Weighing solutions have brought fluency in Metsäsairila's material flows

Tamtron (former Lahti Precision) supplied Metsäsairila with a new vehicle scale suitable for weighing HCT vehicles, and at the same time the older vehicle scale was modernized to meet modern-day requirements. The scales were also connected to mScales digital weighing service, which has gained flexibility in Metsäsairila’s operations and improved their use of the resources. Tamtron also offers a continuous maintenance service that takes the life cycle of the weighing equipment into account.

Material flows have increased in the Metsä-Sairila recycling area, when the new recycling hall Kieppi was completed in 2021 where sorting points for various wastes have been made. Waste treatment is concentrated in this area. Both private consumers and entrepreneurs can use the Kieppi recycling point with a piece goods fee. Larger loads coming to the recycling station often go through the weighing of truck scales either to the hall for waste sorting or directly to the sorting benches area. Currently, the digital mScales weighing service is used in the area’s vehicle scales as well as the three wheeled station loader scales.

The new three-bridge truck scale and digital weighing service make the process smoother

Metsäsairila has two vehicle scales supplied by Tamtron, which are connected to the digital mScales weighing service.
The new HCT vehicle scale is located near the entrance of the area, which makes traffic as flexible as possible for everyone and enables the weighing service to be sold as a service to other operators as well. A long bridge enables weighing for sc. super-long trucks with one stop, which remarkably speeds up the weighing process.

The previous vehicle scale located in the area was also supplied by Tamtron. This scale was modernized to meet current needs and requirements. With the modernization and connection to mScales digital weighing service, it was possible to remove the scales’ physical terminals used by the drivers. When the scale equipment was removed, only long-lasting and durable concrete bridges, sensors and scale electronics remained in the field level. It reduces defects affecting the vehicle scale and increases its reliability and efficiency. mScales also enables the load to be weighed by the driver, which reduces the need for manual work. In this way, the scale operator’s workload can be used to other work tasks and the risks of human errors are minimized.

The new HCT scale also makes it possible to sell weighing

Long three-bridge HCT vehicle scale was built for Metsäsairila with the idea that it can also sell weighing as a service to other companies. The scale was placed on the side of the public road upon the area entrance, so the location is logical from the point of view of the cars coming to be weighed. At the same time, Metsäsairila’s weighing system was renewed as the previous in-house system wasn’t up-to-date. Company wanted it to be updated to a new more modern weighing system. Metsäsairila’s decision to use mScales digital weighing service was also based on the mScales’ continuous development, which guarantees the best benefits for all customers and users.

mScales‘ services enhance operations at the recycling station

The best benefit for Metsäsairila is mobile weighing, which can be done easily from the digital mScales service. Mobile weighing frees the weighing operators’ working time for other tasks, and the drivers can also manage the weighing independently on their mobile devices.

“The released resources has been able to be used for other work, so we have achieved cost savings,” says operations manager Olli Siekkinen.

Metsäsairila has also been able to utilize the vehicle scale by selling weighing services to other companies in the industry. External weighing services for customers can also visit the area, so with the help of mScales, the company can now offer weighing services to them as well.

“We can give our regular suppliers weighing codes and thus access to the area is also freed up, so their deliveries are not tied to our opening hours,” summarizes Siekkinen.

mScales additional module gate control function can be used to open the gates of the recycling area also remotely, making remote working more flexible. Logistics manager Olli Siekkinen can work from home, for example by opening the gates of the Metsäsairila area when a vehicle is entering the area outside of normal opening hours. In this way, time and effort are saved significantly, when you don’t have to drive several tens of kilometres just to let vehicles into the area.

The gate control system enables the recycling area to have especially flexible opening hours and smooth comings and goings. Gate control is also possible from the driver of the vehicle directly from the cab using mScales as a mobile device, which makes moving around the area smoothly and easy. Especially in winter, when the vehicle scales in the recycling area are kept clear of snow, smooth comings and goings is very important.

The electronic transfer document as required by the Finland Ministry of the Environment will be available to Metsäsairila at the beginning of September 2022 as a new service. An electronic transfer document certified by electronic signatures is easily obtained from mScales. In this case, separate paper printouts are not needed and the information is transferred to the official register as up-to-date and error-free.

Loader weighing can also be done conveniently with a mobile device

Metsäsairila has also connected mScales to three wheel loader scales. Connecting the loader scale to the service now enables the driver to do all loader and scale weighing’s on the go. Weighing is smoother when all types of waste and container transfers can be done more easily with weighing codes.

“When goods move in different containers, we are able to monitor stock transfers and balances all the time. Weighing is really fast and easy, you just prepare the product and drive to the scale. This only takes 20 seconds, you continue your journey again and the weighing is done. We have been satisfied with the ease of the service, the self-service and the fact that the information travels immediately,” says Jorma Lampinen, the driver of the wheeled loader.

Constantly developing service and customer service as advantages of choosing mScales

Metsäsairila’s operations manager Olli Siekkinen justifies the choice of mScales as follows: “As a municipal operator, of course we have to consider the choice of different suppliers. We chose mScales because I got a convincing picture of customer service and sales. I felt that this activity suited us specifically and I trusted the realisation of the project. In my role as a contact person, our cooperation has been flexible. mScales also has the advantage of a constantly developing service.” 

“From the mScales team, we have a designated contact person who facilitates communication. They know our needs and problems and can immediately answer our questions. The long-standing experience with Tamtron tipped the scales in your favour, so to speak!”. 

The service and maintenance contract increases the scale’s operational reliability and life cycle

At best, a car scale serves reliably throughout its long life cycle, and the scale’s long-lasting operation requires that the maintenance and regular verifications are taken care of. Metsäsairila has ensured the efficient use of its scales throughout its life cycle with a service and maintenance contract, whereby Tamtrons experts are responsible of periodic maintenance, inspections, verifications and calibrations as well as the scheduling, and there is no need to worry about the availability of spare parts.

Comprehensive weighing service with vast experience

Better than a perfect scale supplier or a software house offering a weighing system is these two together.

Tamtron’s comprehensive expertise in weighing and dosing devices, as well as the continuous development of its own digital mScales weighing system, enable supplying seamlessly functioning entities. When equipment, spare parts, maintenance and other services can be found on a one-stop basis from the same operator, it reduces customers’ worry and they can focus on their own core competence.