Lancashire Waste Services has considerably smoothed its operations by converting its five remaining weighbridges to digital load cells and introducing a new service schedule
Lancashire Waste has been using Mettler Toledo weighbridges for some 15 years and has a total of 11 in operation.
In addition to upgrading its weighbridges, Lancashire Waste Services has also worked out a new service arrangement with Mettler Toledo which enables individual site managers to manage the scheduling of their regular service visits.
Operations manager Dave Bamber explains: "The weighbridges are installed at our various waste transfer and landfill sites.
We used to co-ordinate our service contract centrally, but found that this was less than satisfactory because the site managers were not always aware of what should be happening.
We raised this problem with Mettler Toledo and together we were able to work out a system whereby service visits are scheduled by individual site managers.
The site managers are in control of the situation and these servicing arrangements have greatly improved our operations." Also significantly improved is the operation of the weighbridges themselves.
The conversions were carried out using Mettler Toledo's DigiTol load cell kits, which offer significant advantages over analogue type load cells in terms of both performance and reliability.
Hermetically sealed in a stainless steel enclosure, the load cells are protected from moisture ingress and corrosion.
Their simple calibration minimises installation time and onboard diagnostics provide continuous self verification for accurate weighing.
Because calibration is carried out via the indicator, there is no need to access the junction box, which further prevents moisture getting in to either the junction box or cables.
A key feature of the DigiTol load cells for external installations is their full protection from lightning.
According to Mettler Toledo, there have been no reported failures of DigiTol load cells due to lightning strikes since their launch in 1987 and the company now offers a five-year warranty against damage by lightning which covers both parts and labour.
The conversion of Lancashire Waste Services' weighbridges also included the installation of Cougar indicators. Weights and Measures approved, the indicators have been supplied with an interface to Lancashire Waste's networked computer system.
Load weights are keyed in and the information is downloaded onto the system each night, enabling records to be updated and invoices raised.
