MU 2017 November December

www.machineryupdate.co.uk MACHINERY UPDATE 25
PPMA Jobs UPDATED_HR 16/10/2014 10:19 Page 1
Conveyors move
tricky mattresses
Astec has supplied a range of non-standard conveyors for mattress handling
Anyone who has ever
moved a mattress
knows how difficult it
is to man handle due to the
awkward size and weight.
However, Astec Conveyors
has addressed this problem
by providing various
non-standard conveyors
to automate and improve
operator ergonomics in
handling a broad range of
mattress styles and sizes.
Keeping continuous
mattress assembly lines
on schedule and running
smoothly is a top priority for
sleep product manufacturers,
where the operators may have
to manually carry out a series
of mattress movements during
the process. These can include
transferring sideways, turning
through 90 degrees and
turning over completely onto
the opposite side.
Some years back,
the Health and Safety
Executive instigated a
three-year initiative with
bed manufacturers and the
National Bed Federation to
focus on manual handling
risk factors with the aim
of reducing the number of
musculoskeletal injuries
in the industry. A final report
suggested that a reduction in
musculoskeletal injuries over
a period could be partially
attributed to the introduction
of mechanical handling aids.
Astec designed,
manufactured and installed
a series of bespoke conveyors
for the industry to address
these needs. They are
generally at least 2,000mm
wide for various assembly
lines at a leading UK mattress
manufacturer. Astec’s
bespoke conveyors included
turntables, reversible belt
conveyors with inbuilt
tracking, side transfer units,
automated turn over units and
combined press/belt conveyor
assemblies.
Eliminating the manual
handling of mattresses
and integrating equipment
into a system has made it
more ergonomically safe for
the operator and has also
increased plant productivity.
Astec Conveyors says this
technology can be applied to
other large products that are
sometimes difficult for the
operators to man handle.
T 01283 210333
W www.astecconveyors.com
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