Essentials for Packaging Systems
Both consumer and healthcare packaging needs have grown in recent years as we see a rise in e-commerce purchases internationally. That's why it's important to have high quality parts to create strong and reliable packaging systems so goods can get delivered to people safely and securely.
We've gone through over 25,000 products and selected the best parts to help you create efficient conveyors and industrial packaging set-ups. The components covered in this helpful guide include:
- Clamping rails
- Levelling feet
- Tubes and tubing
- Connecting joints
- Detent pins
- Hand knobs and lanyards
On the WDS Components website, you can register for access to all our product CAD models for FREE. They're ideal for designers, engineers and innovators who are working on their next exciting project. Our software is compatible with every major CAD platform including SolidWorks, ME10, Inventor, Unigraphics, CATIA V4/V5 and others. Find out more about free CAD downloads on our WDS Information page.
Clamping Rails
Clamping rods are adjustable clamps for use with side guides. These should be used in conjunction with adjustable or fixed mounting brackets. These clamps can be positioned to customise materials handling equipment and act as important components used to construct packaging systems. We offer a variety of parts including single and double cone clamps to suit a number of different frames and designs.
Most of the clamping rod parts are manufactured using a combination of materials, predominantly stainless steel and thermoplastic. These resources enable us to supply strong and rigorous parts but in a cost-effective way for customers. In the clamping rails section, you'll find various clamp types such as cross clamps, photocell clamps and reflector clamps perfect for lots of different applications. Within our range, you'll find adjustable components which are ideal for systems that regularly change to suit packaging activities- these parts may be particularly helpful if you're considered an SME.
Some of our clamping rods are combined with angle joints such as clevis components. We supply clevis kits containing clevis forks, clevis eyes and various cotter pins as well as e-clips. Read more about clevis kits on our new products page to find out their compatibility with rod ends and fittings as well as gas struts for secure linkages.
Levelling Feet
Oftentimes, warehouses processing packages need to work quickly and efficiently to fulfil orders. As we progress into an e-commerce intensive society, customers tend to have high demands for quick turnaround times placing stress on the conveyor systems used. In order to design strong packaging machines, a stable base is required, achievable with levelling feet.
Levelling feet (or adjustable machine feet as they are also known) are available in several styles and materials including: steel zinc plated, 303 and 304 stainless steel. These adjustable feet allow the user to ensure the application, machine or furniture is mounted correctly and levelled on uneven surfaces. 316 stainless steel levelling feet with plastic pads are ideal for more specialist applications such as food machinery and industrial machines.
WDS Components also supply anti-vibration levelling feet if you need to limit minor movements. The thick rubber dampener on the base of the foot ensures machine vibration is kept to a minimum and is available in both light to medium duty as well as heavy duty machine feet and mounts. Don't forget, we also supply neoprene non-slip pads in three different sizes if you're aiming to prevent noise and markings on the floor.
Tubes and Conveyors
Our tubing is available in various lengths ranging from 50cm - 3m and built from grade 304 stainless steel. The conveyor support tube is ideal for building modular conveyors like the one above or frameworks to create rigid structures for transporting and moving goods quickly and efficiently along packaging systems. There are a number of advantages to stainless steel such as:
- Longevity
- Durability
- Corrosion resistance
- Hygienic
So, if you're designing a conveyor system for packaging food and beverages, this material is ideal as research has concluded stainless steel causes no danger to human health or the composition and deterioration of food. If you want to read more about the benefits of stainless steel, head over to our Tech Spec page where you can find helpful technical advice and support from our Technical Engineers; you can even find information on thread dimensions, spanner sizes or the difference between stainless steel grades.
An alternative solution to a tube-based conveyor system is one based upon ball transfer units. We offer a comprehensive range including the most popular formats:
- Surface Mount
- Recess Mount
- Spring Loaded
The best option is dependent on the load of items being packed. For example, heavier goods like boxed floor tiles or large crates of orange juice would need spring loaded ball bearings as they are supplied with built-in springs to support high load capacities. Take a closer look at our full range in the Industrial Automation section to compare the perfect style, shape and size for your application. If you need a hand with your selection, contact our Technical Team on 0333 043 5445 or use our online contact form.
Conveyor skate wheels (also known as Omni wheels) are an efficient solution to materials handling (see them in use in the image above). The wheels rotate on a bearing making it almost effortless to move goods around a factory on a conveyor. Omni Wheels, alike the standard skate wheels, not only move in linear direction but they also offer the added benefit of moving in an 'Omni directional' manner too, meaning packages can be moved forwards, backwards and sideways.
Connecting Joints
Once you've got your tubing sorted, you can start considering how they're going to be fixed to one another. Connecting joints are plastic cross joints which allow the user to connect two hollow tubes and apply rigidness to a modular conveyor system. These parts are available in PA nylon (also known as thermoplastic) and are supplied with a bolt and nut in stainless steel for extra protection. These plastic joints for modular tubing offer great flexibility providing conveyor builders with the right assurance.
As packages move from one area to another, they are often dropped with impact. In order to limit this force, shock absorbers are usually installed. WDS supply two types of industrial shock absorbers in a variety of sizes:
- Adjustable shock absorbers
- Self-compensating shock absorbers
Both are designed to help improve manual product handling or the capacity to deal with automated package handling. These components increase productivity through raised machine speeds and help to create a smoother operation environment allowing parcels to travel through systems quicker to meet orders. The industrial shock absorbers also help with longevity aspects as smooth deceleration of moving parts lead to reduced wear (and in turn, less maintenance is required) and lower noise ultimately resulting in extended equipment life.
Detent Pins
Detent pins are perfect positioning parts for quickly and securely altering conveyor systems. We supply a wide range of variations covering both inch and metric unit types as well as different heads such as ball knobs, T handles and rings. The quick release ball locking pin uses two spring ball bearings to prevent the pin from working its way free from the application. Our detent pins are available in 316 grade stainless steel, this product is ideal for wash down applications where there could be exposure to harsh chemicals or places where strong hygiene standards are imposed such as food and beverage packaging systems.
We supply other helpful location components including quick release pins and removable location pins.
Quick release or pip pins as they are also commonly known allow the user to quickly locate, align and fasten two applications. Once the fastening pin is inserted into the application, the location pin cannot be removed until the user depresses a button on the top of the T handle or recessed grip. After depressing the button, the two balls at the base of the pin are released allowing the user to insert and remove from the hole freely.
Our Membership with PPMA
We're proud to be members of the Processing & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA). The membership serves as vast support not only for the packaging industry but wider fields too such as conveyor systems and machinery. The representation from PPMA helps us to provide our standard parts and components internationally reaching a broad customer base. If you want to read more about the association, head over to the PPMA website where you can also find the WDS company profile.
Hand Knobs and Lanyards
In a similar way to detent pins, lanyards can also be used to position and secure parts into place. We offer a range of lanyards and retainers in different colours such as clear, black and green as well as an assortment of materials including brass and nylon. Each of our lanyards come with various fasteners attached for easier and more varied application. Options include:
- Carabiners
- Keyrings
- Retaining clips
- Tabs
Hand knobs with loss protection was a new initiative recently developed by our Design Engineers to prevent workers from losing parts from accidental dropping etc. Our lanyards attached to a variety of hand knobs are kits compiled of a hand knob or thumb screw with a trusty, clear, nylon lanyard and nut to secure your pieces together. Attaching the lanyard to a fixed down piece of machinery or its accessories is easy and means you won't lose the screw it's connected to. This solution will work great in factories and warehouses if you work near, above or around open packaging systems, machinery or moving parts.
Applying hand knobs with loss prevention like this (combined with additional industry knowledge), can help companies to achieve certification to the market standard. The EU Machinery Directive, 2006/42/EC states, "fixing systems must remain attached to the guards or to the machinery when the guards are removed". These lanyards can be attached to machinery easily and help to secure elements in place.
Check out the video below demonstrating how to use our hand knobs with loss protection kits:
How to use our hand knobs with loss prevention kits.
You can see from the image below how hand knobs with loss prevention kits can work effectively and protect both machines and workers. Attaching lanyards to hand knobs stops them from dropping into unwanted areas and saves time-consuming measures used to retrieve them.
There are more than 10 hand knob styles to choose from within the loss prevention kits but check out our full range of hand grips and thumb screws for an extensive variety of styles to choose from for other packaging system functions. There are variations including star knobs, ball grips, mushroom pull knobs, wing grips and more. In the categories, you can explore different materials and sizes, perfect for a number of applications.
If you've heard enough about connecting joints, clamping rails and the rest then head over to the conveyor components section to find the best parts to create your packaging system. Orders can be placed directly through the website or through our Sales Team on 0333 043 5443. If you need further assistance or advice, you can contact our Technical Team on the same telephone number or via our online contact form. We look forward to seeing your order soon!
