Material Weighing Systems

Feed Batching Using Bulk Bags

Sterling Systems & Controls, Inc. offers a variety of material weighing systems for many industries and applications. Each system is customized to meet the exact requirements and demands of our customers. Material weighing systems are useful for the automatic batching of multiple ingredients using single or multiple scales. A semi-automatic material weighing system for batching applications requires operator-assisted feeding of ingredients with automatic operator instructions, weighing and lockouts to ensure there will be no more missed ingredients due to operator interruption or error. These material weighing systems for ingredient batching ensure batch integrity, quality & consistency.

Common Material Weighing Systems
Material Weighing System Features
  • Batching Systems are Semi-Automatic (a.k.a. Kitchen Batching Systems) or Automatic in Operation
  • Multiple Components/Ingredients in Batch
  • Multiple Formulations
  • Completed Batches are Manually or Automatically Transported Downstream in the Process
  • Report Generation
  • Interfaces to Upper-Level Systems
  • RFID or Barcode Scanning for Lot Tracking, Traceability and Validation
  • Supervisory Remote Control with WebCentral Application
System Design Considerations
  • Batch Size (min and max)
  • Batch Rate (Batches Per Hour)
  • Accuracy Requirements and Space Constraints (Floor Space)
  • Ceiling Height
  • Raw Material Source Packaging (Bag, Box, Bulk Bags, Totes, Drums…)
  • Raw Material Dosing Size (Min and Max)
  • Supply Bin Filling, Size/Capacity, Level Indication, Flow Aid, and Bin Lid Designs
  • Materials of Construction (Material Contact & Non-Contact Construction, e.g. Stainless Steel, Coated Mild Steel, Plastic)
  • Material Contact Construction Finish (Agricultural, Food, Pharma, or Industrial)
Automatic Material Weighing Systems

Automatic material weighing systems are batching systems designed to require minimal operator monitoring or interaction:

  • Automatically Weighs Ingredients via Feeding Device.
  • Multiple Components/Ingredients in Batch
  • Batches Introduced Directly Downstream in the Process (Mixer, etc.) or Staged for Future Processing
  • Multiple Formulations
  • Ensures Batch Integrity (Batch Quality & Consistency) via Ingredient Weighment within Programmable Tolerance
  • RFID and/or Barcode Scanning for Lot Tracking, Traceability and Batch Validation
  • Report Generation
  • Interfaces to Upper-Level Systems

Automatic material weighing systems require the following design considerations:

  • Batch Size (min and max)
  • Batch Rate (Batches Per Hour)
  • Material Flow Characteristics
  • Accuracy Requirements and Space Constraints (Floor Space)
  • Ceiling Height
  • Raw Material Source Packaging (Bag, Box, Bulk Bags, Totes, Drums…)
  • Raw Material Dosing Size (Min and Max)
  • Supply Bin Filling, Size/Capacity, Level Indication, Flow Aid, and Bin Lid Designs
  • Materials of Construction (Material Contact & Non-Contact Construction, e.g. Stainless Steel, Coated Mild Steel, Plastic)
  • Material Contact Construction Finish (Agricultural, Food, Pharma, or Industrial)
  • Method of Transporting Batches Downstream
  • Feeder Type and Size/Capacity (Standard Duty or Heavy Duty)
  • Materials of Construction (Material Contact & Non-Contact Construction, e.g. Stainless Steel, Coated Mild Steel, Plastic)
  • Material Contact Construction Finish (Agricultural, Food, Pharma, or Industrial)
  • Dust Control Requirements
  • Electrical Area Classification
Semi-Automatic Material Weighing Systems

Semi-automatic material weighing systems are batching systems (a.k.a. Hand Prompt or Kitchen Batching Systems) that require an operator feed each ingredient manually into a batch container. Operator actions and the material weighing are controlled and accomplished by an automated system that prompts operator action through the batching process of a preprogrammed recipe/formula, and contains interlocks that eliminate missed ingredients due to operator interruption:

  • Automatic Control of Operator Actions (Eliminates Missed Ingredients Due to Operator Interruption/Error)
  • Efficiency and Performance Improvements Over a Manual Batch Process
  • Manual Introduction of Batches Downstream
  • Ensures Batch Integrity, Quality & Consistency (Ingredient Weighment within a Programmable Tolerance)
  • RFID and/or Barcode Scanning for Lot Tracking, Traceability and Batch Validation
  • Report Generation
  • Interfaces to Upper-Level Systems

Semi-automatic material weighing systems require the following design considerations:

  • Batch Size
  • Batch Rate
  • Accuracy Requirements
  • Space Constraints
  • Raw Material Source Packaging (Bag, Box, Bulk Bags, Totes, Drums…)
  • Supply Bin Filling, Size/Capacity
  • Supply Bins Filling
  • Materials of Construction (Material Contact & Non-Contact Construction, e.g. Stainless Steel, Coated Mild Steel, Plastic)
  • Material Contact Construction Finish (Agricultural, Food, Pharma, or Industrial)
  • Dust Control Requirements
  • Electrical Area Classification

 

Working With Us

Give us a call today to talk about your business and process objectives and see how Sterling Systems & Controls can provide a custom engineered solution.  You can reach us by phone at 1-815-625-0852, toll-free in the USA 1-800-257-7214, or by email at sci@sterlingcontrols.com.

EMERGENCY SERVICE AFTER-HOURS: 1-877-794-1044