ABHR looks at how automation has transformed weighbridge use to increase process efficiencies, and how METTLER TOLEDO’s innovations are at the forefront of this evolution.
When it comes to bulk material handling, speed, accuracy, and reliability are three fundamental principles businesses rely upon.
The weighbridge, often referred to as the ‘cash register’ of the bulk handling business, is a prime contributor to the importance of efficient material handling. It is the first and/or last point where goods are weighed, and transactions are recorded, making it a critical control point.
Consider current weighbridge transaction scenarios where drivers are exposed to unsafe and inefficient practices. The drivers are required to get out of the truck in a very busy site, go to the weighbridge office, and wait for the paperwork before returning to the truck and heading off.
It is a tediously slow process with the possibility of human error, which, during peak times like grain harvest, sees businesses hampered by these inefficiencies. These factors, alongside technological developments of METTLER TOLEDO, have seen a rise in automation at the weighbridge.
“It is about speed, accuracy and reliability. Weighbridge automation has been widely adopted and integrated into bulk-handling companies’ processes. As speed reduces transaction time, this means the user experience is so much better,” said METTLER TOLEDO business area manager John Beard.
“The second reason for automation is accuracy as this limits the potential of human error.”
Human errors include incorrect registration plates being recorded, inaccurate weights being documented and wrong selection of products and shipping to address.
There can be concerns when such automation is introduced, including the possibility that solutions will become fragile and unreliable. This is no longer the case and METTLER TOLEDO’s hardware and software components are now proven in several industry segments, many of them in remote locations in Australia.
Across Australia, many companies have upgraded from their traditional weighbridge office to an automated solution. This advancement is seen in new weighbridge installations and upgrades of existing weighbridges. Such upgrades have only been made possible due to the strong return on investment of such automation.
The system can be used and tailor suited in various ways to track a seamless data transfer. METTLER TOLEDO has a local team of experts that can develop, design and support the weighbridge driver control station (DCS), to collect all required information through various data input capabilities, such as a user-friendly touchscreen, RFID, QR code, and Number Plate Recognition. Depending on the customer’s application needs, these can be easily integrated with the customer’s existing software and IT infrastructure.
Some of METTLER TOLEDO’s recent automated weighbridges have resulted in the company not needing to install an expensive second weighbridge. The reduced time of transaction meant one weighbridge is adequate for peak traffic flow by adding driver control stations.
Many of METTLER TOLEDO’s customers have seen a strong return on investment on their first installation and so, quickly engaged METTLER TOLEDO to roll out the unmanned driver control stations across its other sites.
“This movement towards automation was a game-changer when it started, but it is probably not a game-changer anymore; it has become more of a must-have,” Beard said.
“METTLER TOLEDO started seriously pursuing weighbridge automation about 20 years ago. It used to account for a fraction of our business, now we see significantly more new installations and upgrades, including such automation.”
“The requirements of the industries have changed significantly; they want to get their product weighed, correctly recorded and safely delivered to site as quickly as possible. Many are using these unmanned weighbridges 24 hours a day without incident,” he said.
This is vital for many METTLER TOLEDO customers who are now having issues finding good and reliable labour. Trained replacements are proving hard to find as the older workers retire. Automation can help fill the gap, especially in remote areas where there isn’t quick access to seasonal labour.
One solution does not fit all
“We’ve got a range of automation solutions depending on our customers’ budget and the level of complexity that they require,” Beard said. As with most METTLER TOLEDO products, the manufacturer offers a tiered range of solutions for its weighbridges.
This includes customising a weighbridge automation solution with several value-added accessories, which help to provide excellent efficiencies. These range from driver control stations (DCS), automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), traffic lights, anti-theft devices, and a point-of-sale software solution.
The ANPR and anti-theft devices have recently proven to be a popular choice with customers, as business owners defend against theft and inaccurate number plate recording. It reduces a lot of errors such as wrong invoicing, crediting confusion and improves drivers’ onsite experience.
These automated weighbridges and all the extra measures can help ensure compliance with the chain of responsibility (CoR). The introduction of CoR has meant accountability and transparency is of the utmost importance.
The legislation states, “The Chain of Responsibility (CoR) is the part of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) that makes parties other than drivers responsible for the safety of heavy vehicles on the road.”
“There is increasingly significant high pressure on operators to ensure trucks are legally loaded before they leave the site,” Beard said.
“Now we can automatically check gross weights, axle weights and instantly notify the driver if they’re overloaded. Some users already have all the hardware they need, a small software upgrade is sometimes all that is required to gain complete CoR compliance.
“It takes the headache away, helping businesses operate more efficiently, improve accuracy, traceability and compliance with a peace of mind.”
METTLER TOLEDO has the proven technology and expertise to bring new and existing weighbridges into the 21st century.