, however. The reduction in manual labour telescopic conveyors allow, as well as cutting labour costs, lowers the potential for accidents and mistakes, sparing businesses of the costs related to them.

Durability

The durable telescopic design of these conveyors means they’ll serve the business a long time and require minimal maintenance. This saves companies money on repairs and replacements, which translates into significant long-term savings.

Different businesses have different needs and must think about how they incorporate the conveyor into their workflow. This means considering how to move, store and adjust the conveyor to suit your operations, and how you might need to customise the conveyor with lighting features, tilting features, wheels, belt raising, operator platforms and more.

Budget

Budget is a fundamental consideration as purchasing a telescopic conveyor requires a significant investment; however, the productivity and short- and long-term savings our conveyors reward you with allow you to experience a return on your investment within just a couple of years.

Floor space

Telescopic conveyors allow better space optimisation in warehouses and manufacturing facilities because they extend and retract, but you must ensure you have the space to accommodate them both when they’re idle and active. Floor space availability may restrict the size and configurations of the conveyor you can choose.

Safety sensors are important in your conveyor. They can provide alarms when conveyor belts break, slip or stop moving unexpectedly. As well as making processes safer, safety sensors help to reduce downtime and keep necessary maintenance to a minimum.

Control Panels

Control panels are essential so that operators can access the controls to a conveyor’s software and systems easily. Not only can these control the system, but it’s also possible to add operator controls for extra safety.

Hydraulic Tilts

Hydraulic tilts are one feature you can customise your telescopic convertor with, for instance. Our hydraulic tilts are exceptionally handy if you have to operate on an uneven surface and match the conveyor to the angle of the ground. These tilts minimise spillage during loading and unloading.

Our operator platforms make it much safer for operators to conduct loading and unloading, especially when handling materials in bulk. Normally, we attach the platform to the side of the conveyor, and the operator can adjust it to level of the loading dock or container. The operator can gain a better view of the process and of the goods being handled. The platform makes the process.

Driven Wheels

Transferring a conveyor from part of a facility to another is challenging, but not with our driven wheels. Using our driven wheels, you can move your conveyor from dock to dock or other areas of your facility safely and easily. The fully motorised wheels allow you to just press a button to move the conveyor. The immobilisation system at the front of the machine prevents displacement, making conveyor usage safe.

Siderails

Looking for additional support for the process operator? You can customise your conveyor with siderails on both sides and provide extra support. These durable barriers, made from high-quality materials, will reduce the risk of accidents. You can also customise your siderails to the needs of your working environment or operators.

Our Roller Telescopic Conveyors are another type of telescopic boom conveyor and use motorised rollers to move the goods or materials. The rollers are mounted on a telescopic boom that extends into trailers, trucks and containers and retracts for swift loading and unloading.

You’ll see them used in warehouses, manufacturing and logistics to handle bags, boxes, crates and other items. They make loading and unloading safer and more flexible.

Standard fixed conveyors require permanent installation and are harder to relocate. This creates problems if the facilities often undergo changes in layout or the material requirements of the business change.
Telescopic boom conveyors are more flexible and more portable. They’re also easy to set up and deploy in different areas.

Flexibility

Telescopic boom conveyors serve dynamic environments or applications that involve regular adjustments. They can extend, retract and adjust to suit different needs, whereas the fixed length and position of standard conveyors deprives businesses of much-needed flexibility.

Costs

You may find standard conveyors cheaper; however, telescopic boom conveyors pay their dividends in the long term, due to the cost savings they offer through their versatility, reduction of manual labour and capacity to optimise space.

Good telescopic conveyor manufacturers want you to be able to operate their equipment safely. They want their equipment to be reliable and to comply with regulatory standards and will design and manufacture their equipment in line with international standards and certifications.

Materials

Reliable extendable conveyor manufacturers build their products from wear-resistant, high-quality materials because materials are the starting point for durability.

After-sales and Maintenance Services

Reputable suppliers don’t just take the money and run. Pick one that offers after-sales services such as installation, repairs and maintenance, and spare parts. These suppliers will also respond quickly if you have problems with your conveyor and help you to minimise downtime.

Contact us for a comprehensive evaluation of your systems. Our team will visit your site to perform a thorough assessment, identify any areas of concern and provide recommendations for potential improvement.

We'll call to arrange a convenient time and date to visit your site. While on-site we'll assess your system, and consider it an MOT. Our engineer will then advise whether you need a conveyor service, parts replacement or other essential work.

We’ll flag any areas of concern and the work needed to prevent future problems and let you know if there’s anything more immediate that you need to address. 

Book your FREE, no-obligation free conveyor assessment today!