A Weighty Proposition

Written by Don Halbert

Scale systems can help companies optimize billing and productivity in warehouse and DC environments.

Properly managing inventory and billing in warehouse and distribution center (DC) environments often depends upon documenting and weighing freight upon arrival and before shipping. Material handling charges are frequently determined by the weight of the transported load; thus, high-accuracy weighing processes are required to optimize revenue in these applications. Precise weighing can also help ensure customers are invoiced for the exact amount of materials purchased or shipped, maintaining a satisfied customer base and improving inventory management. By enhancing productivity and billing accuracy, a reliable, user-friendly scale system can save companies a significant amount of money every year.

To ensure the weighing process helps rather than hinders operations, the scale system selected should provide efficient results and legal-for-trade accuracy as well as facilitate simple documentation and billing. The most common solutions used in these applications - floor scales, lift truck scales and truck scales - offer unique advantages and should be selected based upon the type, value and amount of commodities handled.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Material Handling Management Magazine

Flexible Lease Options Keep Cash and Credit Lines Intact

Written by Larry Behrens and Scott Hamburg

Cash flow may slow in a down economy, but companies must remain at peak performance in order to turn a profit. To do this, newer, more efficient equipment is often needed. Unfortunately, the capital investment required for these upgrades may not be available, especially in today's economic climate.

For example, one tried-and-true method for saving on expenses-as well as maintaining legal compliance-in the construction industry is weighing all materials on a truck scale. After construction vehicles are loaded with materials, a truck scale can be used to ensure each is filled to its proper capacity, reducing the number of trips required to and from the worksite. Conversely, the scale can also ensure that vehicles are not overloaded, which could lead to costly fines and increased wear-and-tear on vehicles-resulting in higher maintenance costs.

Truck scales provide precise load weights to ensure accurate transactions between the companies supplying and purchasing the materials used.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Construction Business Owner Magazine

Tillamook Creamery weighs cheese with Avery Weigh-Tronix

For nearly a century, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), based out of Tillamook, Oregon, has delivered farmer-fresh dairy products with all-natural ingredients - a combination that, along with the company's operations and community service, has resulted in numerous awards from industry publications and organizations. For customers, flavor is key, and it's all about TCCA's hands-on approach.

"We age all our cheese in-house," said Tim Tomlinson, packaging manager for TCCA. That includes Tillamook Cheese Medium Cheddar, aged over 60 days to ensure optimum flavor. "That ensures it's very high-quality," Tomlinson added.

TCCA, maker of Tillamook Cheese, is a farmer-owned cooperative that includes approximately 120 dairy families throughout the country. The company offers a variety of cheeses offered in a broad range of sizes - from 5 lb. blocks to 3/4 oz. portions for on-the-go treats. Affirming that each of these products weighs the correct amount, in order to confirm correct product quantity and pricing, is an important part of the process.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Automation.com

New Forklift Scale Increases LTL Carrier's Efficiency

With a diverse customer base spanning 10 states, Lakeville Motor Express - headquartered in Roseville, MN - picks up freight from various facilities and transfers it to customers. This LTL (less than truckload) carrier offers a wide range of services, including pool distribution, brokerage, and logistics.

Using Avery Weigh-Tronix forklift scales to weigh and bill freight has helped the carrier optimize profits while protecting shippers for more than 10 years. The forklift scales are used to verify that the customer pays only for the amount of freight transported instead of estimating the weight of each load.

"The shipper can do their best to estimate the weight of the freight we're picking up, but it's hard - they could guess 1,000 lb when it actually weighs 1,300," said Pete Roberts at Lakeville Motor Express.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Industrial Equipment News

Heavy-Duty Drilling Industry Weighing Solutions

The oil industry is directly related to the drilling industry. As the need for oil continues to grow, efficient drilling practices become more vital. M-I SWACO, a Houston-based company, distributes two materials important for this industry: Barite, a cement-like casting materials keeps soft, sandy earth from caving in during the drilling process; and a gel material, mixed to customer specifications, allows a bit to drill more efficiently. Several challenges exist, however, when weighing these materials to meet customer requirements.

Stored in tanks weighing upwards of one million pounds each, Barite is transported from a chemical vendor via an ocean-faring barge. In an effort to reduce time that was previously spent refilling smaller holding tanks, tank sizes have increased significantly. The tanks are weighed upon arrival and the Barite is then pumped into separate weighing tanks that measure the specific customer's requested amount. Only heavy-duty scales can withstand such high demand and continually perform accurately while withstanding rain, salt water, humidity and the other environmental challenges of an off shore locale.

M-I SWACO faces an additional challenge of weighing the multiple components used in their gel product. Depending on client requirements, anywhere from three to five chemicals are combined in one tank. The final product must then be weighing in full and transported to the customer. A rugged scale and multi-faceted system is required to keep maintain records of the various materials.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Chem Info

Tillamook County Creamery Association weighs cheese loaves accurately using checkweigher from Avery Weigh-Tronix.

For nearly a century, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), based out of Tillamook, Oregon, has delivered farmer-fresh dairy products with all-natural ingredients - a combination that, along with the company's operations and community service, has resulted in numerous awards from industry publications and organizations. For customers, flavor is key, and it's all about TCCA's hands-on approach.

"We age all our cheese in-house," said Tim Tomlinson, packaging manager for TCCA. That includes Tillamook Cheese Medium Cheddar, aged over 60 days to ensure optimum flavor. "That ensures it's very high-quality," Tomlinson added.

TCCA, maker of Tillamook Cheese, is a farmer-owned cooperative that includes approximately 120 dairy families throughout the country. The company offers a variety of cheeses offered in a broad range of sizes - from 5 lb. blocks to 3/4 oz. portions for on-the-go treats. Affirming that each of these products weighs the correct amount, in order to confirm correct product quantity and pricing, is an important part of the process.

Click here to read the full article, courtesy of Food Manufacturing®