Flat belt conveyors

[Hoser06]

I'm interested in any feedback from operators with flat conveyors also. Cost, longevity, maintenance issues etc.
Here is a mini tunnel at a gas station that I've visited. Aside from the cashier inside the c-store. the site isn't manned. One of the big downsides I see with them is the inability to use cam style wheel brushes and tire shiners since the wheels don't rotate.

 

[parsonii]

i really like the look of them .... and i think customers would love them, from old ladies that get freaked out approaching a correllator to guys driving new porshches and duallys. this could easily be a differentiator in many customers minds between the 3 dollar wash and a 5 dollar wash

 

[smokun]

Responding To The Question

Trusting I can mention a manufacturer, since they are the only ones who also make a full line of equipment that is compatible with a non-rolling vehicle, AVW has a wheel cleaning system that tracks with the wheel cavity area. They, along with the other U.S. manufacturer, also have a spray applicator for tire dressing that requires no applicator swabbing. As well, as previously mentioned by Earl, some operators use the exit-end off-conveyor tire shine applicators with the drive-thru exit. I think it's a cumbersome alternative, but it seems to work for them.

The flat-belt conveyor is still more expensive than traditional conveyors at face value. But if you factor in the savings of valuable tunnel space and the ultra-smooth ride for the customer... as well as the marketing advantages and benefits of a moving-floor & non-rolling wheel, the value proposition may favor the flat-belt in competitive marketplaces.

(more)

 

[smokun]

Responding To The Question

Let's face it, carwash equipment makers still malign the flat-belt... simply because they don't have one to sell and prefer to still promote the older technology because everyone is comfortable with them... and it's more profitable for the manufacturer to hold newer technology at bay... until the marketplace demands it for the obvious benefits. The same thing was true when pull-chains & push bars were gradually replaced by automatic conveyors. And similar to the plastic bristle versus cloth. The same price disparity was present then, but you were comparing a simple chain with a conveyor roller and the differences were conspicuous and easy to understand. And the misrepresentations made about plastic bristles "scratching" finishes were blatantly untrue... but made by makers of competitive products who new better but felt fine fostering lies.

Flat-belts conveying a vehicle atop their moving-floor is much more sophisticated... and it's value is appreciated more by consumers than old-school operators with myopically simplistic financial engineering comfort. Innovation has always moved our industry and progress is inevitable. Back in the day, Flappen, Palmer and a few others were innovative equipment designers... and Hanna broke down walls with innovative financial & marketing savvy. Unfortunately, the industry has become satisfied mostly with copycats and rendition cloning skills. That is, until the flat-belt conveyor, which is perceived by some as a threat. Nothing new with that business dynamic.

(even more)

 

[smokun]

Responding To The Question

The flat-belt is more easily embraced by its compatibility with high-production after-care performance, a topic I've written about often. Done properly, conveyorized after-care profitability has the greatest profit center opportunity in this century! It is the second operational component in the flex-serve dynamic. Sadly to their detriment, new operators are intimidated by the concept of labor... and older operators are pretty much burned out by indifference. But those who choose to learn and understand contemporary labor processing and apply it to automotive appearance-care will find themselves poised to generate huge profits... while the unenlightened stand by and watch... and whine. Apologies if this candor offends anyone because it's intent is to motive a wake-up call.

Some well-intended advice truly meant to enlighten...

 

[mac]

Steve, I think you nailed it. Take 100 people off the street and have them look at both systems, and ask them which one looks more modern, nicer, cleaner, and safer. If 99 out of those don't say the flat bely, I'll but you a nice dinner. I like the darn thing and I've never seen one.

 

[smokun]

Nothing Exciting About Status Quo

Mac, the carwash industry simply needs more visionaries. Passionate people who really "feel" this business... and risk being innovative in how they have real fun while making money. Might that be too existential for this forum?

Unfortunately, the major suppliers are stuck in the mediocrity of just being satisfied with "good enough". And in truth, it never is. Copying is just another way of following... and following isn't innovation. It's sad to see equipment makers actively stifle burgeoning progress in order to satisfy self-serving motives.

The industry needs genuine innovators who truly understand and know the business of automotive appearance-care... while remaining sensitive to the emotion of consumers. Where are they?

 

[parsonii]

Mac, the carwash industry simply needs more visionaries. Passionate people who really "feel" this business... and risk being innovative in how they have real fun while making money. Might that be too existential for this forum?

Unfortunately, the major suppliers are stuck in the mediocrity of just being satisfied with "good enough". And in truth, it never is. Copying is just another way of following... and following isn't innovation. It's sad to see equipment makers actively stifle burgeoning progress in order to satisfy self-serving motives.

The industry needs genuine innovators who truly understand and know the business of automotive appearance-care... while remaining sensitive to the emotion of consumers. Where are they?

i couldn't agree with you more. let's face it every client wants to put their car in park not neutral. neurtral feels weird. we should be thinking outside of the box in so many different ways ----every freaking carwash is an ugly tunnel and we spend 1 million dollars and not for a minute do we think about design or building something cool

this is a cool carwash:

 

[Earl Weiss]

Seen flat belts. Only downside is cost. To replace a 100 foot conveyor may cost you $40K To replace it with a flat belt may be $80K plus tear out and replacement of concrete for another $40K. So if new it's $40K more on top of the entire equipment cost. So far it seems maintenance costs are anecdotal but most projections are that cost of belt replacement versus chain and rollers is approximately double.

Amortizing those expenses over the projected life of the Conveyors comes to a difference of $??? per car.

 

[mac]

Good point Earl. Time will reveal what the life cycle costs of the flat belts are. And life cycle costs are the ones that we need to focus on. Painting tunnell walls verses nice pvc paneling is another example. The paneling is a lot more than paint up front. Over 10 to 15 years paneling comes out on top. My guess is that it might cost 0.50 to a 1.00 more per wash with the flat belt, but if you are a customer who looks inside the tunnell, you'll go with the flat belt every time. Also overlooked, at least for now, flat belt conveyors is a fairly mature part of industry. It ain't rocket science. Look for more players getting into this.