Conveyor Installation Services

A conveyor system from FMH Conveyors can enhance the overall efficiency and production of your facility by eliminating bottlenecks throughout handling processes.

In order to optimize your operations to the fullest extent, it’s important that your conveyors are properly configured and installed by the experts who designed them.

Installing conveyors foster speed and efficiency through:

  • Automated handling: Handling tasks are susceptible to any number of human errors and inefficiencies – distraction, fatigue, incorrect placement and injury, to name just a few. Conveyors remedy these issues by freeing up workers for higher-value tasks, automating the simple movement of product from one area to the next.
  • Space efficiency: Conveyors can be installed in nearly any configuration, covering the entire facility, including movement between floors or levels. This is the most efficient use of space for handling tasks and can also open up new possibilities for production expansion and reconfiguration by connecting lines and equipment.

Conveyor system installation can seem complicated, but at FMH Conveyors we strive to make it as simple as possible. Our expert installation team stands out through our commitment to service, quality, and attention to detail. We pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to unique challenges and floor layouts across a broad range of applications. Our team is also well-known for first-class conveyor repair and maintenance services throughout the life of your equipment.

Prior to shipment, we quality-check every order and attach specific conveyor installation procedure manuals in case you have any questions. Typically, our standard product lines come crated and ready to use; however, our more sophisticated products require minimal on-site support.

Flexible Gravity Conveyors
Flexible Powered Conveyors
Rigid Belt Drive-Out Conveyors
Rigid Roller Drive-Out Conveyors
Telescopic Conveyors

Installation & Startup

For those that require on-site support, don’t call just any conveyor installation contractors. For the best results, be sure to use Lifecycle Services from a reliable conveyor installation company. After we schedule a time that works for your team, one of our service technicians will follow up for on-site conveyor installation services and get you up and running in no time.

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Flexible Gravity Conveyors

Most NestaFlex® gravity conveyors are packaged to protect the unit during normal shipping, storage and handling (Some special conveyors are shipped fully assembled and rolled onto the trailer. Make sure to remove blocks, unlock brakes on casters and carefully roll conveyors off the trailer). Before the unit is unpacked, inspect the packaging for any signs of shipping damage. If possible, record any suspected shipping damage with a camera. Report anything missing or any damage in writing to the shipper and your FMH Conveyors representative.

  1. Uncrate and inspect the NestaFlex gravity conveyor.
  2. Unlock any locking casters, remove any ties securing the conveyor to the pallet and carefully roll the conveyor off the pallet.
  3. If you have an extended length gravity conveyor that was shipped in multiple cartons, assembly is required before using the conveyor. Instructions are included with the conveyor sections for assembly.   This will involve either making a hardware connection at a special bracket or assembling shafts, skates, and spacers to merge the unfinished ends. This is important to the integrity and proper function of the conveyors. If this connection is not completed, sections of the conveyor will be unsupported and void the warranty.
  4. To move the conveyor, unlock the locking casters and carefully push the conveyor into the desired location, being careful not to place hands at pinch point locations, such as near the side link assemblies.
  5. Lock all locking casters once the conveyor has been moved to the desired location. This is especially important in areas where the floors are sloped.
  6. If you have two or more gravity conveyors and are using them together, simply push the conveyors together in the desired orientation and engage the Couplers (hooks) onto the Coupler Receiver or axle of the next conveyor.
  7. Conveyors with a Carton Stop at the end of Discharge is shipped in the down position. To engage the stop, rotate the stop to its up position. Slide the stop down to engage on the upper axle.
  8. All conveyor heights are fixed on the NestaFlex gravity 376FL and 376PL to provide the best gravity slope condition and should not need to be adjusted. For all other NestaFlex gravity products, heights are adjustable with hand knobs.
  9. To expand or contract the conveyor, unlock the locking casters and grasp the conveyor by the handles located on the side of the legs. Pull or push on the handles to expand or contract the conveyor. Be sure to lock locking casters after the conveyor is in the desired position.

Flexible Powered Conveyors

  1. Unpack the BestFlex Power Conveyor and inspect for possible damage that may have occurred during shipping. Pay particular attention to the wiring to ensure that no wires are pulled loose or damaged in any way. If you find any damage, contact the factory before applying power to the conveyor.
  2. Make sure all Start/Stop push-buttons are in the STOP position (there will be one at each end of the conveyor.)
  3. Roll the unit into position. If applicable, use the connect hooks to attach the Best/Flex to a rigid conveyor.
  4. Plug the power cord into a 115VAC grounded
  5. Release all Start/Stop push-buttons (a single Start/Stop push-button that has the Stop button depressed will prevent the conveyor from running.) There may be a stand-alone motor controller mounted near the middle of the unit. If this is the case, make sure its switch is in the “On” position. All switches must be in the “Start”, “Run”, or “On” position.
  6. Adjust the speed of the conveyor to suit the application. Adjust the speed by turning the potentiometer. Depending on the unit configuration, the potentiometer will either be located on the main power enclosure or the motor controller mounted near the middle of the conveyor.
  7. Begin placing packages on the conveyor. They will travel to the last available zone and stop until packages are removed from the discharge end.

Rigid Belt Drive-Out Conveyors

  1. Upon arrival all conveyors will be secured with wood blocks mounted to the trailer floor.
  2. All wood blocks must be removed prior to moving the conveyors.
  3. Warning: Conveyors must not be picked up utilizing forks on the rear of the unit. Failure to adhere to this warning may cause damage to the main electrical panel on the back of the unit, or the electrical connections coming into this panel. This damage will not be covered under warranty.
  4. To unload, the unit may be either manually pushed from the front of the conveyor, or by utilizing a lifting strap placed around the rear frame of the conveyor and attached to a forklift. If using the strap method, make sure that the strap does not come in contact with any electrical wiring under the conveyor.
  5. The steering actuator on the front axle of the conveyor has been disconnected for ease of movement. When using either unloading method, someone must manually steer the front of the unit to prevent damage to the front control panel.

Installation should only be performed by FMH Conveyors Installers or qualified personnel, and must be completed in accordance with all applicable codes and regulations.

  1. Locate and mark the center of the spur. Measure 5” off centerline on each side and chalk 2 lines from the rear of the dock leveler back approximately 50’.
  2. Mark location for the rear of floor track as shown on supplied application specific drawing (if you do not have this drawing contact factory.)
  3. Locate and position the individual pieces of floor track as shown on drawing A.
  4. Assemble the rear sections of floor track as shown in drawing B.
  5. Position and anchor floor track starting with the rear and aligning the outside edge with the chalk lines.
  6. Pull 2 lengths of SO cable (Length specified in electrical assembly, Drawing C) thru
    flexible wire carrier.
  7. Assemble flexible wire carrier to front wire cover.
  8. Feed SO cable under rear wire cover exposing approximately 10” at the rear of the floor track.
  9. Install 2 cord grips in 7/8 holes of modified 8x6x4 junction box.
  10. Feed Approximately 10” of the SO cables thru the cord grips and install junction box
    on the rear of the floor track.
  11. Place center wire cover in the track and pull slack cable thru the opposite end of the flexible wire carrier.
  12. Lay flexible wire carrier flat in the floor track.
  13. If the conveyor is going to be installed from the dock end of the floor track the stop bar must be removed from the conveyor. If the conveyor is to be installed from the rear of the floor track the stop bar and the UHMW guide roller must be removed from the conveyor.
  14. Roll the conveyor into position on guide track and re-install stop bar and guide roller.
  15. Connect Flexible wire carrier to conveyor.
  16. Route and secure 14/4 cable into main electrical enclosure box.
  17. Route and secure 18/12 cable into 12” x 12” box.
  18. Terminate wires as shown on Diagrams A and B.
  19. Supply line voltage shown on nameplate to 14/4 cable in 8x6x4 junction box.
  20. Connect applicable interlock wires to 18/12 cable in 8x6x4 junction box.
  21. Remove chain guard and install chain.

Conveyor Belt Installation and Tracking

Unroll the belt, PVC coating side up, around the tail pulley and over the idler rollers. Run belt over the snub roller and around the drive roll. Align the seam near the center of the conveyor frame.

Pull the belt together to engage the lacing and install the pin.

There are two permanent marks in the center of the belt width approximately 20 feet back from the lacing and 10 feet apart. Find these marks and take an exact measurement between them. Add .375” (3/8”) to the measurement. Example(measured 119 9/16” + 3/8” = 119 15/16). For proper tension, adjust the tail pulley so the distance between the two marks is equal to the sum of the measured dimension and 3/8”. To insure the tail pulley is square, be sure both tail pulley blocks are equal distance from the rear of the conveyor frame. After tracking the belt, check the dimension between the marks to make sure proper tension is still in the belt. If the dimension has changed, adjust accordingly and recheck for proper tracking.

With the belt installed, begin the tracking procedure. The drive roll should be parallel to the snub roller. The snub roller should be locked into place. All idler rollers are square to the frame.

Start the belt. Watch to see which side the belt wants to run to and how quickly it does so. Shut off the conveyor. Begin belt tracking by adjusting the first idler from the tail. Loosen the bolts on the idler bracket and angle the roller to correct the belt travel. The roller will steer the belt toward the uphill side of the roller (Uphill refers to the belt travel direction). If further correction is necessary, proceed to adjust the first idler from the front, then the two in the center of the conveyor, in that order. If adjusting the idlers cannot solve the tracking problem, the tail pulley may have to be adjusted slightly.

Adjusting the idler rollers will solve most all the belt tracking problems. The belt should run straight and on the center of the slider bed. Practice and experience will speed up the belt tracking process.

Rigid Roller Drive-Out Conveyors

  1. Upon arrival all conveyors will be secured with wood blocks mounted to the trailer floor. All wood blocks must be removed prior to moving the conveyors.
  2. Warning: Conveyors must not be picked up utilizing forks on the rear of the unit. Failure to adhere to this warning may cause damage to the main electrical panel on the back of the unit, or the electrical connections coming into this panel. This damage will not be covered under warranty.
  3. To unload, the unit may be either manually pushed from the front of the conveyor, or by utilizing a lifting strap placed around the rear frame of the conveyor and attached to a forklift. If using the strap method, make sure that the strap does not come in contact with any electrical wiring under the conveyor.
  4. The steering actuator on the front axle of the conveyor has been disconnected for ease of movement. When using either unloading method, someone must manually steer the front of the unit to prevent damage to the front control panel.

Installation should only be performed by FMH Conveyors Installers or qualified personnel, and must be completed in accordance with all applicable codes and regulations.

  1. Locate and mark the center of the spur. Chalk a line from the dock leveler back approximately 50 feet. Measure 2 inches off each side of the centerline, this will give you the inside dimension on track placement location, 5 inches off the center will give you the outside line placement. NOTE: It might be helpful to cut 2, 4-inch blocks. Center these blocks on your chalk line at the front and back of each piece of track, so that you have 2 inches on either side of the line. Proceed to assemble the track as instructed below.
  2. Mark location for the front of floor track as shown on supplied application specific drawing (if you do not have this drawing, please contact the factory.)
  3. Locate and position the individual pieces of floor track as shown on drawing A.
  4. Assemble the rear sections of floor track as shown in drawing B.
  5. Position and anchor floor track starting with the front and aligning the inside edge with the 2-inch or 5 inch measure out, or utilize your cut blocks for this placement.
  6. Pull 2 lengths of electrical cable (55’ 18/12 and 60’ 14/4) through flexible wire carrier.
  7. Attach the included connection brackets to each end of the flexible wire carrier. These parts and hardware are shown in Drawing C on page 14 of the manual
  8. Feed both lengths of electrical cable under rear wire cover (C channel illustrated in Drawing B on page 13 Item # 7 in the manual) exposing approximately 10” at the rear of the floor track. Attach the flexible carrier to the wire cover (C channel).
  9. Install 2 cord grips (not included) in 7/8 holes of 8x6x5 junction box that is provided.
  10. Feed approximately 10” of the SO cables thorough the cord grips and install junction box on floor toward the rear of the floor track. Box should be held off the ground utilizing Uni-strut or some other suitable material. This material is not included and will need to be provided by the installer.
  11. Pull slack cable through the opposite end of the flexible wire carrier.
  12. Lay flexible wire carrier flat in the floor track.
  13. If the conveyor is going to be installed from the dock end of the floor track, the stop bar must be removed from the conveyor. If the conveyor is to be installed from the rear of the floor track, the stop bar and the UHMW guide roller must be removed from the conveyor.
  14. Roll the conveyor into position on guide track and re-install stop bar and guide roller.
  15. Connect Flexible wire carrier to the underside of the conveyor.
  16. Route and secure 14/4 cable into main electrical enclosure box and terminate as shown in Diagram B on page 21, connecting to the L1, L2, L3 and ground contacts.
  17. Route and secure 18/12 cable into 12” x 12” box, and terminate as shown in Diagram A on page 20 of the manual.
  18. Terminate wires from both electrical cables in the floor junction box as shown on page 18 of the manual. Supply line voltage, as shown on the nameplate to 14/4 cable junction in floor track junction box. This line voltage must be connected to a separate fused disconnect rated at no more than 15 amps. This connection is shown as an option on page 19 of the manual, or may be provided by the installer. Conduit, straps, wire, hardware, etc. that are used to connect the floor track box to the disconnect must be provide by the installer. All wires that are pulled must be labeled to correspond to those in the floor track box. The remaining 18/12 cable wires are interlock connections and should be connected as shown in the optional disconnect stand drawing on page 19 of the manual. Connect applicable interlock wires to 18/12 cable in 8 x 6 x 4 junction box.
  19. Remove chain guard and install and tension the chain.
  20. Install the Herringbone transition to the end of the fixed feeder conveyor.
  21. If purchased, install the full-line read assembly to the rear of the Transition plate as shown on page 71-72 of the manual. The wheel bracket should be attached to the plate and the wheel should ride on the conveyor bed. When assembling the wheel bracket, be sure not to over tighten this assembly. The wheel should roll freely within the bracket.
  22. Electrical connections to the proximity switch on the full-line read must be made as shown on page 74 of the manual. The wire from the switch must be secured to the transition using standard wire ties. Be sure to leave a little slack in this wire, so that it is not pulled too tight. The box for this connection is not included and must be provided by the Installer.
  23. The power and signal wire must then be routed back to the disconnect stand and secured to their corresponding numbers on the terminal strip. These wires must be run in some type of electrical conduit, which is normally attached to the fixed feeder conveyor. Conduit, straps, wires etc. are not included and must be provided by the installer. These wires also must be numbered to correspond with the listed numbers on the drawing on page 19 of the manual.

Telescopic Conveyors

  1. Remove all protective shipping materials such as plastic covers, straps, wrapping, etc.
  2. If the conveyor has a traversing system, ensure front and rear traverse rails are square and then tighten the traverse clutch and lock down the traverse wheel grub screws after positioning.
  3. Install the conveyor according to the measurements and instructions specified on the installation drawing as found in the manual and inside the main control panel.
  4. Remove all the shipping straps from the front load shafts prior to extending the conveyor. The front covers must be removed to access these straps.
  5. Make all power and control connections as specified in the electrical schematics found in the manual. Verify correct direction of motor rotation. If non-VFD controlled 3 phase motors run opposite of expected, swap two of three incoming leads for proper phase.
  6. Validate that e-stops and the extension stop bar function to stop the machine upon activation.
  7. If conveyor has hydraulic tilt, check locking nut for the tilt pin, located at the rear of the main conveyor stage, and tighten as appropriate. Tighten all hydraulic fittings, set flow control valves to achieve required flow rate and adjust fully raised hydraulic tilt target to fully raised position.
  8. Install all separately shipped/wrapped guards, brackets, and other components.
  9. Perform the following to verify proper function:
    1. With the belt on, fully extend and retract all stages
    2. If equipped, hydraulically raise and lower the conveyor while fully extended
    3. If equipped, check that travers photoeyes stop traverse motion
    4. If equipped, traverse the unit left and right
    5. If equipped, validate the photoeye flow control