The conveyor with a constant speed may not be appropriate if production demands change. The various materials, product types, process phase or other equipment will need certain speeds of material transfer. The conveyor system automation can solve this problem because it will allow variable-speed control instead of fixed-speed only. Variable frequency drives will allow adjusting the motor speed according to the demands of particular conveyor application and conveyor load. It means that the speed of the conveyor will be adjusted according to the actual process and not remain constantly one certain one.

Mitsubishi Electric particularly emphasizes the importance of setting the correct speed for motor and conveyor load.

Speed control can also become important if several conveyors or other machines have to work simultaneously. For example, a conveyor can reduce its speed before the point of transfer of material, keep a certain speed for coordination with some other process or regulate its speed depending on the flow of materials.

The objective is to have a material flow that is well-controlled and not just fast material flow. Proper speed control will help to minimize stress on the equipment as well. In cases of facilities where production conditions change, automatic speed control is much more flexible than fixed-speed conveyor.

The operators of the facility and the designers will have more control on how the material flows in the facility and how the performance of the conveyor responds to changing needs.