How to Eliminate Towline Conveyor Downtime
(updated Jun 5, 2025)
Eliminating towline conveyor downtime has always been a very integral issue. Towline in-floor conveyor and transportation systems are known for their longevity, robustness, ease of operation and ease of maintenance. Playing a key role in today’s automation technology, towline systems are deployed in distribution centers and manufacturing assembly lines all over the world. What is the key to keeping these systems operational and eliminating downtime? It comes down to two key factors:
- System design and materials
- Proper Maintenance
Towline Conveyor Design & Materials
To eliminate towline conveyor downtime, system design and material construction are the first key factor in selecting and keeping your towline system running effectively, consistently and efficiently. The materials used in the construction of the towline should be rugged and durable. Some towlines are built for under five years of usage. When dealing with these towlines, material selection is different and the maintenance requirements become much higher. Other towline systems that are designed for a greater lifespan, not only use more durable materials, but often have features that help eliminate frequent jamming.
Chain jamming is the largest single cause of unnecessary downtime. Brushes, magnets and other devices certainly provide some help to prevent chain jamming, but since jamming is the number one source of downtime and maintenance cost, it is better to utilize an engineered solution.
Anti-jamming designs such as the Track-Gap™ system employ two proactive means of eliminating track jamming. The Track-Gap system consists of a void or open area in the channel, between the chain guard and the channel wall just below the towpin. This specially-designed area helps keep contaminants contained below the towpin and also out of the chains links. This engineered solution makes a large impact on towline performance.
Towline Conveyor Maintenance
Another effective way to eliminate towline conveyor downtime is a preventative maintenance program that focuses on regular lubrication, cleaning, and inspection/adjustment. This will keep your system running smoothly for years and decades. The program of anticipatory maintenance can substantially reduce the threat of system downtime, which can be costly in any type of operation. For example, if during a routine inspection excessive chain wear is detected, it is vital to first check to see if the chain is being properly lubricated and being used as specified. Finding and eliminating the root cause of a potential problem during routine maintenance will eliminate costly shutdowns later and extend the life of the system.
Towline System Renovation Programs
Our last suggestion, regardless of the towline’s manufacturer, is to look into renovation programs to bring new life into your old systems. Often, this type of program can not only identify and correct maintenance issues, but can re-engineer and design the system to match current needs and performance expectations. SI Systems services towline system repairs, extensions, and expansions through our Rejuvenate & Retrofit program (R&R) in order to extend and upgrade the life and performance of towline conveyors. Contact us for more information.