SURVIVOR in Shining Armor A New Way to Ship · dog to detect hypoglycemia in another person’s breath and sweat. Could training a diabetic alert dog be repeatable? Because of Mark’s

A MAGAZINE AND REFERENCE TOOL FOR THE WEIGHING INDUSTRY / SUMMER 2016 • ISSUE 1 • VOL. 13

Agricultural IntelligenceFarming made smarter with 920i indicator/controller

SURVIVOR® in Shining ArmorGalvanized OTR truck scale

A New Way to ShipInstant dimensional weights with iDimension™ 300

Editorial StaffMelanie Al Faraj, Technical Writer

Tamala Anderson, Designer

Amber Bender, Marketing Support

Laurie Dodge, Technical Writer

Jennifer Graham, Marketing Coordinator

James Hanson, Web Development Specialist

Hayley Hayes, Marketing Specialist

Samantha Heathman, Marketing Specialist

Jackee Johnson, Mailroom Coordinator

Melissa Lambrecht, Marketing Specialist

Rita Lenzen, Exhibit Coordinator

Kelly Musil, Catalog Coordinator

Michelle Nelson, Writer

Caleb Olson, Magazine Editor, Lead Writer

Carrie Popple, Lead Technical Writer

Pat Ranfranz, Marketing Director

Hannah Rechsteiner, Designer

Tina Slayton, Marketing Specialist

Jayden Snitker, Marketing Coordinator

Cody Tolene, Jr. Web Developer

Cara Walters, Writer

Kristina Zengaffinen, Designer

Serving Every IndustryWelcome to the summer edition of Rice Lake Magazine!

Throughout 2016, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Rice Lake Weighing Systems. In 1946, when my grandfather, Donald B. Johnson, established the business in the small town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, he never expected it grow into the international company it has become. Today, Rice Lake serves virtually every industry. This variety is illustrated in articles throughout the magazine.

“The Nose Knows,” tells the fascinating story of diabetic alert dogs who save lives with their sense of smell. As they observe the health of their owners, their health is also monitored—with our RoughDeck® floor scale.

In “Agricultural Intelligence,” you will read about smart farming solutions that incorporate 920i® indicators to maximize feed mill efficiency. You will also read about the livestock component of agriculture in “Five Generations on Lone Pine Farm.”

A galvanized SURVIVOR® OTR truck scale stands up to a corrosive environment in “SURVIVOR in Shining Armor” while an Oregon winery uses an OTR and 720i™ indicator to efficiently manage inventory in “Weighing Wine From A to Z.”

Weight is an integral element in all these stories; however, another industry is moving to a new type of measurement in “A New Way to Ship.” Learn why dimensional weight is the future of freight, and how the iDimension™ 300 can help the shipping sector with its sub-second, accurate capture of dimensions.

From four-legged, life-saving companions to farming, and everywhere in-between, this issue of Rice Lake Magazine has something for everyone. These interesting applications may inspire you to implement a new process, learn more about one of our products or pursue an area of growth for your business.

Our company continues to expand at an exciting rate. Today, we serve every industry yet carry on the commitment to customer satisfaction my grandfather established 70 years ago.

Mark Johnson, Jr. President

2 RICE LAKE MAGAZINE | www.ricelake.com

RICE LAKE MAGAZINE

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RICE LAKE MAGAZINE • Summer 2016 • Issue 1 • Vol. 13

Inside

page 4 What’s New page 6 The Nose Knows Dogs4Diabetics monitors

canine health with a RoughDeck® floor scale page 10 A New Way to Ship

iDimension™ 300 is the anchor of Wholesale Marine’s shipping department page 16 Weighing

Wine From A to Z SURVIVOR OTR and 720i™ indicator streamline operations at an Oregon

winery page 18 Five Generations on Lone Pine Farm Rice Lake

livestock scales pull their own weight on a family farm page 22 Agricultural

Intelligence 920i® indicator/controller creates connected solutions for smart farming

page 26 SURVIVOR® in Shining Armor Galvanized SURVIVOR® OTR truck

scale delivers definitive durability

Find us on Facebook®: facebook.com/

ricelakeweighingsystems

6

16

18

The following product names, logos, brands and other trademarks featured or referred to within this publication are the property of their respective trademark holders.

An ISO 9001 registered company © 2016 Rice Lake Weighing Systems

www.ricelake.com | RICE LAKE MAGAZINE 3

What’s New

1280 Series Programmable indicator/controller with color touchscreen

The 1280 Series indicator/controller is the next generation in Rice Lake’s process control equipment. The 1280 incorporates a durable touchscreen with a seven-inch color LCD display and highly customizable graphical user interface, enabling operators to control functions with real-time visibility. It also utilizes customizable widgets and softkeys, which can be placed on multiple screens to create an interface designed for a specific process. Onboard capabilities include a built-in web server, Ethernet TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth® and RS-232/485. Constructed with industrial-grade components and stainless steel NEMA Type 4X enclosures, the 1280 features IP69K protection for universal and panel mounts. Wall mounts are also available. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/1280 ▪

SAS-S Single Animal Scale

The SAS offers safe and reliable weighing for a wide range of livestock including cattle, horses, sheep, swine and exotics. With a load capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and Legal for Trade readability in one pound increments, the SAS is ideal for county fairs, youth agriculture organizations, university research centers, veterinary practices and producers with fewer than 500 head annually. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/SAS ▪

Rice Lake Acquisition of Heusser Neweigh Metrology ServicesRice Lake Weighing Systems is pleased to announce the acquisition of Heusser Neweigh Metrology Services, a precision weighing and metrology services company based in Concord, California. Heusser Neweigh is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by A2LA, and was founded in 1906 to serve the mining industry with precision balances. Today, Heusser Neweigh is one of the most highly respected brands in its market and specializes in a variety of metrology and calibration services including test weights and instruments for measuring mass, temperature, force, dimensions, physical measurements, pressure and volume. The acquisition of Heusser Neweigh enhances Rice Lake’s service offering and support throughout the United States and across the globe. The new Web address for Heusser Neweigh is: www.ricelake.com/hnw ▪


iDimension™ 100 Dimensioning System

Designed as an economical solution for low- and high-

volume shipping applications, iDimension 100 captures

dimensions of packages, flats and irregular shapes in sub-second

speeds. iDimension 100 is equipped with the same durable dimensioning

functionality and operating versa-tility as the iDimension Series, yet

streamlined with an industry-leading compact footprint. With an operator

display directly attached and no PC interface required, iDimension 100

is truly plug and play—simply open, assemble and display dimensions.

Instantly. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/iDimension100 ▪

X-Scan Plus 950, X-Contact 357S and X-Contact 356 Body Composition Analyzers (BCAs)

BCAs provide detailed data about a client’s overall picture of health, keeping the focus on body composition and not just a number on a scale. These new additions to the Rice Lake line of BCAs utilize the most advanced bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology to provide accurate and dependable results, validated to gold standards including isotope dilution and DEXA analysis. The X-Scan Plus 950 is a professional-class BCA, with six frequencies, in-depth reporting with multiple analysis tracking, expanded communications and 8.4-inch color touchscreen display. The X-Scan 357S and 356 both feature 7-inch color touchscreen displays, while the 357S incorporates multiple analysis tracking and four frequencies for high-precision results. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/bca ▪

RoughDeck® AX-1 Truck Axle Scale

The RoughDeck AX-1 is the ideal portable solution for on-site vehicle weighing. This economical option for vehicle and truck weighing is built tough, with steel plate construction on both top and bottom. The RoughDeck AX-1 provides durability and consistency for monitoring overloaded and underloaded axle weight. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/ax-1 ▪

DIGI® DSX-1000 Checkweigher

The DIGI DSX-1000 is a low cost, high resolution checkweigher which is compatible with OIML standards. The DSX-1000 delivers a quick response to weight changes and has splash-proof housing. This general purpose checkweigher is available with built-in battery for ultimate portability. For more information, visit: www.ricelake.com/dsx-1000 ▪


Photo Credit to Yellow Neener Photography


Continued on page 8

On a New York night in 2001, Mark Ruefenacht’s

life was saved by a guide dog in training. Mark Ruefenacht is an

insulin dependent diabetic, and that night in the city, Mark made a crucial error

—he did not check his blood sugar before going to sleep. Unbeknownst to Mark, he was

slipping into a severe low blood sugar episode. Most likely, his low blood sugar caused a seizure

in his sleep, and a puppy Mark was training to be a service dog for Guide Dogs for the Blind probably

recognized Mark was in distress and woke him from his hypoglycemic haze.

Mark recovered from this terrifying event, but it also sparked an idea to merge two aspects of his life into one

experiment. As a forensic metrologist, Mark was working on breathalyzer technology. Mark also dedicated a large amount of time training service dogs. His experience in New York brought the two pieces of his life together: Mark began

wondering a dog’s ability to decipher human breath, in particular, the chemicals associated with hypoglycemia.

Using dogs in Mark’s experiments with hypoglycemia was a natural fit. 40 percent of service dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind are employed to assist those with visual impairment from diabetes. Mark began his volunteer work training guide dogs in 1996 because of the probability he would need a guide dog in the future due to diabetic blindness. Mark wanted a way to give back to the organization he believed would provide him with life-changing services as his diabetes progressed.

Mark’s episode in that New York hotel room, his work with Guide Dogs for the Blind, and his experience in forensics metrology culminated into his hypothesis that he could train a dog to detect hypoglycemia from his breath and sweat. But most importantly, Mark wanted to determine if a dog could detect hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in his breath, as well as train the dog to detect hypoglycemia in another person’s breath and sweat. Could training a diabetic alert dog be repeatable?

Because of Mark’s familiarity with training Guide Dogs for the Blind, it was a natural fit that his hypoglycemia alert dog pilot, a yellow labrador retriever named Armstrong, would be donated from the organization. Dogs that enter the Guide Dogs for the Blind training program go through an extensive process. The dogs need to develop very particular skills, exhibit innate desirable characteristics, and pass a long period of exposure training from a very young age. In addition to their training, guide dogs need to be kept in peak physical condition. Monitoring the dogs’ health, including their weight, is vital to a long and healthy life of service for those in need.

Armstrong was repurposed from the Guide Dogs for the Blind training program because of a characteristic that would prove incredibly useful for Mark—Armstrong was too sniffy. For a guide dog, wanting to sniff and play is not ideal. But for a dog being trained to detect changes in blood sugar from a person’s scent, sniffiness is an asset.

After three years of research and working on his hypothesis with Armstrong, Mark officially proved he could train a dog to detect drops in blood sugar from the chemical changes in a person’s scent, and that this scent was universal among diabetics. This breakthrough meant Armstrong could detect Mark’s changes in blood sugar, as well as another diabetic’s blood sugar changes. In 2004, Mark developed the organization Dogs4Diabetics and began fundraising to share his research and provide certified Medical Alert Assistance Dogs for other Type 1 diabetics.

The dogs at Dogs4Diabetics are trained to alert their handler when the dog identifies the scent of a low blood sugar level, typically below 70 mg/dL, so the handler can treat the low sugar level before suffering the symptoms of hypoglycemia and potential incapacitation. Each dog is trained to alert their handlers with a specific action. This action could be nudging the handler with their nose or paw, or by holding a soft toy, called a bringsel, in their mouth. The toy hangs from their collar and is easily reached by the dog to alert their handler. These dogs are specifically trained for scent discrimination with an attuned nose.

Diabetic alert dogs at Dogs4Diabetics use scent discrimination to alert their handlers of low blood sugar. To stay at the top of their game, these dogs have

a strict health regimen, including maintaining an ideal weight with the help of a Rice Lake RoughDeck® floor scale.

www.ricelake.com | RICE LAKE MAGAZINE 7www.ricelake.com | RICE LAKE MAGAZINE 7

overweight, it gets lethargic and their motivation to alert just isn’t there,” says Mark. “They become lazy dogs. Dogs are trained with positive reinforcement and are treated often, and those treats needs to be deducted from dinner to ensure the dog stays fit.” The RoughDeck floor scale provides Mark information to accurately nourish and work the alert dogs for long healthy lives.

The dogs being trained for Dogs4Diabetics are already accustomed to structured eating habits and training. Since the creation of Dogs4Diabetics, all of the diabetic alert dogs have been provided by Guide Dogs for the Blind, just like Armstrong. These dogs also tend to have traits like Armstrong: sniffy and playful demeanors ideal for scent detection work.

Keeping fit and active is an inherent part of an alert dog’s life. The dogs go everywhere with the client; the dogs don’t need that daily workout walk because it has been on the go all day long. Dogs4Diabetics dogs are usually much more active than other domesticated dogs, and after the end of the work day, they are tired, just like their owners after a long day of work or school.

When adult diabetic alert dogs successfully complete training, they are issued to clients who have also been training with the dogs extensively at Dogs4Diabetics.

How are dogs able to detect the chemical changes of low blood sugar when, to humans, the change is odorless? Dogs have more than 200 million scent sensors in their nose. These millions of sniff sensors are able to individually identify particular scents in parts per trillion. This feat out-performs current technology’s best ability to differentiate scents in parts per million. To keep their noses (and the rest of their bodies) in prime condition and their brains sharp, dogs at Dogs4Diabetics are kept on a strict exer-cise and health regimen.

Since day one of Dogs4Diabetics, a vital piece of equipment has been used to ensure Armstrong and other diabetic alert dogs in training are performing at their optimal level—a Rice Lake RoughDeck floor scale. The dogs at the Dogs4Diabetics training facility are taught using positive reinforcement. If a dog correctly alerts its owner of a change in blood sugar, the dog is rewarded with a positive interaction, usually a tasty treat. Handlers then account for these treats when it comes time to feed the dogs their daily meals.

Over-feeding an alert dog or not ensuring it receives proper physical activity can lead the dog down a path of lethargy and poor health. If an alert dog is too tired or lethargic from overeating, it may not be as motivated to do its job—alert its handler to hypoglycemia. “Once an alert dog becomes

The dogs are leased to their clients on certain conditions that the client up-holds the dog’s health and training.

“Dogs4Diabetics has a two-way contract, and a requirement is that the dog is always within 10 percent of their issue weight—the weight they left their training at,” says Mark. Issued dogs are brought in on a yearly basis to weigh-in on the cal-ibrated RoughDeck floor scale. This check-up ensures the dog’s health is on track and that they are within 10 percent of their issue weight. “What I like best about the RoughDeck is its reliability,” says Mark. “When you get a Rice Lake scale, you know it will work for years.”

To Mark, the best part about founding Dogs4Diabetics are the connections with clients. “I get to see the diabetic who came in to the program, and watch their life literally change because they have so much more control over their diabetes,” says Mark. “I also love working with the dogs. They give unconditional love, loyalty and forgiveness. There are so many traits in dogs that people aspire to achieve and these dogs already have them. We call them powerful partnerships and the power is in the bond. I call that the human-dog relationship. Both sides have to work to make it positive.”

A relationship requires work. The dogs at Dogs4Diabetics work hard, and the clients do, too. “The work that goes into the relationship goes way beyond a bond,” says Mark. Dogs4Diabetics aims to help diabetics have more control of their health by using a diabetic alert dog. Rice Lake’s RoughDeck floor scale in the

The RoughDeck floor scale at the Dogs4Diabetic training center keeps the alert dogs in peak physical condition.

The Nose Knows continued from page 7

“What I like best about the RoughDeck is its

reliability. When you get a Rice Lake scale, you

know it will work for years.”

— Mark Ruefenacht Founder, Dogs4Diabetics


Dogs4Diabetics training center is just one piece of the entire foundation that plays a role in keeping the dogs physically fit and ready to sniff. A healthy and successful diabetic alert dog from Dogs4Diabetics embodies the company’s motto: “Our Dogs Save Lives.”

More information about Dogs4Diabetics can be found at www.dogs4diabetics.com and D4DImAlive.com.Dogs4Diabetics | Engaging our community and our dogs to empower people living with diabetes to live relentlessly awesome lives, in safety.

work for dogs relating to diabetes. Metrol-ogy became the basis and foundation of the training program, and Mark enhanced it with quality assurance, ethics and values.

Heusser Neweigh provides Mark’s primary career as a metrologist. However, he is also a contract employee for NIST and trains others in the industry on calibration principles and NIST standards. In addi-

to see it classified as a standardized science.

What’s next for Mark and Dogs4Diabetics? A new program called Diabetes Buddy Dogs has started at Dogs4Diabetics with a focus on using dogs to assist children with diabetes. The dogs are custom trained to meet the needs of the diabetic, whether it’s alerting a parent if a child’s insulin pump alarms, bringing low blood sugar supplies

to a diabetic that is incapac-itated, or providing comfort to a child when they re-ceive injections and blood sugar checks. Diabetes Buddy Dogs can perform their skills at home, helping comfort and assist all peo-ple, and especially children, with their diabetes.

Mark is also working on expanding the opportu-nities for current diabetic alert dogs. “I am working on cross training dogs as Guide Dogs for the Blind and diabetic alert dogs,” says Mark. “It is still in the experimental phase, though. The dog would need a lot of

training to be able to guide through traffic, listen to the handler and alert for changes in blood sugar.” Great things are happening for Dogs4Diabetics, and the future of scent discrimination is open for possibilities, one sniff at a time. ▪

tion, Mark works with different forensic laboratories with the goal of becoming accredited. NIST currently does not have any guidelines for canine scent discrimi-nation and measurement related to human diseases, but it’s a personal pursuit of Mark’s

Dogs4Diabetics founder, Mark Ruefenacht, is greeted by a diabetic alert dog at the Dogs4Diabetics training center in Concord, California.

Heusser Neweigh joins the Rice Lake Weighing Systems family, bringing expanded metrology services across the globe.

More about Mark Mark grew up in a family of metrologists. The family business, Heusser Neweigh, is a metrology lab located in Concord, California. Heusser Neweigh has been in operation since 1906, and today, Heusser Neweigh is part of the Rice Lake Weighing Systems family of services.

As an adult in the business, Mark expanded his metrology studies and specialized not only in weights, balances and scales, but also in becoming an expert in forensic metrology with firearms and measurements related to illegal substanc-es. Mark has a specialty in the science behind breath-alyzers, both in breath and blood alcohol measurement.

Mark uses the principles of metrology, and applies them to scent discrimina-tion work with statistics.

“The more measurements, the more confident we can become with more data points,” says Mark. “Law enforcement dogs have a certain amount of correct passes, but how many data points do they have? If you give a dog five runs and it succeeds four times, that’s an 80 percent success rate. But if we are doing the test 1,000 times, and the dog is still achieving 80 percent, the confidence is far greater.”

Dogs4Diabetics is the first organization to be accredited with scent discrimination


The story of one online retailer’s journey across the big blue of billable weight changes with iDimension™ 300.By Michelle Nelson, reporter

IF YOU NEED BOATING SUPPLIES, WHOLESALE MARINE HAS THEM. An online retailer since 2006, Wholesale Marine embraces the

motto “We are boaters.” Staff mem-bers at Wholesale Marine are passion-

ate boaters themselves, which allows them to provide their customers with the best service

and highest quality products from real-world boat-ing experience. Wholesale Marine offers it all, from small O-ring parts to complete pontoon packages. Most of their products are individually packaged and shipped, resulting in a huge range of parcel sizes and weights (think boat seats and fishing

accessories all the way to stainless steel, sea-faring anchors). With nationwide distribution and the best prices for high-quality products, Wholesale Marine stocks approximately 20,000 different SKUs and can ship more than 2,000 items in a single day during the peak of summer.

How does an online retailer stock and ship this enormous amount of products? Efficiency. Rows upon rows of neatly stocked shelves fill Wholesale Marine’s distribution warehouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the immense product offering is obvious when walking from one end of the building to the other. With e-commerce and fast shipping speeds becoming an expectation, and not just a luxury, Wholesale Marine has always held up their promise of great service and great prices. However, when large postal carriers started making changes to billable weight processes, Wholesale Marine felt the consequences.

Prior to dimensional weight (also called dim weight) shipping, Wholesale Marine shipped products exclusively on actual package weight. But when carriers enacted dim weight to better

10 RICE LAKE MAGAZINE | www.ricelake.com 10 RICE LAKE MAGAZINE | www.ricelake.com

“If we tried to ship something using

actual weight, but it had a bigger

dimensional weight, we’d get a huge ding on pricing because we were basing it only on weight;

that was one big downfall for us.”

Jim Stewart, Owner of Wholesale Marine

maximize capacity, businesses like Whole-sale Marine became susceptible to fees and back charges from miscalculated dimensions and freight compliance issues.

“Dimensional weight was really hurting us,” says Wholesale Marine owner Jim Stewart. “We were doing a manual product sort and grouping with what we thought was the cheapest shipping. We looked at an order and would say, ‘This is probably small enough for this type of shipping,’ but we weren’t capturing the dimensions.” Frustrating dimensional shipping experi-ences and extra fees convinced Stewart to find a better way of shipping product.

was manpower wasted. We were pulling someone away from another job to figure out the best shipping price for a package,” explains Stewart. However, using only the package weight to determine shipping can by risky as well. “If we tried to ship something using actual weight, but it had a bigger dimensional weight, we’d get a huge ding on pricing because we were basing it only on weight; that was one big downfall for us.”

Even when Wholesale Marine manually measured and determined the best shipping, they still ran into problems when

For dimensional weight billing, having ac-curate cubic dimensions is key. Dim weight reflects a package’s density—in essence,

the amount of space the package utilizes in relation to its weight. To determine dim weight, a package’s length, width and height are multiplied, and then divided by 166 for domestic shipments or 139 for international shipments. Carriers then charge shipping based on either the package’s actual weight or dimensional weight—whichever is greater.

Determining dimensional weight by man-ually measuring a package and solving the formula can be labor-intensive, especially if hundreds (or thousands) of packages are shipped daily like at Wholesale Marine. It also leaves room for human error. “It

The iDimension 300 cubes irregular shapes and captures dimensions—even shrink-wrapped anchors being shipped to boaters across the country.

With about 20,000 SKUs and more than 2,000 items shipped daily in peak season, Wholesale Marine needed a fast and efficient way to ship with dimensional weight.

Continued on page 12


Dimensional Weight (lb)

L x W x H

166=

L = Length in inches

W = Width in inches

H = Height in inchesLW

H

“Now we have the ability to ship at the best price. We were sending packages that were too big for the carrier based

on our old process. We’re not getting

those dings on fees anymore. Everything

is streamlined and automated as it goes

through shipping.”

—AJ Stewart, Web Development

trying to challenge charges. “We were getting an after-the-fact surcharge with no way to dispute it,” says Stewart. “We had a scenario where we shipped three of the exact same item. One bill came in small-er, another was what we predicted, but the last one was huge! It included hundreds of dollars in back charges for dimension-al weight shipping and we had no way of truly going back on it to say what the exact dimensions of the package were.” The waters were choppy and the sky red in Wholesale Marine’s shipping department after a year of struggling with new di-mensional billing practices. So began the search for a solution to their dimensional weight woes.

The first step towards dim weight smooth sailing was analyzing their current pro-cess and seeing where it was breaking down. Stewart realized that the compa-ny needed a reliable and efficient system to document package dimensions and weights to help them get the best shipping rates for each individual item shipped. Wholesale Marine also needed a solution fast—and they found one with Rice Lake’s iDimension™ 300.

iDimension 300 is a 3D imaging and sensing technology system that instantly

captures dimensions of normal packages like boxed Yeti® coolers, as well as irregular shapes (think shrink-wrapped anchors and polybags filled with fishing accessories). iDimension is able to convert these irregular shapes into cubed dimensions. It is an easy addition to almost any ware-house or shipping department, and since it operates on imaging technology with

no moving parts, maintenance is virtual-ly non-existent. iDimension’s web service is accessed with a DHCP IP address and its free API allows users like Wholesale Marine to interface using a simple HTTP request and XML parsing method to store dimensional data for their records.

The iDimension at Wholesale Marine’s distribution center is installed over their

A New Way To Ship continued from page 11

The Future of Shipping Is Dim WeightWhat is dimensional weight and how can dimensioning systems optimize shipping?In order to more accurately reflect billable weight, large carriers such as FedEx®, UPS® and DHL® are determining shipment pricing based on either dimensional weight or actual weight—whichever is greater.

Dimensional weight, often referred to as dim weight, reflects the package’s densi-ty—the amount of space the package uti-lizes in relation to its weight. To determine dim weight, a package’s length, width and height are multiplied, resulting in its cubic size, and then divided by 166 for domestic or 139 for international shipments.

When lightweight items are shipped in large packages, carriers can reach maximum volumetric capacity in their shipping containers far before reaching weight capacities. To better maximize carrier capacity and efficiency, dim weight policies prompt shippers to more efficient-ly package their items with less wasted space. Companies who ship packages without properly calculating dim weight could pay increased shipping costs from miscalculated dimensions or freight compliance issues.

How can businesses ensure freight compliance and deter revenue-loss from miscalculated dimensions, without adding extra time? Incorporate a dimensioning system into the shipping process. Dimen-sioning systems use sensing and imaging technology to calculate the dimensions of packages to determine dim weight. They provide valuable solutions to ensure companies optimize dim weight shipping with accurate package dimensions— all without slowing processes.

Installed over their pre-existing conveyor line, iDimension 300 streamlines dimensions, package images and weight data with third-party postal software to ensure the most cost-effective shipping.

pre-existing shipping conveyor line and synced with third-party postal software. Dimensions, package images and weight data, as well as rate comparison and label printing are now streamlined to one central workstation. With iDimension, Wholesale Marine is able to ship with confidence, and at the best rates. “It’s awesome,” says AJ Stewart, Jim Stewart’s son who works with Wholesale Marine’s web development.

“Now we have the ability to ship at the best price. We were sending packages that were too big for the carrier based on our old process. We’re not getting those dings on fees anymore. Everything is streamlined and automated as it goes through shipping.”

As an online retailer, speed, efficiency and reliability were important features while looking for a dimensional weight solution. After just a short period of time using

iDimension 300, the staff at Wholesale Marine can definitely see the value. “I have confidence that I am getting the least expensive shipping method, especially when we offer free shipping,” Jim Stewart states. “And it’s good looking.”

With the help of (an allegedly attractive) iDimension 300, what once was a floun-dering shipping process became a well- streamlined department that ships with confidence. Wholesale Marine has been offering the best prices and best service since 1979. Although a much newer addition to Wholesale Marine’s business, iDimension 300 fits their company philosophy well by ensuring the business gets the best rate when shipping their high-quality products to boating enthusiasts nationwide. ▪

Optimize the way you package items. Use only the material needed to safely ship products and choose the best-sized containers.

Use quality packaging materials for strength, durability and to reduce the amount of empty space. Remember: Dim weight is all about volume.

Do your research. Speak with your carriers to determine the dim weight policies they have in place. Knowing shipping requirements now can help deter compliance fees in the future.

Document your total monthly shipping charges to ensure your dim weight shipping charges are accurate (and that you’re measuring im weight correctly).

Convert irregulars to cubic measurements. Polybags, tubes and irregular shapes need cubic measurements, too. Manually measuring irregular shapes can be complicated—a dimensioning system can measure them for you.

Streamline your system. Utilizing dimensioning systems can maximize your process flow and limit the amount of time spent manually measuring.

Know that not all dimensioning systems are created equal. If speed, accuracy and dependability are important to you, ensure that your dimensioning system can deliver all three.

If you ship a variety of items, from oversized packages to thin mailers, closely research the maximum pack-age height and widths dimensioning systems can measure.

Spec out the systems on the market. Certain dimensioning systems can integrate scales to provide package dimensions and weight at the same time. Some can integrate this data with existing shipping software, too.

Consider maintenance and support when you purchase a dimensioning system. Does the dimensioning system you purchase include a support network?

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The Legacy ContinuesIntroducing the 1280 Series programmable HMI indicator/controller with color touchscreenOn our 70th anniversary, we welcome the latest addition to our family—the 1280 Series programmable

digital weight indicator. The 1280 is a leap forward in technology, including more than 150 built-in functions

to simplify programming. A durable touchscreen with color LCD display and highly customizable graphical

user interface offers limitless potential. With industrial grade components and unprecedented onboard

capabilities, the 1280 is the ultimate combination of durability and functionality.

Call 800-472-6703 or visit www.ricelake.com/1280 to schedule a demo today.

IQ 700Digital Weight Indicator

IQ plus 810Digital Weight Indicator

920iProgrammable HMI Indicator/Controller

800-472-6703www.ricelake.com

Family Owned for 70 Years

A History of

ServiceAt Rice Lake Weighing Systems,

we know the importance of family.

Throughout 70 years and three

generations, Rice Lake has remained

a family owned business.

Since 1946, we have grown from

a local scale provider to an

industry-leading manufacturer.

Our history in customer service

defines who we are and shapes

who we want to be—continuing

the legacy for generations to come.

A SURVIVOR® OTR truck scale and 720i™ indicator/controller are premium tools of efficiency in commercial winemaking.

By Caleb Olson, editor

Pinot Noir is the holy grail of the wine world. Coveted for its rich flavor, complex aroma and velvety mouthfeel, this grape variety makes for one of the most popular (and notoriously difficult to produce) wines. A to Z Wineworks in Williamette Valley, Oregon, has mastered the delicate art of Pinot Noir; because of this, the winery has gained national attention and experienced rapid growth. To keep up with demand, A to Z modernized their processes—and installed a SURVIVOR OTR truck scale and 720i indicator/controller to efficiently manage their shipments.

The demand for high-quality Pinot Noir can be traced back to the first century, when Ancient Romans began making the unique wine. News of this innovation traveled through the grapevine to gradually gain worldwide recognition. However, it was difficult to produce.

Challenges seem to present themselves at each stage of the Pinot process. The grapes are not only difficult to grow, but they also bruise easily and must be skillfully picked, handled and transported. Then, the fruit ferments so furiously that the process can accelerate out of control and erupt like a delicious volcano, ruining an entire batch. Even after it’s bottled, problems persist: The wine can lose its color, aroma and acid balance. Pinot Noir may be the holy grail of wine, but it can also be a problem child.

It was long thought that only the Burgundy region of France could produce consistently great Pinot Noir. The mild climate, ocean breezes, ideal soil conditions and sunward-facing slopes were perfect for growing Pinot grapes. In the late 20th century, however, a relative newcomer burst onto the winemaking scene. The Willamette Valley of Oregon


began producing Pinot comparable, if not better, than the famed Burgundy region. The two areas share many of the same characteristics: Pleasant temperatures, soil composition, rolling hills and even ocean proximity. They also sit along the 45th Parallel,

“With the SURVIVOR, I’m able to provide a higher level of customer service. My efficiency is through the roof.

I drove my payroll down. It’s a win all the way around!”

—Jeff Hines, warehouse coordinator, A to Z Wineworks

receiving system at the estate vineyard—which also serves as A to Z’s corporate headquarters.

Unloading a truckload of fruit takes a lot of time, especially when it is weighed one pallet at a time. The laborious process involved a forklift transporting each pallet to a nearby floor scale to record its weight. “We would get a flatbed with 20 tons on it,” says Jeff Hines, warehouse coordinator. “That’s 20 times to the truck to pick a bin, set it on the scale, back out, get the weight, pick it off the scale and then stack it. During the harvest, we needed two people unloading fruit, and it would take two hours. Then the truck would have to come back in a few days to pick up the empty bins after they were washed.” A to Z was processing an impressive amount of wine (10 percent of Oregon’s entire Pinot Noir output) and they needed a better solution. Scales Northwest installed the perfect solution: A SURVIVOR OTR truck scale and 720i indicator/controller. Rather than weighing one pallet at a time, an entire truck can now be weighed at once. “At first, we were all a little nervous,” remembers Jeff. “The scale was installed right before harvest, which is our busiest time. None of us had ever used a truck scale before. We were used to little scales, and we were going to immediately rely on it.” However, the improvement was quickly apparent.

“On the truck scale, we can turn a complete truck in one hour and 45 minutes with only one person,” says Jeff. “That’s less than the time it took just to offload the truck before, and the truck doesn’t have to come back for the bins. With the SURVIVOR, I’m able to provide a higher level of customer service. My efficiency is through the roof. I drove my payroll down. It’s a win all the way around!” a contour that is home to some of the world’s greatest wineries.

Here, four friends decided to open a winery that would specialize in Pinot Noir.

In 2002, Deb Hatcher, Bill Hatcher, Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis founded A to Z Wineworks. The mission of these two married couples was to not only produce a pristine Pinot, but offer it at an affordable price—something that had never been done previously. Unlike many other Oregon wineries, A to Z would source its fruit from vineyards across the state. This would allow them to make adjustments to each year’s vintage based on variable characteristics of that growing season. If vineyard A received a large amount of rain and vineyard B was unusually dry, the ratio of grapes used from these vineyards could be altered to match previous seasons’ successful recipes. Leveraging more than 100 different vineyards, the end result is a consistency that represents the best of the state (and serves as the company’s slogan): The Essence of Oregon®.

A to Z quickly rose to prominence. They applied their business plan to a complete line of wine varieties, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Rosé. Demand began to grow, and so did the company. They added more employees, an estate vineyard and a fifth partner, Greg Popovich (who also has a second job as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs). Throughout the company, processes were modernized and optimized for efficiency. They streamlined their shipping/

The truck scale provided immediate savings, but it was also installed with future development in mind. Beneath the scale lies an empty cavern which will soon be filled with additional equipment. “We’re going to add a dolly so we can dump directly off the scale into production bins below,” explains Jeff. “It’s another way to speed up our process and maximize efficiency.”

Each passing season, more time is saved. At A to Z, however, time is not documented in days, months or years. It’s chronicled by vintages. The 2015 harvest was the first to be weighed on a SURVIVOR truck scale. At Rice Lake Weighing Systems, we think increased efficiency makes that particular vintage just a little sweeter. ▪

Above: A to Z Wineworks’ efficiency was increased by bulk-weighing incoming shipments of wine and fruit on a SURVIVOR OTR truck scale. A tanker truck exits the scale after delivering a shipment of wine.


GERALD AND AMY SCHMIDT ARE FIFTH GENERATION FAMILY FARMERS WHO WORK HARD YEAR ROUND TO MAKE THE MOST PROFIT FOR THEIR BEEF CATTLE FARM. With long hours, incred-ible work ethics and the help of a durable, long-lasting Rice Lake livestock scale, the Schmidts have kept Lone Pine Farm the successful family farm it has been for more than 135 years. Lone Pine Farm has been in the Schmidt family since 1881 when Gerald’s great, great grandfather purchased the land from the Omaha railroad. The farm is run by the Schmidt family with only an occasional hired hand during peak

season. Gerald, Amy and their three boys all have their hands in farm operations, and it has always been a sense of pride to the Schmidt family, serving as the cornerstone in almost every aspect of daily life. In recent years, Lone Pine Farm transitioned from dairy farming to raising beef cattle and crop farming. “When we sold the dairy cows, we needed something else on the farm we could watch grow,” says Amy. “Just knowing you are raising animals out on the farm is the best feeling.”

Gerald and Amy raise beef cattle every year and sell their calves as feeders. “We usually have around 50 calves every year. That’s the amount we like to stay at with the amount of pasture we have; it is the most profitable for us to keep the farm around that num-ber,” says Gerald. In addition to the beef cattle herd made up of Angus, Limousin and Simmentals, Lone Pine Farm is also

“The scale really makes the difference—with a smaller calf, I can give them a dose that is proportionate to their weight. Using an accurate scale is money saved.”

—Amy Schmidt

home to horses, donkeys and pigs. Every animal has a role in the farm’s operations, and is loved by the Schmidt family. “The calving season is a lot of fun to raise the babies and watch them grow,” says Amy.

“The best part is watching the calves interact with their moms. The mom can make just one call, and the calf knows—oh, that’s Mom’s call.”

Amy and Gerald’s three sons Josh, Colten and Chase have grown up helping on the farm and appreciating the hard work involved. During calving season, the cows are watched closely and checked on many times throughout the day. “We all take turns checking the cows, and that includes our youngest son Chase, who comes home from school and rides the ATV out to check on the animals. Since he was 12 years old, I remember him bringing home a friend to help tag new calves. They thought

Gerald and Amy Schmidt keep family at the forefront on their beef cattle farm.


it was just the greatest thing to work with the cattle and be farm kids. Family is huge for us. It’s all done with family,” says Gerald.

Running a family farm is a lot of work, and every piece of equipment on the farm needs to pull its own weight to contribute to operations. Not only does farm equipment need to withstand harsh environments and the demands of hard work, it needs to be relentlessly reliable. With beef cattle, every sale comes down to weight. Making sure his feeders finish out at their best weight is key to Gerald. “We sell our calves in the winter after weaning them. To us, it’s important for them to be as heavy as they can—that means coming across the scale at about 800 pounds.” With a short amount of time to make sure his calves meet weight, Gerald uses a Rice Lake Weighing Systems RoughDeck® SLV livestock scale under their squeeze chute and Rice Lake IQ Plus® 390 instrumentation to weigh his cattle and track their rate of gain.

An animal’s weight is crucial to farm operations. From health checks, vaccinations and medications, to ensuring a competitive weight for fair animals, a livestock scale is an important tool for success. During vaccinations, the Schmidts rely on an accurate reading from their livestock scale to ensure they give each animal the correct dose.

“Giving de-worming medication to our cattle is based on weight, so when we use our Rice Lake scale, we know it will be accurate.

Having an accurate weight reading saves us money on vaccinations and medications while ensuring the animal gets its correct dose. The scale really makes the difference—with a smaller calf, I can give them a dose that is proportionate to their weight. Using an accurate scale is money saved,” says Amy.

Knowing if the fair steers are not gaining like they should also lets Gerald and Amy know that the animal may be sick, or that environmental conditions are not optimal. “If they weren’t gaining and it was warm out, we could make the connection that they weren’t eating as much because of the weather,” says Gerald. “So we would know to put them in the shed to cool off with the fans. Then we could put them back on the scale, and if they were gaining again, we would know that was the problem.” With fair steers, you can’t afford a day or two not gaining like they should.

Weighing the fair steers and determining their daily rate of gain is essential for Gerald. “July is fair time, and if they aren’t finished out by then, Chase wouldn’t be competitive in the fair ring. Making sure they meet rate of gain and have the most weight before then is everything,” says Gerald. “We weigh them leading up to the fair and

Lone Pine Farm has been a family-run farm in Gerald Schmidt’s family since 1881.Lone Pine Farm raises about 50 calves every year.



we know if we need to change their rations accordingly. We know what we need to ac-complish in pounds per day, and we use the scale to keep track of that.” The pigs raised on Lone Pine Farm are also weighed on the scale to assure optimal weight. “We have had fair pigs, too, and that was the same thing. We needed to track them closely to make sure they were ready,” says Amy.

The Rice Lake scale at Lone Pine Farm also helps Amy and Gerald make business decisions for the future of their herd. “The ability to consistently see and track the rate of gain that one bull’s calves are producing is great. We can make the decision with confidence to sell a bull and get another if we can track the trends that a specific bull’s calves are lighter or inconsistent,” says Gerald.

What does Amy and Gerald value most about their Rice Lake scale? Reliability. “It is very dependable; we have never had any problems with it. It is always accurate,” says Gerald. And the durability of a Rice Lake scale speaks for itself. “When you need it, you need it. We’ve never even considered

Rice Lake’s RoughDeck SLV livestock scale has helped the Schmidt family track animal weight and rate of gain—two key components to ensure

the best profit for their farm.

The Rice Lake SAS single animal scale is built tough with a load capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Five Generations on Lone Pine Farm continued from page 19


that the scale wouldn’t work. We know we can depend on it, even when it gets used hard,” says Amy. “When you can have a piece equipment for 10 plus years, and it withstands our harsh winters on the farm, its durability means a lot.”

With the introduction of Rice Lake’s SAS Series single animal scale, Gerald and Amy can clearly see the benefits of a forth-coming upgrade. In their current setup, Gerald and Amy manually record their animal weights, tag number and the date of weighment. With the SAS and 920i® Rate of Gain software and Epson® TM-U295 ticket printer, operations will be streamlined and record-keeping will be easier. “I’m excited about using the SAS and Rate of Gain software so I don’t have to do those calculations by hand anymore, or carry around my notebook and pen. The scale is going to do the work for me,” says Gerald.

“Having the rate of gain and date on the tickets will be so easy for record keeping. When we’re vaccinating and castrating, it can be so cold; and your notebook would be flying around in the wind and your pen wouldn’t want to work. It is going to be nice and easy to manage with the SAS,” says Amy. The SAS 920i indicator also includes a USB port so Amy and Gerald can easily transfer weight results to a flash drive and onto their computer.

With 48-inch solid kick panel sides and thick wall tubing, the SAS offers added safety for both the animals and the handler. Load cells and electronic equipment are housed in enclosures above the subframe, adding even more protection and reliability. The SAS is built tough with a load capacity of 5,000 pounds—strong enough to weigh the Schmidts’ one-ton draft horses.

The future is bright for Lone Pine Farm. “The SAS is going to speed up our operations,” says Gerald. “The scale is built to fit right in with our current setup and having the weight data and rate of gain available right when we need it will make it even easier for us to track our herd’s trends during selling time.” A durable construction backed with unyielding dependability makes Rice Lake livestock scales tough enough to work side by side this fifth generation farm family. ▪

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By Cara Walters, reporter

FEEDLOGIC™ OF WILLMAR, MINNESOTA IS TRANSFORMING THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY WITH THEIR SMART FARMING SOLUTIONS. Paired with Rice Lake’s 920i® digital weight indicator, feed mills to farms are able to have one connected solution for more efficient operations.

Big data is the next big thing. Global markets such as healthcare, technology and finance have already transitioned into using big data to analyze and pre-dict industry trends and market fluctua-tions. With this information, healthcare can be more personalized, technology more consumer-driven and finance more profitable. Other industries, like agriculture, have been slower to adapt big data due to an aging population and the cost of smart farming. Feedlogic of Willmar, Minn. aims to address this issue by making technology more acces-sible and data more relevant to farmers.

By 2050, the Food and Agriculture Or-ganization of the United Nations (FAO) predicts that the world’s population will grow to 9.6 billion. In spite of declining resources and limited land availability, food production must increase by 70 percent in order to adequately feed the growing population. The agriculture industry is challenged with this problem of feeding more people with diminish-ing land and declining resources.

How to do this is the question many in the agriculture industry find difficult to face. The answer, according to Drew Ryder, president of Feedlogic, is already

available—use what resources you already have, but integrate them with sensing technology, data analytics, wireless communication and telematics to increase production and reduce waste.

Founded in 2001, Feedlogic is a pioneer in the development of intelligent feeding and farm monitoring solutions that can provide producers real-time monitor-ing and management of their farming operations. The company offers a series of products which combine patented hardware and software to measure production processes and execute more precisely. By connecting agriculture to the Internet of Things, Feedlogic is

Drew Ryder of Feedlogic displays hands-on product demos of smart farming solutions at his FarmTech Store in Willmar, Minnesota.



purchasing. Feedlogic is using the Internet of Things to create not necessarily artificial intelligence, but agricultural intelligence.

The path to smart farming begins with accessible, definable data sources. This can be derived from the nutrient value of soil, the breeding cycle of animals, the weather patterns during the harvest season or the moisture percentages in a feed hopper, among many other applica-tions. From there, farmers can create a linear data model with simple equations and minor variables. For example, ani-mal feed conversion over a set amount of time in various locations. Based on that data, patterns can be evaluated and

trends forecasted. Add in multiple equa-tions and variables, and farmers are able to produce a machine-learning model of forecasting. From there, smart farming achieves its highest pinnacle—an adap-tive learning model. Complex problems and variables from multiple sources are used to analyze, forecast and then adopt agricultural systems.

When used in conjunction with data analysis, weight records can be critical in key decision making. Using the 920i

Pen weighing allows for faster, more efficient data collection at Tasty Duck in Hamburg, Pennsylvania.

The pen weighing report for Tasty Duck gives a detailed summary of each weighment.

able to develop new solutions to the challenges of farming where none previously existed.

The Internet of Things is a popular term used to describe an environment where physical things, equipped with sensors, wirelessly transfer data over a network without any human interference. Everything from vehicles, medical devices, coffee machines and even cows either are or will be able to speak to each other as one connected unit.

For the agriculture industry, the Internet of Things is revolutionizing the indus-try and helping close the gap between need and resources. Where farmers were once able to intuitively know and make decisions about their land just by touch and feel, technology today has the potential to mimic this knowledge and take it one step further. Sensors in soil and on farming equipment can transfer high-level data, ultimately optimizing water utilization and improving overall crop yields. Sensors in feed hoppers can alert distributors when levels are low—creating better and more efficient use-feed manufacturing, logistics and


“The 920i makes weighing easier, faster and more accurate. It is built to handle the difficult environment

of farms like dust and moisture.”

—Drew Ryder, president of FeedLogic

Agricultural Intelligence continued from page 23

digital weight indicator, Feedlogic provided a more rapid and efficient way for Tasty Duck to record pen weights in their research barn. Tasty Duck is a family-owned duck farm and processing facility with more than 20 farms in rural Pennsylva-nia. They have been featured on the History Channel® and are most known for their modern Pekin duck. Rather than weigh ducks individually, Tasty Duck weighs the animals in pens and uses the 920i to tare and average a pen weight. They can then deduce an average animal weight and monitor each pen for weight fluctuations, which could signify an illness or other complications.

More than just a digital weight indicator, the 920i is a high- powered programmable controller for automating complex industrial processes—ideal for smart farming. The 920i provides open connectivity to the most popular networking interfaces, performing much like a traditional PLC. Built to withstand tough environments, the 920i can also control hundreds of I/O setpoints, multiple scales, flow temperature and pulse as well as easily store, recall and report data. Ryder feels that the 920i digital weight indicator is an “easily customizable program for any weighing application. Our software programmers can set up the wireless hardware quickly. Rice Lake engineers always give fast responses on any questions regarding communication protocols.”

In addition to integrating the 920i into Tasty Duck’s re-search and development application, Ryder also worked with Brenneman Pork in Washington, Iowa to accomplish a similar task. Brenneman Pork is a family-run swine and grain opera-tion that aims to raise quality pork efficiently, humanely and in an environmentally responsible manner. Instead of weighing

pigs separately, group pen weighing can be an efficient way to track weight data over a large group of animals. An average weight of each pen can infer the average weight of each animal. This information can be used in the daily diet monitoring and weight management for the animals.

Most importantly, what Ryder aims to accomplish is easy access to complex data for more efficient farming. By integrating Feedlogic’s software solutions with Rice Lake’s industrial weighing products, data can be analyzed in real- time for more efficient agricultural production.

What the Internet of Things has done for healthcare, technology and finance is a tangible reality for the agriculture industry. Tracking disease management, weather patterns, soil nutrition, yield rates and fertility creates one connected solution for better farming and more efficient production. From basic weighing to the most complex tasks that control entire automated processes, Rice Lake’s programmable indicators are just one part of the future of agricultural intelligence. ▪

Brenneman Pork in Washington, Iowa uses the 920i digital weight indicator to group-weigh pigs.


Rice Lake offers container weighing solutions and an in-house expert to ensure you’re outfitted with the best products to meet SOLAS requirements.

For SOLAS compliant sea port operations, trust Tim Donahue at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, our in-house SOLAS weighing expert. Tim is here to discuss your specific application and will work with you to ensure full compliance.

ARE YOU READY?

SOLAS EXPERT

TIM DONAHUECall 800-472-6703 and ask for Tim Donahue, or email Tim at [email protected].

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SOLASWEIGHT VERIFICATION

An invincible champi-on lurks in the Pacific Northwest. Lewis Coun-ty, Washington, is home to a custom SURVIVOR OTR truck scale like no other. Built to withstand the highly corrosive solid waste environment, where a seem-ingly endless stream of garbage trucks tests its mettle, this OTR is an augmented version of the already mighty Toughest Scale on Earth™. In the scale world, it is a legend.

OTR truck scales in similar environments typically feature beefy I-beams and a thick deck plate, which this model proudly incorporates—and takes one step further. The entire truck scale, including cover plates and load cell stands, are hot- dipped galvanized.

Galvanization is a special process that bonds molten zinc to steel, forming layers of armored alloy which shield the material from corrosion. Invented in India in the fourth century, galvanization was first used in the construction of the Iron Pillar of Delhi, which still stands today—nearly 1,700 years later. The process has dramat-ically evolved over the centuries.

Rudimentary galvanic paint was traditionally used to fortify metal until hot-dip galvanization was invented in 1742, revolutionizing the process by immersing metal in molten zinc to create a uniform coating. In 1772, Luigi Galvani made another technologi-cal leap forward. While performing scientific experiments on frog cadavers, he discovered that electricity creates unusual results. First observing a simple muscle twitch in frog legs when electricity is applied, Galvani broadened his experiments to ultimately discover the electrochemical process that occurs be-

tween metals. In 1836, modern hot-dip galva-

nization was patented, and named after Galvani.

First, metal is cleaned with sulfuric acid and fluxed

with ammonium chloride before being coated in liquid

zinc at a temperature of 840 degrees Fahrenheit. This creates a

strong, long-lasting bond between the metal and zinc, and completely

insulates the metal from contact with the surrounding environment.

Before the galvanized OTR was installed, the Lewis County solid waste department

was using a competitor’s 20-year-old steel deck truck scale which had finally succumbed to the slow,

steady march of time. Solid waste is a difficult material to handle, and Lewis County’s equipment is expected to

endure the test.

Collecting from both residential and business customers, the county has no way of knowing the contents of each gar-bage can or dumpster—and people throw away some pretty strange things. Usually, they’re completely harmless; however, processing miscellaneous objects such as propane tanks, concrete highway dividers or objects containing chemicals can cause tremendous wear and tear on equipment. Heavy items create damaging collisions when loaded and transferred; combustible objects can explode; and chemicals from batteries, almost-empty household cleaning containers and everything in-between mix together for an acid-like cocktail (called “leachate”) to attack equipment.

With no protective coating, the old scale was consumed by rust. Erratic readings and component lockups were becoming more

A mix of solid waste chemicals, called “leachate,” creates a highly corrosive environment.

The heavy-duty, galvanized OTR truck scale provides ultimate durability.

A gantry system enables the entire scale deck to be moved for routine foundation cleaning.


frequent. It was time for an upgrade. To better serve the county, a scale designed for this environment, and to fit the existing foundation, was needed. Lewis County called Steve Orr, president and sales manager of Scales Northwest.

“Working with Steve and everyone at Scales Northwest was amazing,” says Steve Skinner, solid waste manager for Lewis County. “I’ve worked with other scale companies in the past, and Scales Northwest really knows the business inside and out. They were very professional and took care of all the measure-ments to make sure the scale fit our foundation. Ultimately, when the scale was installed, it fit perfectly.” Before installation, however, another integral component to extend the scale’s lifespan was put in place: a gantry system to move the scale platform for routine cleanout.

Track running along each side of the foundation was put in place. This allows a gantry crane to be positioned on each corner of the truck scale. Chain is attached to custom pick-hooks built into the OTR’s load cell pockets, and the entire scale deck is lifted and moved out of position for foundation cleanout. Every three months, the procedure takes place, and Lewis County has it down to a science.

“It only takes us two hours from start to finish,” says Bill Norwood, solid waste operations supervisor. “Because of the scale’s self- centering load cells, the procedure is pretty fast. When we’re done cleaning the pit, we can drop the scale back into position and it’s ready to go. There is no checking system we have to fiddle with. It just works.” Each SURVIVOR OTR features Rice Lake’s patented G-Force™ self-checking mounting system, which uses gravity to return the scale to center without check rods or bumper bolts. “Our old scale used canister-type load cells,” remembers Norwood. “We had to hold each load cell in place with a little pin while we tried to align everything. Rice Lake has a much better design.”

The entire system, consisting of two galvanized OTR truck scales and galvanized gantry tracks, was completed in the summer of 2015. The shining armor adorning the scales is a visual indicator of the durability that lies within. This durability is exercised on each load.

Because of the transfer process, the scales are subjected to more weight than dead load would indicate. When a truck dumps its contents on the “tipping floor,” located approximately 12 feet above the scales, a front-end loader pushes the solid waste to an opening in the floor. Beneath this opening, a container sitting atop the scale receives the payload. Those 12 feet might seem nominal, but the drop can create an impressive amount of velocity for heavy objects. When they hit the bottom of the container, a force far exceeding the weight (called “shock load”) is exerted on the scale. Then, an excavator compacts the material, creating an “aftershock.” It’s undoubtedly a job for the Toughest Scale on Earth.

Not everything from the trucks makes its way to the scale, how-ever. Masters of repurposing, Lewis County salvages items they can use—from concrete blocks to decorative items. The blocks are used to build traffic lanes around the facility. Empty soda and water bottles create a greenhouse elsewhere on the property. Tin sculptures, rescued from their demise to greet visitors, decorate the estate. One man’s trash is another’s treasure, indeed.

To some, galvanizing a truck scale might seem like an extreme measure. Lewis County needed an exceptional solution for their environment. From leachate to shock loading, any scale would be put to the test. “The amount of steel that’s in that scale is incredible,” says Skinner. “We joke that it would last 30 years without galvanization, so we estimate it’ll last exponentially longer with it. That scale will still be here after I’m long retired.” Not every scale could withstand this environment— only a SURVIVOR.▪

“The amount of steel that’s in that scale is incredible. We joke that it would last 30 years without galvanization, so we estimate it’ll last exponentially longer with it.”

Steve Skinner, solid waste manager for Lewis County

Galvanized for GreatnessLewis County’s Galvanized OTR SpecsModules: 4

Material: North American steel

Deck plate: 3/8 inch*

I-beams: W8 x 48, 8-inch construction for 12-inch profile*

Finish: Galvanized*

Capacity: 90 tons

CLC rating: 100,000 pounds

*custom options

Galvanized Facts• When the Brooklyn Bridge was built, over 14,500 miles

of hot-dip galvanized wire were used for its four main cables. Over 100 years later, the bridge underwent rehabilitation and the wire was in excellent condition.

• Hot-dip galvanized steel lasts longer today than it did 20 years ago. Because of environmental laws, our air is cleaner and less contaminated with corrosive emissions.

• Galvanizer’s kettles are set at temperatures ranging between 815° F and 850° F.

• Galvanizers can hot-dip galvanize a piece of steel that is larger than the kettle dimensions; it’s called progressive dipping.

Source: American Galvanizers Association


Installation on top of existing rail ties and ballast is cost effective and typically done in one day or less.

800-472-6703www.ricelake.com

920i® indicator/controller with RailBoss software provides prompts through each step of weighing

Rice Lake’s RailBoss ensures optimal railcar loading—making underloading, overloading, incorrect billing, rejection and fines a thing of the past. RailBoss can be installed in as little as one day for minimal disruption of the rail spur. Standard or custom sizes, full-draft and double-draft options are available.

To learn more about the industry’s leading rail scale, visit www.ricelake.com/railboss.

Quick-disconnect connectors automatically release before reaching damaging tension, saving valuable repair time and replacement costs

Industry-leading sensing zone within 0.25% accuracy

Printed in the U.S.A.

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