Darrin Bjerke operates CompuWeigh’s elevator automation system and monitors a GMS dump pit workstation displaying a list of trucks that have weighed in along with associated grade factors prior to dumping in Hillsboro, ND. Photos by Judy Hemphill, JH Photography, Spencer, IA.

Darrin Bjerke operates CompuWeigh’s elevator automation system and monitors a GMS dump pit workstation displaying a list of trucks that have weighed in along with associated grade factors prior to dumping in Hillsboro, ND. Photos by Judy
Hemphill, JH Photography, Spencer, IA.

CASE STUDY – COURTESY OF GRAIN JOURNAL

Alton Grain Installs CompuWeigh SmartTruck Technology

One of the scheduled construction projects for 2014 at the Alton Grain rail terminal in Hillsboro, ND (701-636-5130), was to build an enclosure around the facility’s probe station, in order to get it out of the Red River Valley’s often harsh weather.

With that project underway, the company decided also to upgrade its truck management software.

“We had been using the CompuWeigh’s HMI elevator automation system as well as the GMS truck management software since 2001,” says Operations Manager Darrin Bjerke, “and we were pleased with it. But it most recently ran on the old Windows XP platform and required a scale attendant to be present to do the actual weighing of the trucks, so it was time for an upgrade.”

Since the time CompuWeigh installed the GMS system at Alton Grain, it has continued to upgrade its technology. Last fall, Alton Grain was able to upgrade to CompuWeigh’s RFID SmartTruck system, which has provided a number of benefits to both Alton Grain and its customers.

Features
Among the CompuWeigh components that make up Alton Grain’s SmartTruck installation:
• SmartChoice: Programming that automatically sends trucks to one of three receiving pits via digital message boards based on daily grade factor parameters (per pit, as configured by Alton Grain).
• SmartPit: Ability to scan trucks’ RF cards at the pit and sound an alarm, if a truck pulls into the incorrect pit.  This prevents mixing of grain.
• HMI/PLC Automation Technology:  Inputs data from all weighing, grading, and grain receiving equipment and monitors safety sensors such as belt alignment, bearing temperature, and amperage sounding an alert, if any of these exceed safety limits.

Truck exits inbound probe station and is directed by the SmartTruck system to one of three receiving pits.

Truck exits inbound probe station and is directed by the SmartTruck system to one of three receiving pits.

Benefits
Grain Manager Cory Tryan cites a number of benefits to the terminal operation with the SmartTruck system:
• The process of checking trucks in at the probe is much faster. Each truck’s unique RFID card provides additional security. “We had been entering everything manually,” says Tryan. “The driver had to speak with our operator over the loudspeaker to identify the truck. Now, the only time the driver has to talk is if the identity of the grain’s owner has changed.”
• When communication is required, it is much easier to understand drivers now with the SmartTalk intercom system with its noise cancellation technology.
• The chances of a truck dumping at the wrong pit has been eliminated with the SmartPit feature.
• Trucks no longer are identified incorrectly during the weighing process, if they get out of order. Because the RFID badge is identified automatically by the system, the correct truck always is selected.

Tryan says he and his employees are very satisfied and impressed with the new system.

Ed Zdrojewski, editor