Excelling Beyond COVID-19; VDG is Modernizing Conveyor Systems with Efficient, Safe, & Reliable Drum Motors

The COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt halt to industries across the world, and countless companies scrambled to find ways to handle the disruptions that followed the massive hit to the global economy. Based on a recent study that was published by Gartner, more than 60 percent of businesses and companies have experienced delays in their supply chains. Naturally, this made a major negative impact on their ability to meet the needs of their clients.

However, North-America-based company Van der Graaf (VDG) hasn’t seemed to miss a beat in the wake of the pandemic. Manufacturing each component of their motorized pulleys in-house, VDG has maintained an intact supply chain throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve been able to meet the rising demands of their customers, as other manufacturers of motorized pulleys have seen an increase in lead-time based on parts being manufactured overseas. They can even guarantee shipment 5 days from purchase.

A SIMPLIFIED DESIGN

The Van der Graaf drum motor is a product of vertically integrated R&D engineering and manufacturing. Enclosing the motor, gearbox, and all moving parts inside the drum, this unique drive system is ideal for companies that are seeking to drive their conveyor systems with safe, efficient, and space-saving drum motors.

All of the components of the newest drum motor design have been engineered for 80,000 hours before maintenance. The result is that the Van der Graaf drum motor allows companies to maximize their uptime using an incredibly reliable solution, resulting in a higher return on investment when compared to other conveyor drive options.

THINKING “OUTSIDE THE MOTOR”

Van der Graaf has also addressed the efficiency of the entire conveyor system by developing their new IronGrip™ Lagging System. The new lagging will increase the longevity of all components on the conveyor drive by:

• Reducing the wear that takes place on the belt
• Eliminating lagging delamination
• Reducing lagging wear

With the new IronGrip™ Lagging System, VDG has further reduced the maintenance requirements and downtime that has to be accounted for in a conveyor system. In today’s competitive market, many companies are searching for solutions that increase productivity, and reduce operating costs – IronGrip™ lagging provides significant benefits in achieving these goals.

A COMPARISON TO THE CONVENTIONAL MOTOR

When Mark Hoffseth of Coastal Manufacturing switched his client, Taylor Farms, to the Van der Graaf motor in 2011, their failure rate dropped drastically within a single year. “We were using the old style motor and gearbox drives for our conveyors, and we experienced about a 3% to 5% failure rate during the first year on the motor and gearbox… Once we switched to Van der Graaf, that failure rate during the first year… dropped to about 1% and we’ve even had years with 0% failure rate. It’s been a tremendous improvement,” he said.

This is just one example of the incredible changes that clients have seen. Companies need to have their systems up and running in order for their facilities to be productive– and the Van der Graaf drum motor keeps plants running.

“If we have to pull this equipment down to service it, to do any kind of mechanical work, we lose production, we lose electricity, we lose money. That’s our lifeblood,” says Bob St. Sauveur, an Equipment Operator for Pinetree Power Fitchburg Inc.

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE OF INNOVATION

Companies need to innovate to remain competitive and the VDG drum motor helps them stay ahead of their competitors.

Areas in which the innovative Van der Graaf motor increases facility throughput and improves overall processes include:

• Reduced equipment failure
• Eliminates scheduled maintenance
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Reduced energy usage
• Reduced waste
• Optimized space utilization

A SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENT

The VDG drum motor is self-contained, which leads to a safer working environment for all employees. There is no need for protective enclosures to shield employees from the dangers of external moving parts found with conventional conveyor drives. In addition, the VDG drum motor saves space, which allows the facility layout to be optimized for additional lines and workforce distancing.

“Safety is huge,” insists Michael Keresey, a Fuel Yard Supervisor at Pinetree Power Fitchburg Inc. “You don’t have the guards, the belts, the clutter around the head pulley… Van der Graaf offers great potential for eliminating all those things.”

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FROM THE VDG MOTOR

Designing and manufacturing their products in North America since 1985, VDG has a strong local history in the U.S. and Canada, and are able to provide a more reliable and customized solution: guaranteeing shipment 5 days from purchase.

Now more than ever, companies are searching for long term gains in efficient and reliable solutions rather than short-term cost-cutting solutions.

“Because of the robustness of the product, you have faith and knowing that you’ve done the engineering right,” explains Rick Noble, the President of Noble Industrial Sales Corp. “You can set it in place, turn your back, and know it’s going to do the job.”

Van der Graaf is truly ‘engineered to keep your business running!’

For more information and a personalized assessment, contact Van der Graaf at any of the following:

• Website www.vandergraaf.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 1+ 905-793-8100
• Fax: 1+ 905-793-8129
• Toll-Free: 1+ 888-326-1476