Growth in the Conveyor Industry: Like Christmas All Year

By Daniel G Fannin, director, CEMA

My wife has moved to the new world of ordering online. She orders gifts, food, and magazines on her phone. She is hooked. She loves shopping online. And, in November, she only had a small bout of black Friday shopping withdrawal. Shopping online is easy and accurate, and the packages magically appear at our home. And if one is an hour late, my wife can track the package online. What she doesn’t realize is the technology behind this convenience. Yes, most people think of the phone, the Internet, the software, and the great companies providing the products. I think of the conveyor technology that allows the magic to materialize.

At CEMA (Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association), it is on our mind every day of the year. At CEMA’s annual meeting held every March, we take time to discuss the past and we envision the future. We discuss industry safety, product standards, industry trends and change dynamics, review bookings and shipments, and we look at the future. It allows members to keep a “finger on the pulse” of changes in the market.

As a predominantly manufacturing association, we must understand the dynamics and trends to stay ahead of the demand in the market. CEMA’s history dates back to 1933. We provide a comprehensive range of knowledge, talent, and takeaways at three meetings a year.

Our members are composed of leading manufacturers and designers of conveyors and conveying systems who design, produce, and install all types of conveying machinery. Our members throughout the years have helped shape the company history of CEMA. In September 2014, CEMA expanded its membership representation to include the “Americas.”

Learn More about CEMA and conveying at the International Powder & Bulk Solids Exhibition & Conference, May 3-5, 2016

Drawing upon the expertise of our member companies, CEMA is able to provide the industry with standards, technical information, safety labels, and safety information from our meetings where member company representatives develop and discuss conveyor industry standards, technical publications, and new developments in conveyor design, technology, application, and safety.

CEMA works closely with other organizations, such as the Material Handling Industry and the Association of Rubber Products Manufacturers, with an interest in materials handling, voluntary standards, and business in general. Working closely with these organizations ensures our members that CEMA is providing them with as much up-to-date information within the industry.

One of the highlights at the CEMA annual meeting is the speakers. Industry experts update members on the economy, product trends, and mega trends. Current and mega trends impact our members in many ways. Consider the forces at work in the last couple of years. Think about the changes that have occurred in the oil and gas markets, metals industry, the agriculture industry, and the growth of E-commerce. These dynamics impact capital expansions, investment in R&D, product development to serve new growth segments, industry lead-time requirements, tooling, office and manufacturing manpower planning, raw material and supply chain planning, and helps to determine budgets for the future.

Over the last six years, the conveyor industry has grown at an 11.6% compound annual growth rate. Conveyor equipment has grown rapidly; capital deployment is a significant consideration within our industry. But not all segments within our industry have grown at this pace. As a member, details on the growth segments allow investments in the critical growth areas. It also allows members to shift capacities to the growth segments to meet the market demand.

Over the last several years CEMA has been very busy, thanks to the strong membership. This year, CEMA will be releasing the second edition of the CEMA Application Guide for Unit Handling Conveyors. This revision will expand and update every chapter, include new and expanded data, and new graphics and tables. The Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials design manual had a major revision in 2014. The industry’s leading design manual has come a long way from 1966, when the first edition was released with just 331 pages. The seventh edition includes expanded data, fundamentals of design, belt conveyor capacities, belt selections, general applications, Ki and Ai factors, metric conversions, and much more. The Spanish version of the 7th edition Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials, with Metric Conversion, is now available in print and pdf format.

At CEMA, we are continually working on safety standards, product standards, design manuals, and publications, preparing the conveyor industry for change. Whether the change affects screw conveyors or belt conveyors, products or systems, CEMA members are ready for the future.

Daniel G Fannin, is VP business process excellence, Power Transmission Solutions, Regal Beloit America Inc. He is also a current director and past president of CEMA. For more information on Regal Beloit America Inc., visit www.regalbeloit.com. For more information on CEMA, visit www.cemanet.org.

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