Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Ever since we launched our Automation Series conveyors, we’ve received requests to bring the aluminum frame and tension release technology to our angled frame lines. Today we’re excited to announce that we’ve done just that with the launch of AS40Z Angled Frame Conveyors.

The AS40Z line is built on the same rigid aluminum frame we use for our AS40 and AS65 conveyors. It’s designed to reduce twisting, which is often the cause of tracking problems in competing conveyors. They also feature the same Tension Release tails, so you can relieve the tension on the belt for quick and easy under-belt cleaning with just the push of a button.

We brought one of the most popular components of our 125Z Series Angled Frame Conveyors – the Z-Track™ mechanism — over to help make it easy to track the belt. As with other Automation Series conveyors, V-Guide belts are an option. They’re especially helpful in applications where the conveyors are in hard-to-reach places.

AS40Z conveyors are available in three styles — Z, L, and R. Z conveyors go from horizontal, to incline, back to horizontal, which makes them ideal for moving product up and over aisles or other equipment. L conveyors are horizontal to incline, which is useful for moving product up from a low discharge height and depositing it into a box or bin. R conveyors are incline to horizontal, which is great for applications that need to elevate product and then connect to another conveyor or machine.

These conveyors are available in widths from 8″ to 24″ and in lengths up to 20 feet. They can handle loads up to 120 lbs. The most popular angles — 30°, 45° and 60° — are available as standard, while other angles can be requested through special orders.

For more information, see the AS40Z section of our website or contact your local distributor. You can also contact our knowledgable sales staff at (513) 753-6000.

One of the most popular motor options for our Automation Series Conveyors is the versatile brushless DC motor. It’s an option we’ve never offered on any other conveyors.

They are extremely compact motors due to their brushless design and come with a digital operator that can be placed up to 65 feet away. They offer a number of advantages over our standard AC motors, including:

• Continuous torque at any motor speed from 80–3,000 rpm
• Accurate speed control with feedback to ensure a constant speed within ±.05% of the set speed (when using the digital controls) even when loads are being added or removed
• Eight set speeds that can be controlled automatically or manually
• Speed setting can be controlled using the internal or external potentiometers, the digital operator or by varying the external DC voltage
• Parallel shaft gearhead that’s ideal for stopping, starting and reversing
• IP65 motor, with an IP65 remote digital operator panel that can be placed up to 15 feet from the controller
• Multiple alarm and protection modes that prevent you from overpowering the motor

Our brushless DC motors are ideal for applications where you need accurate control of the speed or where a high number of starts and stops are involved. Consult our Sales Department for more information.

The Material Handling Wholesaler cover story on family succession was a great profile of our friends at Conveyer & Caster – Equipment for Industry, a material handling distributor in Cleveland. They’ve been a great distributor of ours for the better part of twenty years, working hand in hand selling our belt conveyors.

There are great stories within the MHW article. The push from their father to cut their teeth somewhere else before coming on board. The sounding board which they bounce business ideas off of each and every quarter and then of course the succession plans that you need to have in place regarding estates, trusts, wills, etc.

But I feel the untold story about this business is the success they’ve had navigating through tough times over the last few years. Let’s not forget Cleveland is smack dab in the middle of the rust belt and we — all of us — are still digging hard during difficult times. According to Department of Numbers, Cleveland has lost  143,000 job since May 2000. So for a company to be having success, making moves to grow and hiring a great staff, I’m telling that story and shining a light on this company.

Knowing Jeff and Trevor now for many years. I was always impressed that their father made them go to work and be successful with other companies first. So thanks to dad for preparing the boys and setting the company up for potential turbulence and of course the work ethic to make success happen. The great part of the untold story is we are living, growing and prospering together with Conveyer & Caster and it is to be continued.

Last week our marketing team took part in our annual Marketing ROUNDtable event hosted in collaboration with our friends at Balluff. The event started at the beautiful Metropolitan Club in Northern Kentucky where Balluff played host. The Met overlooks the Ohio River with views of Paul Brown Stadium as well as Great American Ball Park. The entire group enjoyed a great dinner, drinks and good “marketing” conversation!

The next day, you guessed it — QR codes, Social networking, content for blogging, white papers, and marketing automation were just a few of the many topics discussed at Balluff’s North American headquarters. Last year’s theme gravitated towards personal interaction and trade show related discussions. This year was completely different and even more exciting as the conversations swirled around social media and marketing best practices.

Kelly Panko, Marketing Communications Manager from Balluff said, “Loved the format with a couple of timely presentations, a tremendous amount of great discussions and free-flowing dialog. The meeting gave everyone an opportunity to talk about projects they’ve done and suggest new ideas so at the end of the day we aren’t wasting time and money on dead end projects.”

We had two great presentations. One was by business consultant (and former Marketing Manager for ATS) Jim Beretta and the other by Scott McCafferty, the co-founder and Managing Director of WTWH Media, a family of over 25 dotcoms and two industrial publications including Design World Magazine.

Others in the meeting included Chris Thompson, Marketing Coordinator and Graphic Designer with QC Industries Conveyors; Anjna Petal, Marketing Manager from Epson Robots; Alisha Howard, Marketing Manager from Markem Imaje; Lisa Pitzer, Marketing Manager from Oystar Jones; Melissa Freeman, Marketing Manager and Marc Ostertag, President of B&R; Mike Hilsey, Director of Marketing from Flexlink; John Budd, Director of Sales and Marketing from Fiero Fluid Power; Roger Judson, Director of Sales for PMA and of course Tom Rosenberg, Director of Marketing, Kelly Panko and Roger Altendorf, Business Development Manager from Balluff.

Thank you all for coming this year. We are looking forward to another great meeting next year!

This year’s Marketing ROUNDtable event will take place at Balluff Sensors Worldwide’s offices in Florence, Kentucky. Balluff, founded in 1921, is the world leader in sensors for a wide range of applications and industries.

Everyone who attended last year’s event (hosted here at QC Industries) considered it a success. With a focus on personal attention to the customer, we discussed trade shows, print advertising and the web.

We’re looking forward to another great event this year. Marketing peers from Epson, Markem Imaje and others will be making their way to the Queen City for a great evening at the Metropolitan Club this evening and then a full round table event tomorrow.

Business consultant and speaker Jim Beretta (formerly the marketing manager for ATS Automation) will be speaking on “Retooling your Marketing.” Scott McCafferty, Co-founder and Managing Director of WTWH Media, LLC (owner of 20 tech based websites and two print magazines including Design World Magazine), will be speaking on new technologies for B2B Marketers.

I look forward to seeing everyone! Stay tuned for a recap here after the event ends.