Cardinal Pit-Mounted Truck Scales Provide Port of Miami Ability to Weigh Greater Volume of Freight

Two Additional Cardinal Scale Pit-Mounted EPR Truck Scales Provide Terminal the Ability to Weigh Greater Volumes of Freight. Major ocean transport company adds more Cardinal EPR truck scales and 210 indicators to expedite traffic flow for 600 truck weighments per day at busy Port of Miami.

Traffic congestion was becoming a major issue at the Port of Miami with a steady increase in export freight volumes over the last several years and the completion of a new underground truck tunnel leading into the port. A lengthy line of trucks were typically waiting to be weighed before entering the freight terminals at the port.

It became apparent that a solution was needed to be able to move this increased traffic through the port more quickly and efficiently.

 

Cardinal Scale Pit Type Truck Scale

One of the largest ocean transport companies at the Port of Miami rearranged their container yard and came to Cardinal Scale seeking a solution for its truck scale needs.

Cardinal Scale had several meetings with Port of Miami officials and the ocean transport company’s personnel during which various yard and scale layouts were considered, including above or below ground scales, steel or concrete decks, network connectivity, and weight documentation.

It was ultimately decided that there would be two new inbound steel deck truck scales installed below grade in deep pits. The deep pit request presented an important challenge: How to ensure that a 4 1/2 foot deep pit would remain dry at just above sea level on an island?

Cardinal Scale had stressed the importance of keeping the pit dry during the design process.

Therefore, the ocean transport company contracted with an engineering company that designed and built an elaborate self-contained underground pump station, which was built adjacent to both scale pits to prevent the pits from flooding.

The ocean transport company decided to purchase two new 13570-EPR truck scales from Cardinal Scale, which were slightly modified to be installed in the pits. The pit design was chosen to save yard space, as well as, producing an easier and safer method for drivers and other personnel to move in and around the trucks. A steel deck was chosen over a concrete deck to avoid delays associated with the curing time of a concrete deck.

The scales were connected to Cardinal Scale model 210 weight indicators fitted with 10/100 Ethernet cards and attached to P500 receipt printers, which were installed in two separate scale houses. The Ethernet cards allow them to communicate the weight data to their remote server and the ticket printers allow them to produce a hard copy for the truck drivers, which not only includes their truck ID, but the time and date of weighment as well.

The ocean transport company’s freight terminal at the Port of Miami operates 24/7, 365 days a year.

It can now weigh more than 600 trucks per day with the addition of the two pit-mounted Cardinal truck scales. The ocean transport company has substantially reduced the weigh-in time for each truck, which in turn allows them to load the freight containers on the cargo ships more efficiently.

The additional truck weighing scales have led to shorter lines of trucks, thus improving the overall traffic congestion at the Port of Miami as well.

You can read more about the case study by clicking the link.

Video Example of Truck In & Truck Out With Scale Printer

One of the more popular digital weight indicators currently available is the Rice Lake 720i Programmable Indicator/Controller. While not as robust as the legendary 920i this indicator is a great choice for many truck scale operators who are looking for easy to use simplicity.

The 720i from Rice Lake is an economical choice for those looking to increase functionality and simplicity. Make no mistake, this is an advanced intelligent indicators but it’s not quite the same level as the 920i so most users develop a level of comfort using it fairly quickly. From basic weighing and data collection to recipe formulation, inventory management and traceability, customers have grown to love the Rice Lake’s 720i. Advanced programmability is available using ProAction (PCEE) and enhanced data base storage make the 720i ideal for a wide variety of weighing applications. The indicator is available in both universal and panel-mount configurations.

In the entry today we wanted to share a video with you. In this video you will see an actual demonstration of a truck scale in/out using a ticket printer. Over the years we have had quite a few folks ask us for this basic overview of a typical truck transaction using a ticket printer. In this example we are using a Rice Lake 720i weight indicator and the process can be slightly different, depending on which indicator you’re using and how it has been set up.

As you can see in the example, we have a blank ticket in the printer and a truck drives on the scale empty. His weight is 20,000 pounds. We press the Weigh In key, assign him an ID number and press print. The truck then pulls off the scale. Now when the truck returns, loaded this time he drives back onto the scale and his weight is displayed as 50,000 pounds. We press the Weigh Out button and enter our same ID number that we used earlier and press the print key. Now you can take a look at the print out and see everything that was printed. The time and date are there along with the ID number. You also see the original empty weight of the truck listed as the tare weight which is 20,000 lbs. You see the net weight of product that was added to the truck which is 30,000 lbs. Finally you see the gross weight which is the total weight of the truck and the product which is 50,000 lbs.

As you can see, the truck in / truck out process for vehicle scales is pretty straightforward. Scale operators will need some training and it’s always a good idea to have a laminated quick start instruction guide handy as well.

How To Save $500 On Your New Truck Scale System

When you’re purchasing a truck scale, there are many different items and costs to consider. So, any costs that you can possibly reduce can make a substantial difference. One area to consider is the cost of the digital weight indicator. The odds are if you’re putting in a new truck scale, you will probably be quoted an indicator that is the same brand as the truck scale you’re buying. For example, if you’re looking to buy a Cardinal Armor “EPR” truck scale, you will probably be quoted a Cardinal 225 weight indicator. If you’re looking at a Rice Lake ATV truck scale, you will probably be quoted a Rice Lake 720i weight readout. These indicators are nice and will do an outstanding job for you. But, they can be a little pricey. An alternative choice that you might want to consider is the Pennsylvania 7600E which in some cases could save you $500 or more.

The Pennsylvania 7600E Indicator is IDEAL for TRUCK SCALE, Heavy Capacity, and BATCHING applications with convenient I/O connections and Menu Driven batching sequences or 300 Truck Tare memories with menu-selected Print Sequences. It was designed for expanded capabilities (using the PLUS+ Series Main Board) and is a DIRECT EXCHANGE REPLACEMENT indicator for thousands of similar units presently in use. Simplified 5-Button front panel model has all of the features and capabilities of the 7600E but is designed for direct replacement for many existing UMC600 or IQ700 series applications; dual independent RS-232 outputs, for example drive both scoreboard / remote display and ticket printer.

POWER & FLEXIBILITY– The 7600E adapts to the most demanding applications with a wide range of outputs, options, and features.  No need for expensive programming or expensive set-up. The 7600E is one of the easiest to use, easiest to install, easiest to live with indicators available today!

TRUCK SCALE APPLICATIONS: 300 Tare Weight memories and IN/OUT program plus menu-selectable ticket formats make the 7600E the obvious choice. 10 point linearization and tweak mode for calibrating convenience. Two separate digital outputs for printers and scoreboards plus optional relay alarms for truck-on-scale, overload warnings and more.

BENCH & FLOOR PLATFORMS: Keyboard Tare entry plus storage by ID# for up to 300 Tare Weights. Two independent digital outputs for printers, remote displays, scoreboards, control I/O. Free factory calibration to any Pennsylvania platform and fully
expandable for future requirements. SS enclosure with convenient U-Bracket mount.

IDEAL REPLACEMENT INDICATOR—grams to tons, designed specifically for fast, seamless installation in a wide variety of replacement applications as well as new installations.
• (2) Programmable Serial Data Ports standard
• 300 Truck IN/OUT Tare Memories
• Smart Serial™ Setup programmable serial data strings
• Calibration designed specifically for Batching/Truck Scales
• Optional Analog Output (4-20 mA/0-10 VDC)
• Optional Digital Relay I/O with menu driven Batching features
• Drives up to (8) 350 ohm or (10) 1000 ohm load cells
• Proven PLUS+ Series Main Board fits all Pennsylvania brand products
• ESD and RFI shielding are standard
• Stainless Steel enclosure with U-bracket mount standard

So when you’re looking to put in a new truck scale, one of the easy ways to save a few bucks is to go with a less expensive digital weight indicator like the Pennsylvania 7600E, which is made in America by the way.

Product Spotlight: Rice Lake Survivor Truck Scale

Rice Lake Weighing Systems SURVIVOR® truck scales are commonly referred to as the Toughest Scales on Earth®. They are designed to provide reliable performance under the most demanding conditions. SURVIVOR truck scales are built with more structural steel, a superior support structure and innovative design features that provide consistent accuracy, less downtime and longer scale life. Each SURVIVOR is built with the exclusive five-step finishing process. Take a look at some of the different Rice Lake Survivor truck scale models below.

SURVIVOR® OTR
The SURVIVOR OTR Series truck scale is an outstanding design that incorporates the most advanced engineering and production technology to manufacture the highest quality vehicle weighing system in the marketplace.

SURVIVOR® ATV
The ATV is rigidly constructed for heavy-duty weighing, yet lightweight and compact for convenient portability. The pre-assembled modules (available in lengths from 10 – 30 ft.) and unique self-seating hinge connectors provide easy installation, expansion and relocation for your growing business.

SURVIVOR® SR
The SR concrete or steel deck modes are ruggedly designed with massive outboard beams available in a bolted or welded design. Load cells and mounting assemblies are easily accessed in the rugged, reinforced load cell pocket, through side access.

SURVIVOR® PT
The PT Series truck scale is available in many standard sizes to satisfy most requirements, but we also understand that pit-type installations often involve replacing and existing mechanical or electronic scale.

SURVIVOR® M-Series
SURVIVOR® M Series Levertronic Scales combine innovative features with time-proven durability that only a mechanical scale can deliver. In a market crowded with scales manufactured to compete on price alone, SURVIVOR M Series Scales are built from the ground up for lasting performance under the most extreme conditions.

SURVIVOR® Rail Scales
SURVIVOR railroad track scales incorporate Rice Lake’s best-in-class weighbridge design to create a rugged, accurate heavy duty weighing system. Used in static weighing operations, the SURVIVOR RT Pit Type railroad track scale and the SURVIVOR PL Modular Type railroad track scale excel in high-accuracy, legal-for-trade weighing and meet AREMA and Cooper E-80 design specifications.

SURVIVOR® Livestock Solutions
Rice Lake’s livestock scales are built from the ground up for lasting performance under the most severe circumstances. Whether you choose the RoughDeck™ SLV for single animal weighing or the SURVIVOR® AG, LV or LS, you’re getting the Toughest Scale on Earth®.

Take a look below at “Six Facts” regarding heavy capacity solutions from Rice Lake. Did you know for applications where steel is preferred or downtime is critical, a great choice would be the SURVIVOR® OTR Steel Deck. Operational within a day, this easy-to-install steel deck scale sets the standard for truck scale design and performance, keeping downtime to a minimum. Tightly spaced wide flange I-beams form the industry’s strongest weighbridge design, weighing as many as 250 trucks per day for 25 years without a trace of weighbridge fatigue.

Built to Withstand Extreme Use
Weighbridge design and the weight of structural steel used directly affect the life of a truck scale. Many truck scale designs incorporate low grade, non-certified steel and an inferior design to reduce the cost and decrease production time. These reductions also reduce the life of the scale. Rice Lake SURVIVOR® series truck scales utilize up to 30% more steel than most competitive models and incorporate a longitudinal highway bridge design. More I-beams are strategically placed longitudinally with the traffic flow to ensure tire support regardless of truck position.

Ultra Load Cell Protection
Load cell pockets that are welded or bolted to exterior I-beams allow excessive bending and flexing, causing damage to the weighbridge. Bumper bolts loosen and break. Check rods bind. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are designed with the load cell pocket integrated into the steel structure of the scale. The pocket is built inside the outer I-beam, offering a more durable, long-lasting load cell pocket. The SURVIVOR® series scales feature the G-Force™ self-checking mounting system, eliminating the need for check rods or bumper bolts.

Breathing Room Below
Closed-bottom weighbridge designs with both top and bottom plates, typically using lighter weight components, create cavities that tend to hold moisture causing rusting of internal components. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® steel deck truck scales feature an open-bottom design providing unrestricted airflow eliminating rust causing moisture buildup, which accelerates rusting of internal steel and imminent scale failure.

Tough, Start to Finish
Harsh environments and corrosive materials can quickly deteriorate improperly finished truck scale components. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are steel shot blasted according to the highest industry standards to remove mill scale and surface imperfections. An asphalt emulsion undercoating is applied to all non-visible steel surfaces on all steel deck models to protect against moisture damage. High-performance epoxy primer and specialized hard-coat alkyd enamel is applied to all visible steel surfaces for a car-like finish that protects the scale from the elements.

Custom Sizes are Customary
Replacing truck scales on existing foundations or fitting truck scales to unique locations or space limitations need not incur extra design fees. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales can be custom-built to fit almost any application.

A Complete Solution for Any Application
These truck scales are only a part of the equation. Rice Lake offers not only the scale, but also the complete solution for your weighing application. From automated ticketing and truck transaction data collection systems to intelligent controllers like the 920i, to advanced cell diagnostics. And of course no truck scale is complete without a Ticketpress ticket printer and Laserlight Remote Display.

New Cardinal 190A Scale Indicator

If there was an award for the coolest display on a digital weight indicator in the scale industry, the winner would probably be the Cardinal 190 indicator. The display can show weights in red, yellow, green and a couple of other colors too. Recently, Cardinal introduced a new version of the 190 designed for axle weighing. The 190A is the perfect choice for the 760 series axle scales from Cardinal.

The USA-made Cardinal Scale 190A easily factors axle weights by pressing the PRINT key for each successive axle weight, or it can function in traffic control auto mode sensing each truck axle’s weight when connected to a remote display such as the SB500 with traffic signals and a printer such as the P150. Traffic control mode allows the truck driver to never have to leave the truck during the axle weighing process which speeds up weighing operations.

Designed for non-legal-for-trade portable axle weighing applications such as with Cardinal’s CWL-40 and 760 series mobile wheel weighers, the USA-made 190A weight indicator features axle weighing software, traffic control mode to automatically capture accumulative axle weights without the driver having to leave the truck (when connected to a remote display with traffic lights and printer), two RS232 serial ports (for printer and remote display), optional rechargeable lithium ion battery, capacitive touch keys, and IP69K-rated wash-down enclosure (the highest protection rating possible).

The 1-inch/25-mm high backlit LCD is visible in direct sunlight and may be set to any one of 6 different customizable settings. The 190A weight indicator features 3 watertight gland connectors, quick-connect power connector, and one ID. Continue reading

What Are The Different Displays On Digital Weight Indicators for Scales?

We hear this question quite often. What are the differences between LED, LCD, and VFD displays on digital weight indicators?

480 indicator

Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) display types are recommended for indoor applications, identifiable by digits that light up over a dark background.

Exceptions like the Laserlight series remote displays (an LED type display) are designed for viewing outdoors.

482 indicator

For most applications that are in sunlight generally the ideal choice is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), which is identifiable by black digits over a gray (or backlit) background.

Truck Scale Digital Weight Indicator Cardinal 225

Truck Scale Indicator

Truck Scale Indicator

Cardinal’s 225 Navigator features transflective technology which allows the display to be viewed under any lighting conditions from direct sunlight to total darkness. One-inch-high (25 mm) weight characters make viewing easy. View up to 3 scales with total weight simultaneously with the optional dual scale input board; no special software is needed with Cardinal 225 Navigator digital weight indicator.

Entering, viewing, and storing truck names is easy with the 225 Navigator’s convenient Truck ID menu.  Complete alphanumeric descriptions for truck and material prompts make storing and recalling tare weight values quick and simple.