If you’ve ever asked yourself if you need a ball transfer table for your project, the answer is probably “yes.” If you’ve never thought of getting one before, but your shop is growing to the point where it is hard to smoothly transport objects (heavy or small) between stations, the answer is also “yes”. Many startup companies that are new to the industrial industry and its many secrets for efficient work practices do not always think of a ball transfer table as a solution. You may be one of these new manufacturers or you might just be helping out with industrial furniture and equipment procurement, so let’s talk about what a ball transfer table is and how it can make your shop safer and more efficient.
Ball transfer tables get their name from the grid of closely packed ball casters located on a work surface. The balls allow you to effortlessly shift and rotate objects on the table to either transfer them to another station or perform adjustments and inspections more easily in place. Ball Transfer Tops are an indispensible tool when it comes to manufacturing and sorting in a fast production line, particularly when heavy objects are being manufactured or moved. Without a ball transfer table it can require a significant amount of strength to push or turn objects.
You might think that strength isn’t an issue for your smaller applications, especially if you hire to fitness standards, but it’s a fact that extended physical efforts take more time and expose you to the possibility of injuries, particularly if repetitive tasks are necessary to get your production up to speed. Using a ball transfer table is more safe and faster; a properly fitted ball transfer top can quickly pay for itself.
The common linear, disk-shaped skate wheels also have their place, but ball transfer tables should be your choice when you need to sort and rotate objects. Use the standard linear wheels or rollers when you need to move packages or other items in a straight line and use a ball transfer table as a sorting hub, since you can move items on it in any direction. This makes them invaluable in large warehouses, where sorting a single line of inventory into the appropriate categories can be one of the most time consuming and complex regular tasks.
If you are just starting to set up and perform the kind of manufacturing, shipping or receiving that demands a dedicated industrial furniture solution like a ball transfer table, contact us; we’ve been helping businesses with our ball transfer solutions for over 30 years and can help you to design the perfect ball transfer solution for your specific application. Contact RDM for more information.