• Home
• Videos
• Hytrol & IF Working Together

IntelliFinishing and Hytrol Conveyor Systems: A Masterclass in Operational Efficiency

Hytrol Conveyor Company really shook things up in the conveyor solutions world when they added an IntelliFinishing system at their Jonesboro, Arkansas HQ in 2015. They were so impressed with the boost in finishing productivity, flexibility of the system, and quality of the finished products that they decided to install an even better IntelliFinishing system at their new Fort Smith, Arkansas facility in 2020. The new system offered the ability to handle even larger parts up to twelve feet long with much higher throughput of up to 75 carriers per hour.

In 2023, to ramp up the finishing system efficiency even more, Hytrol made a big move. They installed a Hytrol floor conveyor system to feed products from their fabrication lanes to their IntelliFinishing load lifts. This addition by Hytrol of their own product not only made the transition from fabrication to painting smoother, it nearly eliminated all fork and cart traffic from fabrication to the finishing system. This additional change had a huge impact, creating a ripple effect of continued throughput improvements as well as improvements in ergonomic handling of parts after fabrication and during loading of parts onto the IntelliFinishing powder coating system.

Hytrol Conveyor Company: A Beacon of Innovation

Since starting out in 1947, Hytrol Conveyor Company has been a leader in the material handling industry. Their innovative conveyor solutions and design methods, along with their commitment to the community, show their holistic approach to progress. Hytrol's strong presence in sectors like manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain highlights their versatile capabilities.

The Alliance with IntelliFinishing

The partnership with IntelliFinishing happened in two phases, each marking a significant milestone in their growth. The first system was installed in 2015 at Jonesboro, and the results were impressive. Seeing throughput, part finish quality, and operational benefits, Hytrol decided to create a more advanced system capable of handling larger parts and at a higher capacity. So, in 2020, the IntelliFinishing system was set up at the new Fort Smith facility.

The Specialty of IntelliFinishing

One of the coolest features of IntelliFinishing is its spinning tube conveyor, which, combined with its recipe-based smart controls, makes for a truly innovative system. Each of Hytrol’s IntelliFinishing Systems eliminate paint contamination from the conveyance, offers per carrier recipe variation based on optimal product coating requirements, saves 30 to 40% on energy compared to conventional conveyor/oven designs, and provides a more reliable, durable, and nearly maintenance-free system.

IntelliFinishing's smart controls are one of the keys to changing the traditional coating paradigm by offering unmatched per part recipe flexibility and long-term system adaptability. This cutting-edge controls software and accompanying hardware allows Hytrol to powder coat a wide variety if part sizes and shapes with precision throughout the finishing process. The unique layout of IntelliFinishing's system lets carriers move forward, backward, vertically via lifts, and sometimes even side to side. This design flexibility saves space and boosts efficiency. The smart controls help to cut down on labor costs, as parts don’t need to be resorted prior to load, and manpower, by more efficient loading/unloading and painting.

Operational Improvements After Integration

After integrating the Hytrol Floor Conveyor system to bring parts to each of the four load lifts by part type, Hytrol saw another boost in production output. The roller conveyor helped Hytrol move away from traditional part transport methods of roller carts, fork trucks and pallets. Manpower needs were reassigned to more important jobs than just transporting product from fabrication to the finishing system, safety was enhanced, and costs reduced since Hytrol was no longer as reliant on heavy fork truck machinery. The new floor conveyor process also boosted team engagement and overall morale while enhancing ergonomic handling of parts after fabrication and while loading parts, bringing parts up to waist high levels rather than from a pallet or from within a cart.

Hytrol's decision to add an IntelliFinishing system to their new Fort Smith facility helped them reach new levels of finishing productivity. The IntelliFinishing system and the whole installation process exceeded expectations, while integrating the Hytrol Floor Conveyor proved out the benefits of integration with their own technology.

Manufacturers looking to modernize and enhance their finishing systems should consider the benefits of IntelliFinishing. They might also want to consider if a Hytrol Conveyor Systems for moving parts to a finishing system might be more efficient, safer, and less costly than using fork trucks and manually pushed/pulled carts of parts. Together, the boost in efficiency and output potential provides a great roadmap for those aiming to upgrade their operations.

Pairing IntelliFinishing and Hytrol Conveyor Systems shows the power of advanced technologies. By adopting and integrating these cutting-edge systems, companies can redefine operations, cut costs, increase productivity, and set the stage for sustainable, long-term success. Hytrol's success story is a testament to the advancements awaiting those ready to innovate in the manufacturing and finishing world.