Are you considering a sortation solution for your local warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing facility? The most common kinds of sortation systems vary greatly in capability and expense. In this article we offer a high level summary of the benefits and disadvantages of the three most prominent types of sortation solutions.

Cross-Belt Sorter & Tilt Tray Sorter

Cross-belt and tilt-tray sortation systems offer similar capability and are oftentimes lumped together when talking about sortation mechanization. However, they are not the same thing at all.

Tilt-tray sorters are made up of trays attached to carts that are carried on a continuous-loop conveyor. Items are put into the trays at one or more induction stations on the loop through manual or automatic procedures. When an item reaches its sorting location, the tray that is transporting it tips and deposits the product onto a chute.

Cross-belt sorters are motorized belt conveyors added to carts operating on a continuous conveyor loop. Similar to tilt-trays, cross-belt sorters transfer products onto a chute when they reach the appropriate sorting location.

Advantages: Tilt-tray and Cross-belt sorters provide the greatest sorting speed and can handle a wide variety of product types as opposed to other sortation systems. They are an excellent choice for operations that deal with a variety of SKUs. These types of systems are also fairly noiseless and permit a more comfortable workplace for warehouse personnel.

Disadvantages: The speed, capability and versatility or these sorters come at a price-- they are among the most costly sortation solutions on the market.

Shoe Sorter

Sliding shoe sorters use a "shoe" system attached to the conveyor surface that nudges and diverts materials onto a secondary, after-sort conveyor. Shoe sorter configurations receive goods from a unified flow of items that might be a mixed feed from multiple upstream areas of a facility. These kinds of sortation systems are extensively utilized in shipping applications.

Advantages: Sliding shoe sorter systems allow for a fairly high peak rate, in some cases several hundred units per minute, depending on the item weight and dimensions. In addition, a large range of products can be processed because of the simplicity and versatility of a positive divert system.

Disadvantages: Shoe sorters are more expensive than other alternatives like pop-up wheel sorters. Also, divert areas are not easily movable, making the system difficult and expensive to rearrange. These systems also generate more decibels than belt or tray solutions and are accordingly not as worker-friendly as other types of sorters.

Pop-up Wheel Sorter

Pop-up wheel sorters are a popular choice since they are relatively low-cost and simple to implement. Wheels or rollers are integrated with a belt conveyor. When a product has to be diverted, the wheels quickly rise up to shift items at an angle to a secondary, downstream conveyor.

Advantages: Pop-up wheel sorters are adaptive, so components can be quickly incorporated or removed when the line needs reconfiguration. These systems can also be considerably less costly than other sorter options.

Disadvantages: These kinds of sorters provide far less performance and capacity than tilt-tray, cross-belt or shoe options. They will undoubtedly boost productivity, yet may not optimize total output like other solutions. Because pop-up systems do not use a positive divert, the kinds of items they can process are limited.

Automated Sortation Systems Near Me

To get more details on sortation choices, get in touch with an automation expert at Raymond West today!

Raymond West's Sacramento facility serves the greater Sacramento area and other parts of Northern California, including Sacramento, Elk Grove, Auburn, Placerville, Vacaville, Fairfield, Sausalito, Napa, Santa Rosa, Redding, Eureka and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Sacramento Material Handling Equipment Supplier

900 National Dr
Sacramento, CA 95834
(800) 675-2500