How to Choose the Best Dumper for Your Production Line
Choosing the best dumper for your production line can be a bit of a challenge.
Jump on Google and do a quick search for “meat dumpers” and you’ll find a number of options and configurations to choose from — all claiming to be the best dumper you can buy.
So how do you choose the right dumper for your needs?
We laid out a process below to help you choose the best dumper for you.
Know What You Need
Before you start checking out dumpers online, make a list of what you need and any sizing or space limitations. This will help you weed out the options that don’t work for your production line and make the search a lot easier.
Size and Space
Start with size and space limitations:
- Ceiling height. You have to make sure the fully extended height of the dumper will fit.
- Discharge height. What is the height of the equipment you’re dumping into?
- Combo dimensions. How big is the combo or pallet you’re dumping from?
- Loading. Which side will you load product into the dumper?
Features & Options
Once you have this information, consider some of the options or additional features you may want:
- Cylinder style. Do you want stainless steel or carbon cylinders?
- Powerpack. Will you need a power pack or will you direct wire it?
- Controls. Do you need controls, or will you control the dumper from an existing panel?
- Imbed plates. Will you need extra mounting?
Some manufactures allow you add or remove these features to fit the needs of your facility — so knowing exactly what you need will help you narrow down your options to the best dumper, and get an accurate quote.
Safety
Lastly, consider the safety options that comply with your safety requirements.
- Safety bar. A single bar that keeps people clear of the dump area.
- Safety cage. Fully enclosed guarding around the entire dumper.
- Safety gate. A gate that keeps people clear of the loading area.
Your company guidelines will help determine what level of safety is needed.
Dumper Styles
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to match it up to the most common dumper styles. This will help you quickly narrow down the long list of dumpers you found on Google and get you to the best dumper for your facility.
Pivot Dumper
Description: The pivot dumper is the most versatile and common dumper style found in food processing plants across the country. Employees load product containers into a pivot dumper, and the carriage pivots around a bar to dump product onto other equipment.
Typical Discharge Heights: A pivot dumper typically ranges in discharge heights up to 60 inches. However, we broke that rule and designed a 72 inch pivot dumper for one of our clients.
Best Use: Dumping heavy product onto conveyors and other equipment to avoid employee injury.
Lift & Pivot Dumper
Description: The lift and pivot dumper is a modified version of the pivot dumper above in order to accommodate higher discharge heights. Employees load product containers into the dumper, and the carriage lifts most of the way and then pivots around a bar to dump product onto other equipment.
Typical Discharge Heights: A lift and pivot dumper has discharge heights starting at 60 inches and higher.
Best Use: Dumping heavy product onto conveyors and other equipment over 5 feet tall.
Two-Stage Dumper
Description: The Two-Stage Dumper gives operators the ability to separate wood or plastic pallets from the product container by holding the pallet back during the dumping cycle. It works like a normal pivot dumper in two stages.
Typical Discharge Heights: A two-stage dumper typically ranges in discharge heights up to 74 inches.
Best Use: Dumping product container that includes a pallet.
Barrel Dumper
Description: The barrel dumper works much like a pivot dumper, but is modified to handle product stored in round barrels as opposed to vats (including liquid product). Employees load product barrels into the dumper, and the carriage lifts most of the way and then pivots around a bar to dump product onto other equipment.
Typical Discharge Heights: A barrel dumper typically ranges in discharge heights up to 60 inches.
Best Use: Dumping liquid and other barreled product.
Side Pivot Dumper
Description: The side pivot dumpers works like a pivot dumper, but is modified for use in space-constrained locations within a facility. Employees load product into the side of the dumper carriage (rather than the front like a standard pivot dumper), and the carriage lifts most of the way and then pivots around a bar to dump product onto other equipment.
Typical Discharge Heights: A side pivot dumper typically ranges in discharge heights up to 72 inches.
Best Use: Dumping product in a limited space.
Column Dumper
Description: The column dumper works much like the lift and pivot dumper, but is modified for use in small spaces. Employees load product containers into the dumping arms, and the container lifts to a specified height and dumps.
Typical Discharge Heights: A column dumper typically ranges in discharge heights 50 inches and higher.
Best Use: Dumping product when limited floor space is available and discharge height is great.
Get Help
Every manufacturer is different in the styles and options they provide on their dumpers.
When in doubt, just ask!
Submit all the requirements you have for your dumper and the manufacturer will be able to help point you in the direction of the best dumper for your needs. Or, if they are like us, they can custom design the exact dumper you need.
Download the Catalog
Looking for more information on purchasing high-quality dumpers for your food processing plant? Download our Fusion Move catalog to see how Fusion Tech can design and manufacture a custom dumper that will meet the needs of your specific application.
