2010 World of Asphalt Show & Conference
WEM Email for Commodity Management
WEM recently provided an automatic commodity ordering system utilizing email. By monitoring the current usage and inventory the WEM4000 control system automatically generates an email that is sent directly to the ingredient supplier. With this information, as well as anticipated usage and total receipts for the last 8 hours including truck identification, the ingredient supplier can manage the shipment of an ingredient ensuring that the feed mill has the available bin capacity and the required inventory to make feed.
WEM Meets With NCAT
At the request of Auburn University, WEM has recently met with the National Center for Asphalt Technology to help develop advanced methods of quality control at the asphalt plant. This project, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, will research various options to improve the ability to read, monitor, control, and prove the process variables associated with material and control functions at the plant. WEM is pleased to be among the industry leaders chosen to assist with this project.
WEM will continue its efforts in advancing the industry through science, technology, and experience. WEM has been active and supportive of university projects for many years including current projects with the University of Wisconsin Madison, Kansas State University, and Ohio State University.
WEM Automation Inc. Announces 2010 Customer Conferences
Once again WEM Automation Inc. is pleased to announce its 2010 Customer Conference. This annual event is a great opportunity to learn how to optimize your controls performance to maximize productivity and profitability. In-depth hands-on training is designed to highlight those features that allow proper operation and optimization of the WEM4000 controls systems as well as system maintenance. Individualized breakout sessions are available to provide supplementary one-on-one training. The dates for the training are:
- Asphalt Customer Conference – February 2-4, 2010
- Feed Milling Customer Conference – February 9-12, 2010
More details will be available in the future. Please feel free to call WEM Automation if you have any questions.
See us at the International Poultry Expo
Visit us at the International Poultry Expo in Atlanta, GA, January 27-29, 2010. Learn how the WEM4000 Feed Mill Control system can improve profitability and position your company for further excellence. The WEM4000 Feed Mill Control system maximizes productivity, minimizes labor, and increases product quality. Separate WEM4000 control modules for Receiving, Grinding, Flaking, Batching, Pelleting, Coating and Loadout are available for economical control of your feed mill.
Flexibility of WEM4000 Helps Customers’ Mix Quality
WEM Automation Inc. and its’ customers are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve efficiencies. Customers also use WEM system to improve the quality of their products as well. One such customer used the flexibility of the WEM4000 batching system to customize how they batched their feed. This customer found that their hand-added minerals were not mixing well with the way they were using their batching system. They had determined through manual test runs that running their hand adds material into the mixer first allowed them to achieve a better quality mix. This unique mix sequence was an easy change for WEM’s programmers. This quick change provided the newly specified mix sequence and thus enabled them to achieve a much higher quality of product.
Upgrading Computers Offers Include Enhanced Software Features
When your computer reaches replacement age, a new computer with your current version of software can be purchased from WEM Automation. WEM Automation is continuously developing new features for our products. We offer the option of upgrading the system software when replacing a computer for a nominal charge.
The advantages to upgrading to the latest version of software are that you receive all of the updated features included with the current software version. Additionally, being on a current software platform provides the capability to add new features. Plus the new software comes with a 5 year warranty.
Depending upon the version of software you are running, some of the features that have been added to the standard systems are:
Batch/Loadout
Multiple range dynamic free fall compensation – provides (3) user defined drop size ranges, eliminating the need to fix the free fall when loading different size trucks. Having multiple ranges for drop size eliminates jogging when switching back to large drop sizes after smaller loads. Less jogging makes for quicker loading and less wear and tear on your equipment.
Price list - provides the ability to provide a discount to a customer based upon an individual mix or job.
You may wish to grant special discounts to a customer for particularly large job or for certain types of mixes but not others. The price list feature lets you build discounts in this manner, based upon either percentage discount or dollars/ton. With this feature the operator no longer needs to type in the discount for some loads but not others; eliminating mistakes and freeing him up to focus on running the plant.
Drum
Restore calibration – allows the previous calibration settings for Cold feeders and RAP feeders to be restored. In case the calibration settings have been lost or changed, the last calibrations can be restored at the click of a button.
Dust removal rate – provides an entry in the drum formula to account for the amount of dust removed during the drying process. Particularly dusty aggregates may require only a portion of the dust removed to be returned to the mix. This feature provides for an entry, similar to moisture content, which automatically adjusts aggregate flow so that AC content is kept in exact proportion.
For more information about these and other enhancements please contact the WEM Automation Inc. sales department.
WEM Utilizes Wireless Bar Code Scanners in Feedmill Receiving and Loadout Application
Agri-Marche has trusted WEM once again to supply a custom receiving system utilizing wireless bar code readers that will improve their operating efficiency and reduce labor inputs. The receiving system makes use of a printed bar code at the receiving scale house that is scanned at one of the two unattended receiving dump pits. If the truck is located at the correct dump pit a route is started automatically to a receiving destination bin containing the same material. When the truck is unloaded a “done” button is pressed and the route will automatically run a clean time of the receiving equipment and the truck will proceed back to the scale house to complete the transaction and obtain a ticket.
Agri-Marche’s loadout system makes use of a bar code scanner to identify the order assigned to the truck driver by the dispatch office. After the bar code is scanned the automation system automatically positions the weigh lorry under the loadout bins and over the truck pockets for loading.
WEM works with AFIA to adopt Bar Code Standards for Feed Industry
Our feed industry customers have often desired to utilize bar code scanners for receipt of bagged ingredients and for identifying hand-adds. In the past, due to a lack of an industry standard, this task has been difficult as many bags do not contain a bar code or the bar codes do not conform to a standard. To overcome this obstacle the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has formed a committee of industry constituents to formulate and adopt a plan to standardize bar codes used in the feed industry. Ernie Bollinger, President of WEM Automation, is an active member of this committee. The results of this effort will make utilizing bar codes for identifying bagged ingredients used in feed manufacturing uniform for material confirmation and lot code tracking purposes. This is just one of many ways that WEM gives back to the feed industry that has served us well for decades.
WEM completes warm mix development for all major equipment suppliers!
WEM is pleased to announce that the WEM4000 Pro Series asphalt product line is now compatible with ALL major manufacturer warm mix systems. The Pro Series line will efficiently and effectively control warm mix systems for both drum and batch applications. As always, WEM worked very closely with manufacturers and producers alike to develop the most advanced yet simple methods of controlling and reporting warm mix applications. This is the latest in WEM’s substantial development campaign with major industry leaders to help increase producer throughput, efficiency, and profitability. As warm mix continues to develop and grow, WEM, along with its industry partners, will continue to focus on helping producers adapt and improve their operations.