Niko C1 Overhead Conveyors

The advantages of the Niko manual overhead conveyor and monorail systems are:

• Modular range of components
• Simple to design
• Easy to install
• Economical
• Large range of brackets and trolleys
• Minimal maintenance
• Very free running

Advantages of Manual Overhead Conveyors

Modular Design - The Niko manual overhead conveyors are designed to suit any existing working environment and they can be changed or extended at a later date, should production requirements change. The modular nature makes them ideal for jobbing powder-coating lines.

Environmentally Friendly – these manual overhead conveyors have a low carbon footprint with the automated parts using minimal power and the manual parts using none at all.

Storage Space Utilised - Automatic switches change the manual overhead conveyor from a single track to side shifting dual tracks and allow flight bars to be grouped together and utilise storage space.

Accurate, Repeatable Load Positioning - The tapered edges of the Niko profile track ensure that the load carrying trolleys run smoothly, meaning accurate, repetitive load positioning can be achieved throughout the whole manual overhead conveyor.

Integration with Lifting Equipment - The Niko manual overhead conveyor is designed to seamlessly integrate with Niko lightweight overhead cranes and lifting equipment through latching and transfer devices. This reduces the need for manual lifting where an overhead conveyor is loaded and unloaded.

Overhead Conveyor Track Layout Examples

Localised Powered Travel for Manual Overhead Conveyors

As an alternative to fully powered overhead conveyors, Niko offers a semi-automatic alternative. This system utilises any manual conveyor system and powers it through ovens, spray booths or any area where manual operation is not practical. This solution is far more cost effective than using fully automatic conveyors.

A chain conveyor can be installed parallel to the conveyor carrying the load in order to power the movement.  Powered movement can be achieved not only in straight lines but also around bends, making it possible to have a completely powered system.

Typical applications would be to power the movement through the ovens or painting booths and have the parking areas free in order to load and unload the products in adequate time. The benefits of the power chain conveyor are its competitive price, quiet operation and the fact that it can be added to a manual conveyor at a future stage.

Dipping Systems

Niko Ltd design and manufacture overhead dipping systems to assist with the handling of products that need to be lowered and raised into tanks for surface treatment.  These systems can be manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic depending on the customer requirements.  They can be integrated into an existing or new overhead conveyor system or they can act as an independent holding process. 

Niko Detour System

The unique Niko Detour System automatically offloads and reloads any existing powered conveyor system, without stopping it or slowing it down. The Detour System can also be used to link one conveyor system to another via a Detour System and small section of Niko ovehead conveyor track.

The Detour system allows the carriers or flight bars on any existing or new powered ovehead conveyor to be automatically re-routed onto a manual track system. The carrier may be unloaded, loaded, added to, stored or simply pass through another booth before being automatically reloaded back onto the powered conveyor system.

There is no need to alter the existing powered overhead conveyor, the system relies on a Detour adaptor fixed to each carrier and loading/unloading stations retro fitting around the existing track.

Carriers without Detour adaptors follow the normal path.

The manual Detour track can be designed for any layout configuration and can be manual or powered.  It can be as complex or as simple as necessary to suit the requirements of the individual customer's workflow.

Advantages

• Loads/unloads carriers onto a powered conveyor system without having to chase the track. 
• Enables the operator to have greater control of the frequency of loaded carriers within a powered conveyor system. 
• Allows heavy loads and carriers to be pre-loaded and moved onto the main line without lifting.
• Speeds up colour changes, by having an alternative route while colour changes take place.
• Reroutes empty jigs to burn off department. Reintroduces clean jigs fully loaded.
• Links two separate process lines.
• Processes long items easily.

Example layout of Niko Overhead Conveyor

Manual Overhead Conveyor for lean powder coating cell

Example layout for a paint finishing line

Overhead Conveyor for lean powder coating of long parts

Overhead Conveyor with powered side shifting

Track Joint and Support Assembley

Turn Tables and Switches

Transfer Sections

Switches and Turn Tables

Localised Power Section

Pneumatic Turntable and Manual Switch