Package Handling Chutes

The Problem

A major U.S. overnight package delivery company was looking for an answer to its package handling problems. The standard steel surface in split transverse and spiral chutes was causing bags and packages to stop in mid-chute. The back-up of parcels created jams, mis-sorts and damaged goods.

Employees spent valuable time correcting mis-sorts and applying “quick fixes” to the chutes.

To help packages move smoother and faster, the company tried a grabbag of products: silicone sprays, urethane wax, furniture polish, and even graphite paint. Further, they buffed and polished the steel surfaces extensively.

In humid Houston weather, newspapers would hang up on sticky surfaces. The result? Traffic jams on the conveyors and delays at the loading dock. Because each bundle contained advertising keyed to specific locations, workers had to manually inspect each bundle and hand carry it to the right delivery truck.

The second problem lay with the double-deck chute system. Conveyor buckets discharged parcels into upper and lower chutes. No reliable mechanical or hydraulic system had been found that allowed the upper chute to rotate out of the way to drop a bundle into a lower chute, then return to its position in a matter of a few seconds. When chutes didn’t move properly, parcels lodged in the wrong delivery queues.

The Solution

DuraSurf™ STS (UHMW) is modified with special dry additives for enhanced coefficient of friction and static properties.

Boxes move easily across its clean, self-lubricating surface. It leaves no oily residue on parcels, and DuraSurf™ STS antistatic properties reduce build-up of dust and grit.

DuraSurf™ STS chutes install quickly. Sheets are easily cut to size and installed.

After lining chutes with DuraSurf™ STS at a test location, an overnight package company reported a 75% reduction of mis-sorts. Additionally they eliminated use of all surface lubricants, and they no longer needed employees to retrieve packages jammed in dangerous conveyor areas.

DuraSurf™ STS’s low-friction surface, superior wear resistance and high impact help deliver the predictable package movement demanded by this industry.

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