By Greg Washburn and Joshua Belisle · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 7, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · August 3, 2026
Summary
Who should install my central resin conveying system?
Use an installer who has installed your chosen brand of equipment before, since each manufacturer does certain things its own way and familiarity saves time and headaches. Ask for recent references and make the calls. Having your own employees do the work may not produce real savings and can cost more than experienced installers who keep downtime to a minimum.
You may know of a systems installer but it is best to make sure that the company has installed your chosen brand of equipment previously. Each systems manufacturer has their unique way of doing certain things and having an installer who is familiar with the equipment/system you have purchased can save lots of time and headaches down the road. Ask for recent references and make the phone calls to ensure the installer can do what they promise.
Some processors opt to have their own employees do the installation. There is great doubt that provides any real savings and it may cost far more than paying experienced installers who will ensure that you suffer minimal downtime.
Typically, the installer is well qualified to handle all 12 and 14 volt electrical connections. Local licensed electricians or employees should be used for all electrical installation and connecting of 115 volts and up because they are more familiar with local regulations.
See: Troubleshooting a New System. These are the procedures your installer will follow during startup.
Once the installation is complete, if your contract includes it, your employees will get adequate training on how the overall system and the controllers work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles electrical connections when installing a conveying system?
The systems installer is typically well qualified to handle the low-voltage connections. For all electrical installation and connections at 115 volts and up, use local licensed electricians or employees, because they are more familiar with local regulations.
Can my own maintenance staff install a central conveying system?
Some processors do, but it is doubtful that it provides any real savings, and it may cost far more than paying experienced installers who keep downtime to a minimum. If you bring in an outside company, confirm it has installed your chosen brand of equipment before and call its recent references.
What training comes with a conveying system installation?
Once installation is complete, and if your contract includes it, your employees receive training on how the overall system and its controllers work. During startup, the installer follows the procedures described in Troubleshooting a New System. Check whether training is written into the contract before installation begins.
About the Authors
Vice President of Operations, Novatec
Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments. Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. His experience spans engineering, manufacturing and operations across Novatec’s material-handling technologies.
Technology Manager, Novatec
Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, where his work focuses on simulation and technology development for resin drying. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023 and joined Novatec that same year. Joshua uses simulation tools to investigate previously difficult-to-measure aspects of the drying process, helping Novatec better understand airflow, heat transfer and other variables that influence resin-drying performance.
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