Conveyor Systems & Material Handling

A conveyor system moves components between operations at a controlled rate, setting the rhythm of an assembly line rather than merely transporting parts. VR Automation designs and manufactures belt, roller, slat chain, pallet and indexing conveyor systems at Bhosari, Pune, for automotive and general engineering assembly lines.

Choosing the conveyor type

The component decides the conveyor, not the other way round. A flat-bottomed carton and an oily machined casting need different surfaces; a part that must be worked on in transit needs a different system again from one that is merely being moved.

Type Carries Chosen when
Flat belt conveyor Small, light or irregular parts The part has no flat rigid base, or must not be marked
Modular belt conveyor Wet, oily or hot parts The belt must be washed down, or run round curves and inclines
Gravity roller conveyor Cartons, totes, rigid-based parts There is fall available and no drive is needed
Powered / motorised roller conveyor Totes, pallets, heavier loads Accumulation without back pressure is required
Slat chain conveyor Heavy or hot components A belt would not survive the load, temperature or swarf
Pallet conveyor Parts on fixtured pallets The part must be located precisely at each workstation
Overhead chain conveyor Hanging parts Paint, plating and finishing lines; floor space is at a premium
Indexing / line transfer conveyor Parts at fixed pitch Operations must happen at defined stations, in step with takt

Indexing conveyors and assembly line rhythm

A continuous conveyor moves parts past operators; an indexing conveyor advances a fixed pitch and stops, so every station has an identical dwell in which to work. That distinction matters when operations are automated, because a machine station needs the part stationary and precisely located, which a continuously moving belt cannot give.

For rotary rather than linear station layouts, the equivalent is a cam indexing drive turning a dial plate — generally the better choice when the station count is small and the cycle rate high. Linear indexing conveyors take over when parts are large, station count is high, or the line must be extended later.

Design inputs

  • Component — dimensions, weight, base condition (flat, curved, oily, hot), and whether the surface can be marked
  • Throughput — parts per hour, which with part pitch gives belt speed
  • Layout — length, width, elevation changes, curves, and the floor plan constraints
  • Stations — where operators or machines work, and whether the part must stop and be located
  • Environment — coolant, swarf, wash-down, temperature, and any food or cleanroom requirement
  • Accumulation — whether parts must be allowed to queue without pressure building up

What we supply

Complete assembly line conveyors, inter-machine transfer conveyors, indexing and line transfer systems, conveyors integrated into special purpose machines, and the guarding, sensing and PLC control that make a conveyor part of a line rather than a standalone belt. Frames are built in mild steel or stainless as the environment requires.

Conveyor and material handling systems

Frequently asked questions

What is the price of a conveyor system in India?

VR Automation conveyor systems are currently listed from about ₹90,000 for a standard unit, but conveyors are quoted by the metre and by configuration — length, width, drive, frame material, elevation change and controls all move the figure. Send your layout and part details for a firm quotation.

What is the difference between a belt conveyor and a roller conveyor?

A belt conveyor carries the part on a continuous surface, so it suits small, light, irregular or unstable parts and can run inclines. A roller conveyor supports the part on rollers, which requires a rigid flat base of sufficient length to span at least three rollers, but allows accumulation and handles heavier loads with less drive power.

What is an indexing conveyor used for?

An indexing conveyor advances a fixed pitch then stops, giving every workstation an identical dwell period with the part stationary and located. It is used where operations are automated or where takt time must be enforced, as opposed to a continuous conveyor that simply moves parts past operators.

Can you integrate a conveyor with our existing machines?

Yes. Most of our conveyor work is line integration — feeding and unloading presses, riveting machines, welding cells and test stations, with the sensing, interlocks and PLC handshaking needed for the machines to run as a line rather than as islands.

Do you build stainless steel conveyors?

Yes, where the environment requires it — wash-down areas, coolant exposure, or corrosive process conditions. Frame material, belt type and bearing selection are all specified against the operating environment.

Send us your component drawing

VR Automation, Bhosari, Pune — riveting, clinching, press and special purpose machines. We quote against your part, not a catalogue.