English - Rice Lake Weighing Systems

A magazine and REFERENCE TOOL FOR THE WEIGHING INDUSTRY / Winter 2013 • issue 2 • vol. 9 

Rig It Right 

Four rules for riggers 

Cherries in Motion Tree to box in minutes 

Check the Pockets 

Before you buy a truck scale

This issue 

Editorial Staff 

We earn it. 

Our greatest asset and differentiator as a company is plain and simple: 

great customer service. 

Our people make it easier and more pleasant to do business with us. When customers 

call us, a friendly voice answers the phone—as quickly as possible. (Our goal is 

to answer every call on the first or second ring.) 

In the short article on page 16, “When load cells fly,” you will see an example of how 

far we will go to get our equipment in your hands when you need it. 

In these pages you also will read about our new Rice Lake company, Measurement 

Systems International (MSI) and their weighing equipment for crane operators and 

riggers. On page 14, “Check the Pockets,” Bill Murphy, our heavy capacity director, 

gives you a surefire way to compare truck scales before you buy. In all, we give you 

28 pages dedicated to weighing technology and interesting new application stories. 

We also give you our thanks for your business. Last year, 2012, was our best year 

ever. Looking forward, we see strengthening relationships with all of our customers 

in the new year. 

We will continue to earn your commitment to us. 

Melanie Al Faraj, Technical Writer 

Tamala Anderson, Designer 

Cheryl Aune, Literature Manager 

Matt Davis, Marketing Specialist 

Jessica de la Cruz, Writer 

Micah Fauske, Designer 

James Hanson, Web Development Specialist 

Melissa Hjelle, Marketing Specialist 

Megan Katcher, Marketing Coordinator 

Nicole King, Marketing Coordinator 

Rita Lenzen, Marketing Coordinator 

Katy Madden, Story Editor 

Kelly Musil, Catalog Manager 

Caleb Olson, Technical Writer, Reporter 

Carrie Popple, Technical Writer 

Pat Ranfranz, Marketing Director 

Hannah Rechsteiner, Designer 

Tina Slayton, Marketing Specialist 

Stacy White, Marketing Specialist 

Kristina Zengaffinen, Senior Designer 

Sincerely, 

Steve M Parkman 

Chief Operating Officer 

Steve Parkman, Chief Operating Officer 

Rice Lake Weighing Systems 

2 RICE LAKE MAGAZINE | www.ricelake.com

this issue 

RICE LAKE MAGAZINE • Winter 2013 • Issue 2 • Vol. 9 

Inside 

page 4 What’s New Rice Lake presents the latest weighing equipment and technology page 6 

Rig It Right Four Advantages of Using the MSI-7300 Dynamometer page 10 Cherries 

in Motion MotoWeigh® generates quick ROI for end-users page 14 Check the Pockets 

Comparing truck scales page 17 Coil Scale Ingenuity Steel manufacturer’s custom coil scale 

increases efficiency and safety, and reduces cost page 18 The Science of Silos 

6 

A look at SYCSA’s impressive Silo R & D center page 22 The Winner’s Circle The 920i® 

indicator/controller, SURVIVOR® OTR truck scale, and Rice Lake load cells page 25 A Cut Above 

Rice Lake’s MajorSlice commercial slicers take a lead role in delis page 26 Rice Lake Scales 

Help Break World Records Dependable, repeatable accuracy convinces judges 

10 

RICE LAKE MAGAZINE 

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18 

An ISO 9001 registered company © 2013 Rice Lake Weighing Systems 

www.ricelake.com | RICE LAKE MAGAZINE 3

WHAT’S NEW 

New weighing 

solutions 

New batchers and 

bulk-weighing fillers 

920i® FlexWeigh Systems 

Check out new multi-ingredient batchers that batch up to four ingredients at dual speed, 

or eight at single speed. The 201 model Batch-to-Container sequentially fills ingredients into 

a container up to the scale target weight. The 202 model Batch-to-Hopper & Discharge 

sequentially fills ingredients up to the target weight; and then discharges into a vessel. 

Expanded line includes fillers designed for use with limited-capacity hoppers. 

For bulk shipping, the model 107 automatically fills and discharges 

a hopper up to target weight. 

For bulk receiving, the model 108 fills and dispenses a hopper 

until all product is received and accumulates the weight. 

Model 109 handles bulk shipping or receiving: switchable modes 

via operator key switch. 

Learn more at ricelake.com/920iflexweigh. ▪ 

Load cell 

Wiring Guide App 

for your mobile devices 

Just announced, our popular 

Load Cell Wiring Guide is now 

available as a mobile application 

for smartphones, tablets and PCs. 

Verify the signal, excitation, and 

sense wire colors of almost every 

industrial load cell brand and 

model—at the touch of a button! 

The app will be available in early 

2013 from your device’s app store, 

but you can find it online right now 

at ricelake.com/wireapp. ▪ 


WHAT’S NEW 

Measurement Systems International (MSI), a scale equipment 

manufacturer based in Seattle, WA, was acquired by Rice Lake 

Weighing Systems this past April. MSI has been in business since 

1977. The MSI line of strain gauge and microprocessor technologies 

is sold throughout the world. It includes industrial electronic scales, 

tension dynamometers, load monitoring instrumentation, 

RF wireless data acquisition and signal processing 

systems. msiscales.com ▪ 

NAW® stops gnawing 

EL147RP Plus Rodent 

Protection Cable 

The “plus” stands for an added 

chemical coating that tastes 

terrible to rodents. EL147RP Plus 

also sports a tinned-copper over 

braid for another layer of rodent 

and abrasion resistance. 

For heavy radio frequency use 

areas, EL147RP Plus also delivers 

superior EMI/RFI protection. 

ricelake.com/naw 

▪ 

for conveyors, slides, and chutes 

Easy-to-install MotoWeigh® Tunnel Metal Detector 

Material handling and processing takes a safer course with tunnel 

metal detectors at critical points. This detection equipment is ideal for 

food, hygiene products, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. 

It is available in sandblasted stainless steel or epoxy paint finish. 

Detects free and encapsulated ferrous, stainless steel, 

aluminum, copper, and brass contaminants and passes 

requirements for ISO 9000, HAACP, IFS, and BRC quality 

inspections—all while protecting machinery from foreign objects. 

The touch screen control panel displays maximum information 

with easy and fast operation. The 5.7" backlit screen is large enough 

to display parameter data and protocol contents in a legible 

format. The oscilloscope function makes signal waves 

visible by projecting them onto the display. 

▪ 


ON LOCATION 

ITI’s belief is that people have 

a greatly increased chance of retention 

by “seeing, speaking, and doing” 

all at the same time. 

Four Advantages 

of Using the 

MSI-7300 

Dynamometer 

“Crane and rigging 

accidents can be tracked 

back to a collection of events 

all happening at the same 

time. Having the load and/or 

tension information in hand 

helps reduce the risk 

associated with load handling 

and lowers the opportunity 

for an accident.” 

Mike Parnell, president of Industrial 

Training International 

Over the past quarter-century, Industrial Training International 

(ITI) has been recognized by clients and competitors alike for 

having an innovative and pioneering attitude toward training, 

and for having raised the current levels of instruction for cranes, heavy equipment, and 

rigging. ITI’s belief is that people have a greatly increased chance of retention by “seeing, 

speaking, and doing” all at the same time. 

ITI is headquartered in Woodland, Washington, and Edmonton, Alberta. Their training 

centers are located in Woodland, Washington; Memphis, Tennessee; Anchorage, Alaska; 

and Edmonton, Alberta. 

Mike Parnell, president of ITI, says, “We use dynamometers for a host of reasons, but 

four applications can be especially helpful to the rigger and crane operator. I chose the 

Continued on page 8 


Industrial Training International (ITI) has 

used MSI dynamometers in basic-to-advanced 

rigging training courses for over 20 years to 

reinforce the principles of rigging.

on location 

The MSI-7300 

helps students 

Mike Parnell, president of Industrial 

Training International (ITI), has used 

MSI dynamometers in his basic-toadvanced 

rigging training courses for 

over 20 years. He states, “They’re the 

best tool for reinforcing the principles 

of rigging when it comes to confirming 

tensions involved in horizontal and 

vertical load handling.” Students use 

the MSI-7300 dynamometer in every 

training module, both as a safety 

device and as a tool for verifying the 

theory taught in class. “The MSI-7300 

is like a grading system for the students— 

it confirms the theory behind 

proper rigging.” Mike says he chose 

the MSI-7300 for its lightweight design, 

large display, RF remote-display 

capabilities, and industry-leading 

safety specifications. 

Kyle McKinney, regional sales director 

for MSI, recently attended ITI’s Master 

Rigger Course. Kyle reports, “There was a 

common theme during discussion with 

the instructors—they loved the MSI- 

8000 RF Remote Display with the 7300 

Dyna-Link 2. During the Mobile Crane 

Lifting module, the instructor placed the 

remote display in the crane cab. That 

allowed them to keep an eye on the 

load weight while also guiding students 

through their rigging exercises.” 

Rig it Right continued from page 6 

MSI-7300 for its lightweight design, large 

display, RF Remote Display capabilities, 

and industry-leading safety specifications. 

Mike Parnell observes, “Crane and rigging 

accidents can be tracked back to a 

collection of events all happening at the 

same time. Having an accurate and continual 

readout of sling loading or gross 

load is a huge help to the riggers and lift 

director. Having the load and/or tension 

information in hand helps reduce the 

risk associated with load handling and 

lowers the opportunity for an accident.” 

Chain Hoist Drifting 

During a chain hoist load-drifting activity, 

the tension readout can help prevent 

equipment overload, since the horizontal 

distance, the horizontal angle, and the 

elevation are constantly changing. The 

rigger calculates for the worst-case drifting 

position but uses the Dyna-Link to 

ensure that he and the crew stay within 

the intended parameters. 

Load Up-righting 

With the MSI-8000 RF Remote Display, 

a Dyna-Link is very useful in a load 

up-righting event. Using an overhead 

crane, riggers often have to stand a load 

up from a laydown position. By using 

a Dyna-Link from the crane hook, the 

tension will generally lessen as the rigger 

hoists and trolleys to accommodate the 

load tilt-up. By observing the tension 

Mike Parnell, president 

Industrial Training International (ITI) 

The rigger calculates for the worst-case 

drifting position, but uses the Dyna-Link 2 

to ensure that the crew stays within 

the parameters intended. 


on location 

as it lessens, the crew can align a stepblock 

in a timely manner. A step-block 

or large wooden timber is used to create 

a new tipping axis. This helps prevent 

load “flopping” when the center of gravity 

passes the tilt-up corner. 

Disassembly and Demolition 

A third valuable place to use a Dyna-Link 

is during disassembly or demolition work. 

If a rigging crew knows that a motor and 

gear box on a bolted and grouted base 

weighs 4,500 pounds, then the Dyna-Link 

can be placed between the crane hook and 

the load rigging to help prevent overload 

to the equipment. Sometimes the alignment 

rods or cement grout underneath 

the load’s base are not sufficiently separated 

from the base. In effect the base is 

still secured to the building’s floor. The 

Dyna-Link will provide a live tension 

readout to the rigging crew. If the value 

in tension exceeds the known weight, the 

crew will need to find ways to separate 

the base from its mounting location (by 

jack hammer, concrete saw, cutting torch, 

hydraulic spreader jack, or other means). 

The photo at left shows a Dyna-Link between 

the hoist hook and the rigging. 

Training and Demonstration 

A crane-hook-suspended Dyna-Link can 

be a helpful tool for training crane operators 

to be “smooth.” With the peak-hold 

function activated on the Dyna-Link, an 

operator can be signaled to lift a load, 

move it horizontally, and lower it to a preapproved 

landing point. It is not unusual 

for the dynamic weight to momentarily 

peak to a value of 10-50 percent above the 

known suspended weight. The peak-hold 

function maintains the highest captured 

reading on the dynamometer since it was 

last cleared. If the operator swings (boom 

crane) or travels (bridge crane) and stops 

abruptly, the dynamometer can register a 

very high peak value. It helps the trainer 

demonstrate to the operator the need to 

manage the crane speed, acceleration, and 

deceleration carefully. All of this type of 

dynamic handling needs to be well within 

the crane and rigging’s capacity, which 

is generally less than 25 percent of the 

allowable rating in its configuration. ▪ 

The MSI-7300 

Dyna-Link 2 

digital tension 

dynamometer 

is a trusted tool 

Test engineers, crane operators, 

riggers, surveyors, and staging 

professionals who want to rig 

it right depend on MSI-7300. 

Through advanced technology of 

the new MSI ScaleCore TM , a highly 

integrated weight-processing unit 

with 24 bit A/D conversion, Dyna- 

Link 2 provides new and improved 

performance features. 

Long-range viewing is enhanced by 

a large five-digit, 1.22 inch (31 mm) LCD with 

resolution settings up to 5,000 divisions and precision 

accuracy over a wide range of capacities. 

Peak digital processing with low power consumption 

provides up to 200 hours of operation from 

standard flashlight batteries during typical use. 

MSI-7300 

Dyna-Link 2 

The MSI-8000 RF Remote Display interfaces with MSI Weighing Systems by 

incorporating the MSI ScaleCore weight-processing unit; the MSI-8000 RF 

Remote Display communicates with the MSI-7300 Dyna-Link 2 and the MSI-3460 

Challenger 3. The compact, handheld indicator provides remote scale control 

capabilities and a large five-digit, 1.25 

inch (32 mm) liquid crystal display. 

The user-friendly keypad includes 

Power, Zero, Tare, Print, and two 

configurable function keys. 

The MSI-8000 interfaces to peripheral 

devices including printers, PCs, and 

MSI-8000 RF Remote Display 

scoreboards, and is integrated via a 

combination RS-232 serial and charging 

port. Optimum digital processing 

with low power consumption provides up to 24 hours of continuous operation 

from an integrated lithium ion battery. Anticipated useful RF range is up to 100 feet 

for line-of-sight applications. ▪ 


on location 

As differently sized boxes 

approach the scale, their bar codes 

are scanned to reference the correct 

over/under values stored in the 920i. 


“Before MotoWeigh, I had never seen a product 

so seamless, especially at the speeds we wanted 

to run—240 feet per minute.” 

Roger Lohrmeyer, programmer for LCE Systems, Inc. 

in motion 

MotoWeigh® generates quick ROI for end users 

By Caleb Olson 

Cherry season is chaos. Starting in May, California cherry farmers 

have six weeks to harvest, package, and ship their cherries before 

the warmth of summer sets in. With such a small window of time, any kink 

in the chain of events, from destructive weather to equipment malfunction, can 

prove to be catastrophic. Most farmers use a third party to pack and ship their 

product; however, Camera Brothers, located in Stockton, California, undertakes 

the entire process from growing and picking to packing and shipping. 

Patti Azpeitia, controller of Camera Brothers, decided her operation needed an 

efficiency boost. Looking at the numbers, she estimated approximately 10% of her 

crop was being given away in overweight boxes. On top of that, product traceability 

and new barcode regulations were coming into effect—requirements her current 

equipment could not meet. An upgrade was in order. 

LCE Systems, Inc. specializes in the produce industry and had a solution for Camera 

Brothers. An in-motion checkweigher could integrate into the existing process, 

but it would need to not only be reliable, but also fast enough to handle the cherry 

season’s demanding throughput. “Joe [Ehlers] and I were able to visit Rice Lake 

and demo MotoWeigh,” explains Daniel Cannistraci. “We saw how Rice Lake operates 

and wanted to work with the highest quality product, so we chose MotoWeigh 

for the application.” Roger Lohrmeyer, who handles most of LCE’s programming, 

adds, “Counting scales are common, but in this environment, that scale needs to 

be able to make a change in a fraction of a second. Before MotoWeigh, I had never 

seen a product so seamless, especially at the speeds we wanted to run—240 feet 

per minute. The 920i® is easy to work with and we knew it could handle everything we 

would throw at it.” 

LCE developed a plan to install the MotoWeigh. Camera Brothers was already 

thinking about remodeling the cherry shed and consulted with LCE to ensure the 

new equipment would be incorporated in the new shed design. With academic 

experience in architecture, Joe Ehlers drew up layouts and provided dimensional 

drawings for the proposed setup. Previously lacking a product delivery system, the 

shed now has a horseshoe belt to route full cherry boxes to the MotoWeigh. Stacks 

of boxes on either end of the shed are replaced with an overhead box carousel, continuously 

passing operators so they are never farther than an arm’s length from the 

constantly needed supply. LCE’s unique experience allows them to provide much 

more than scale expertise. “Prior to LCE, we all worked together at a packing facility,” 

explains Roger. “We all have experience in the produce industry and the day-to-day 

operations, and can make those small changes that make a big difference.” 

Continued on page 12

on location 

Cherries in Motion continued from page 11 

With those small changes now in place, 

Camera Brothers is reaping big rewards. 

The shed’s system takes cherries from the 

tree to the box in a matter of minutes. First, 

cherries travel up an incline belt where 

cluster-cutters separate the stems. They 

then drop through gaps in the floor, with 

different gap widths determining cherry 

size. From there, cherries are sorted and 

sized one more time before going to the 

box fillers, after which filled boxes travel to 

the MotoWeigh. Once at the MotoWeigh, 

each box travels over the indexer, which 

spaces them out so only one box is on the 

scale at a time. A scanner reads the box’s 

barcode and sends that information to the 

920i, which calls preset over/under/accept 

values. If the box is over or under tolerance, 

the 920i activates a diverter, sending it to a 

reject line at a smooth 45-degree angle. 

If a box is within the “accept” range, it 

continues on its conveyor, and an inkjet 

printer sprays nontoxic ink on the box. 

This information includes the type of 

cherry, size grade, GTIN barcode, and 

even the company logo. All information 

adheres to the 2012 Product Traceability 

Initiative which provides traceability 

standards and is becoming required by 

an increasing number of retailers. 

The first day the MotoWeigh was in production, 

however, it created some confusion. 

More boxes were being rejected than 

previously expected. The reject line operator 

was running out of room to stack the 

boxes. Surely, something must be wrong 

with the MotoWeigh. Using a CW-90 to 

double-check box weights confirmed that 

the rejected boxes were indeed out of tolerance. 

MotoWeigh was doing its job perfectly, 

rejecting all boxes more than one 

pound overweight. Also unexpected was 

the amount of underweight boxes, which 

could result in high fines and potential 

cancelled orders. With MotoWeigh in 

place, overweight and underweight boxes 

are not being shipped, and LCE estimates 

that the customer will see a great return 

on investment. 

“MotoWeigh is an easy sell because people 

need it right now,” Daniel explains. “With 

increased emphasis on product traceability 

and GTIN barcodes, packaging facilities 

You shall not pass! MotoWeigh’s diverter sends overweight and underweight boxes to a reject line. 

are panicking. If they don’t meet these requirements, 

retailers won’t buy their product. 

Plus, there is the cost-saving benefit of 

the checkweigher itself; you throw that in 

and it’s a much easier sell. It seems like a lot 

of scale dealers are scared to touch motion 

weighing because it’s not traditional, but 

MotoWeigh is what the customer needs, 

so you have to adapt.” 

LCE’s specialty is becoming in-motion applications, 

but they pride themselves on 

customer service and giving the customer 

more than they expect. They set up complete 

networks of equipment that have 

been designed for specific packing applications. 

LCE started doing the front end, 

then worked their way to the back end 

with inkjet systems. Next, they are moving 

toward the middle with box filling, which 

would make LCE a complete one-stop 

shop, benefitting the customer by calling 

one number instead of trying to contact all 

the people who worked on different parts 

of the system. 

Emphasis on customer service provides 

a natural pairing for LCE and Rice Lake 

Weighing Systems. Daniel remembers 

one of his first dealings with Rice Lake. 

“We needed a hanger for an old mechanical 

scale. The manufacturer wasn’t 

making the part anymore and couldn’t 

help us. We contacted Rice Lake, sent 

them the broken part, and had a custommade 

replacement part sent back to us. 

We won the client’s full-time service 

business because of that experience. Rice 

Lake provides solutions when nobody 

else can.” ▪ 

With MotoWeigh® 

in place, overweight 

and underweight boxes 

are not being shipped, and 

LCE estimates that the 

customer will see a great 

return on investment. 

MotoWeigh performs a vital final check before 

cherry boxes are shipped. 


Street Legal 

Legal for Trade weighing for delivery route trucks 

Add TradeRoute to delivery route trucks and skip the trip to a certified truck scale for Legal for Trade weight. 

Immediate, on-site billing for delivered or collected materials saves vehicle expense and driver time. 

What makes TradeRoute unique is that it operates solely from a parked position 

when hydraulics are used to engage the scale. The truck hydraulic 

system lifts the container off the truck frame into weigh mode. 

Within 3 to 5 seconds the driver can begin a weighing transaction. 

The 920i ® indicator/controller displays prompts to lead the driver 

through the transaction, and prints customized weigh ticket. 

Visit www.ricelake.com/traderoute to learn more about 

TradeRoute Legal for Trade onboard scale systems. 

800-472-6703 

www.ricelake.com 

m.ricelake.com

When you compare truck scales 

Make sure load cell pockets are integrated into weighbridge 

By bill murphy, HEAVY CAPACITY DIRECTOR 

Wide-flange structural 

beams for strength 

Pocket end plates are constructed 

out of ¾-inch steel 

Precision laser-cut dovetails 

Competitor’s pockets are 

welded to the ends of the scale 

modules and have a tendency 

to bend and flex putting 

stress on welds

TECH TALK 

You are not looking for loose change when you check the load 

cell pockets to compare truck scales. Instead, you’re looking at a possible 

major expense—the cost of downtime if the load cell pockets are welded or bolted 

on instead of incorporated into the overall weighbridge design. 

The ends of the scale modules are one of the highest stress areas of any truck scale 

because this is where the truck traffic enters and exits the scale platform. On many 

competitors’ weighbridge designs, boxes to house the load cells are welded or bolted 

to the ends of the scale modules and have a tendency to bend and flex excessively as 

truck traffic enters and exits the scale. Over a period of time, these boxes have been 

known to break welds, and in many cases, even break away from the main portion of 

the bridge, causing loss of use and premature failure of the bridge. 

One of the key advantages of the Rice Lake bridge design is its extraordinary strength. 

The Rice Lake OTR Weighbridge design is not only tied to the amount of steel we 

provide, but also the manner in which these individual components are fabricated 

and engineered into the weighbridge structure itself. 

The weighbridge for a typical Rice Lake Survivor OTR consists of a 5/16 -inch checkered 

steel deck top plate that is welded to the top of twelve 12-inch wide-flange beams 

that are positioned longitudinally to the traffic flow. The spacing on the beams is on 

approximate 11½-inch centers, which means that the distance between beam flanges 

is only about 7½ inches. This ensures that no matter where a truck axle or tire is 

positioned on the weighbridge, it is fully supported by the steel deck, and beams. 

The individual ends of the twelve beams are welded to the ¾-inch end plate weldments 

running the width of the module, which include a load cell pocket fabricated 

from ¾-inch steel plate on each side. Most competitive models use ½-inch or ⁵⁄₈-inch 

end plates. The twelve longitudinal beams surround the load cell pocket, integrating 

the pocket into the bridge structure itself, as shown in the illustration to the left. This 

adds extraordinary strength and integrity to a very critical area of the weighbridge. 

Rice Lake takes one more very important step to ensure the strongest bridge design 

possible. The ¾-inch steel load cell pocket plates have precision laser-cut dovetails 

that are inserted into the ¾-inch end plates by laser-cutting tabs on the ends of the 

¾-inch load cell pocket plates, and laser cutting square holes in ¾-inch end plates 

for the tabs to fit. 

Rice Lake assembles the steel components within the weighbridge, which allows us 

to provide our weighbridges to meet extraordinarily high volume traffic demands 

and heavier truck loads. It is these critical design criteria that make the Rice Lake 

OTR series a truly “generational scale.” 

From an engineering standpoint, the wide-flange structural beam is one of the 

strongest structural steel shapes available. The beam is much stronger than steel tubing, 

channels, bent steel plate, or many other types of steel components. Steel as an 

element is designed to bend when loaded, and return to its original shape when 

unloaded. If steel components are improperly chosen or sized, or are loaded beyond 

their original design characteristics for the application, fatigue or stretching of the 

steel will occur, affecting the accuracy, performance, and life span of the scale. 

Many competitive weighbridges use bent steel plate, junior beams, tubing or materials 

that are too light or improperly designed for the loads, resulting in eventual steel 

fatigue and a costly premature failure of the weighbridge. 

Another one of the best judges of a steel weighbridge’s ability to withstand heavy and 

consistent loads is the structural steel content. At Rice Lake Weighing Systems we 

make the heaviest and “Toughest Truck Scales on Earth.” A typical OTR Low Profile 

70 foot by 11 foot steel deck truck scale has a steel content of nearly 33,000 pounds— 

often several thousand pounds more than comparable products. ▪ 


One recent, perfect Saturday afternoon, Chris Olsen, service 

manager, was mowing his lawn when his cell phone vibrated. 

A Rice Lake distributor on the East Coast needed 

a 750 lb load cell—tomorrow. 

The end user, a multibillion-dollar meat-processing company, had shut down a line 

to move equipment and accidently pulled the cable out of a load cell. They wanted the 

distributor to send out a technician to splice it. They had to be rolling in time for Monday’s 

early shift. But splicing the cable would not work. They needed a new load cell. 

Chris checked inventory and saw that Rice Lake had the load cell in stock. FedEx and 

UPS had no flights available Saturday night, but UPS could pick it up Sunday morning and 

deliver it to the distributor by 7:30 Sunday evening. Chris drove to the plant, flipped on the 

lights, located the load cell, and packed it up. 

On Sunday morning, Chris was waiting at the plant when the UPS truck drove 

into the lot. He handed over the load cell and went home to finish mowing his lawn. 

The email received from the distributor Sunday night declares: 

“Awesome job, Chris! Load cell arrived at 7:40 p.m. 

Going now to complete the job. No other scale company on earth 

would or could do what you people do. Thanks a bunch!” 

End of story. 

800-472-6703 


m.ricelake.com

ON LOCATION 

Coil Scale Ingenuity 

Steel manufacturer’s custom coil scale increases efficiency and safety, 

and reduces costly repairs and downtime 

Regardless of the industry, having the right tool for the right job is essential. An Illinois 

steel company discovered this when they tried to adapt a floor scale to weigh 60,000-pound 

coils. Constant breakdowns required emergency repair and regular load cell replacement, 

which caused costly work stoppages. Even when the scale was functional, it was a production 

bottleneck. The number of coils finished per day has an inverse correlation with the 

time taken to weigh the coil—as the time decreases, the quantity of coils increases and 

vice versa. 

One day, both the floor scale and the plant manager reached their breaking point. The 

manager called Kurt Hebenstreit at Champion Scale to ask for a long-term solution. The St. 

Louis scale shop visited the facility and assessed the challenge. Currently, a crane was lifting 

the coil onto the scale, which gave Kurt an idea. If he could automate the transport of coils 

across the scale, it would drastically increase efficiency. The scale would need to be rugged 

enough to handle the heavy coils and user-friendly to streamline the weighing process. 

What Kurt needed was a miniature railroad scale built flush with the production floor, 

and a corresponding miniature railroad car to carry the coil as it crossed the scale. This 

option would reduce scale damage; forklifts could safely drive 

over the scale instead of trying to navigate around an above 

ground option. Safety would also be increased by reducing tripping 

hazards. The only problem was such a scale didn’t exist. It 

would need to be custom built, and Kurt needed a company to 

work with him cost effectively on the design. 

He called Rice Lake. 

Kurt worked with a technical sales engineer who quickly 

provided a quote and drawings of a modified RoughDeck® 

floor scale. The plan was approved by the end-user, who was 

eager to reap the rewards of updated technology built to suit 

his unique requirements. 

Five years later, the RoughDeck CS is performing better than 

expected. With only routine maintenance, the work stoppages 

due to emergency repairs have been eliminated. In fact, 

the scale is still operating on its original load cells, which are 

mounted outside of the rail to reduce the strain of scale movement 

as the coil car crosses. 

The time to produce a coil has been reduced from an estimated 

25 minutes to 15 minutes due to the automated coil transportation. 

Instead of using a crane, now when a coil is ready to be 

weighed, the operator simply presses a button to lower it onto 

the coil car. The car moves across the RoughDeck CS, stopping 

for a quick weighment before continuing on its tracks to a holding 

area. The car then returns to its home base beneath the next 

coil, which is now ready to be wound. 

The increase in production and reduction of repair has helped 

the scale pay for itself. Having the right scale for the right job is 

integral—even if the scale hasn’t been invented yet. 

▪ 

What Kurt needed was a 

miniature railroad scale built 

flush with the production 

floor, and to fit with the 

existing miniature railroad 

car to carry the coil as it 

crossed the scale. 

Once this 60,000-pound steel coil is wound, the railroad car lifts it off the cylinder 

and travels across the RoughDeck CS. All aboard! 


ON LOCATION 

THE SCIENCE OF 

SYCSA’s impressive R & D center has a complete small-scale plant to test materials and develop 

customized flow technology, including bins, hoppers with sensors to detect wall force, 

conveyance systems, valves, air pressure and vacuum technology, filling, mixing, and 

batching equipment, and silos mounted on Rice Lake RL9000 load cells. It is probably 

the first and only development center of this caliber in Latin America. 

Simply put, a silo is a structure for storing bulk material. Silo systems, though, can be anything but simple. 

The complicated part is to move the material stored in the silo in a smooth and controlled flow. 

Silos y Camioness (SYCSA), Pachuca, Mexico, has been building silos for 44 years. They began by 

fabricating small silos for transporting cement by truck, and tower silos for storing cement 

and additives for batching plants. In time, the need for transporting and storing larger 

quantities of cement grew. Customers also needed silos equipped with electronic 

weighing systems, digital displays, and printers to keep a more accurate inventory 

weight. In addition, SYCSA was finding new customers with different materials, 

including dry chemicals to add color to plastics; foods such as flour, corn, and 

sugar; and recycled materials such as shredded plastic and crushed glass. 

As processes changed and customers began to demand greater ease of operation, 

SYCSA’s expertise evolved to more sophisticated material handling, 

such as dosing in small quantities and formulating and processing 

material particles of different sizes, shapes, and characteristics that tend 

to segregate or stick together. 

In 1993, automation brought new tools and skills, and SYCSA 

began designing and manufacturing complete silo 

systems including components, piping, valves, 

air pressure, and vacuum technology to 

move materials from silos, bins, and 

hoppers through the entire batching 

and processing sequence. SYCSA’s 

Continued on page 20 


SILOS 

The RL9000TWM is a stainless steel, low profile, 

all-in-one weigh module that is very easy to install, and its 

robust design ensures many years of trouble-free service. 

The RL35023 is an alloy steel single-ended shear beam load cell 

design that allows it to be used in many applications from floor scales 

to bins, silos, and hoppers. 

Ratholes and bridges 

Two of the most common flow problems in silos are no-flow and erratic flow. No-flow can be caused by ratholing and bridging. 

Ratholing occurs when the material moves through the central part of the silo to the outlet while the remaining material sticks to the 

walls. If the material being handled has a sufficient cohesive strength, the stagnant material outside the channel will not flow through 

it. Once the rathole is emptied, there is no flow from the silo. 

Erratic flow occurs when the material in the silo flows intermittently and 

forms a bridge over the opening. The bridge collapses when the material 

above reaches a critical stress level and falls within the silo. Flow then 

continues until the next bridge forms. 

The potential for ratholing and bridging depends on several factors, 

including humidity, temperature, storage time, and the size, shape, and 

weight of the material, whether flakes, granules, or pellets. Caked material 

can often be dislodged by vibrating the silo or using an air cannon. 

If those methods are not successful, removing material adhering to 

the walls of a large silo is expensive. 

Rathole 

Bridge

ON LOCATION 

The Science of Silos continued from page 18 

experience grew as they worked with each type of material, culminating in a research and 

development center where the work team of SYCSA’s bulk material laboratory believes all 

flow problems can be solved through improvements in design. The laboratory manager 

observes, “It is very expensive to correct flow problems at the site. At the research and 

development center we can attack the problem much more cheaply.” 

SYCSA’s impressive R & D center has a complete small-scale plant to test materials and 

develop customized flow technology, including bins, hoppers with sensors to detect wall 

force, conveyance systems, valves, air pressure and vacuum technology, filling, mixing 

and batching equipment, and silos mounted on Rice Lake RL9000TWM load cells. It is 

probably the first and only development center of this caliber in Latin America. 

SYCSA uses its laboratory and teaching center to design, build, and test automated 

equipment, studying specific material and flow characteristics. SYCSA customers and 

end users also attend training seminars there to learn how their specific material can 

be handled. 

Some of SYCSA’s technology is designed expressly for the plastics industry. Mills transport 

scrap plastic to storage silos and then to pelletizing machines to be returned to 

production. The flow of the material is very difficult to control and maintain inside the 

silo and in pneumatic conveyance systems because it self-organizes into “frames.” The 

SYCSA development center resolves these and other unique challenges that arise along 

the way, ensuring that each silo system provides the best solutions in material storing 

and handling. ▪ 

At first glance, the narrow hall appears 

to be a well-stocked pantry of freshly 

canned goods. Read the labels and shake 

the jars and you find varying weights of 

pellets, flakes, powders, pieces of glass, 

plastic, metal, seeds, and pasta. This is the 

SYCSA research and development center 

inventory of dry materials intended to 

flow out of a customer’s silo and into their 

processing system. 

Each ingredient has unique characteristics 

(weight, fall rate, granule size, repose 

angle, density) that affect the discharge 

of material into silos, piping, valves, and 

auxiliary equipment. At SYCSA’s R & D 

center, team members custom design 

and manufacture silos and systems for 

storing and processing hundreds of raw 

materials and teach customers how to 

control their process. 

The flow of some material, like shredded plastic shown above, is very difficult to control and maintain 

inside the silo and in pneumatic conveyance systems because it self-organizes into “frames.” 

The SYCSA development center resolves these and other unique challenges that arise while designing 

each silo system. 


Rice Lake’s selection of indicator/controllers includes the right tool for every job. 

From simple weighing applications to controlling entire processing plants—we have the equipment 

and technology to get it done. Rice Lake’s famous customer service and technical support 

makes even complex applications simple. 

Please visit ricelake.com/indicators for more information 

about Rice Lake weighing instrumentation. 

SCAN IT 

Scan this QR code for more 

information about Rice Lake Indicators. 

800-472-6703 


m.ricelake.com

On LOcation 

Mike Martin, warehouse 

and packaging manager 

for Jones Feed Mill Ltd., 

describes the feed products 

as high-calcium, limestone-based 

feed for cattle, 

pigs, horses, and chickens. He 

adds with pride, “We supply Barry Irwin 

with feed for his racehorses.” Barry’s nickname 

is “B Eye,” using his initials to refer to his uncanny 

ability in ferreting out talented horses in unlikely places. 

The feed recipes are batched using 40 micro scales that all feed 

into one load cell. The various recipes include specific amounts 

of vitamins, zinc oxide, cilium, and medications as prescribed by 

the on-site nutritionist. All the medicated feed is kept separately 

where a veterinarian must sign off the withdrawal period and the 

inclusion rate before cattle can go to market. 

In 1930, Ernest E. Jones and his wife bought a small feed mill on 

Alfred Street in Linwood, Ontario. By 1998, the third generation 

of the Jones family was running the now many Jones Feed Mills, 

and by then feed had dramatically changed. Due to increasing 

demand for medication-free feed, some of the company’s mills 

are dedicated to organic, medication-free, and identity-preserved 

feeds. Older mills are being updated with the latest technology. 

Rice Lake is justly proud to be a part of that “latest technology.” 

The list of Rice Lake products at the Jones Mill in Linwood includes 

a new SURVIVOR® OTR, a LaserLight TM , S-type load cells, 

and the mighty Rice Lake 920i Indicator/Controller—all installed 

and serviced by Circuit Scale in Kitchener, Ontario. 

Circuit Scale Company was 

established in 2005 by Don 

Herzberg and Doug Van der 

Sluis, who hit the ground running 

by providing certified service 

to a diverse industrial and agricultural 

clientele in the southwestern 

Ontario area. According to Don, “When 

Jones Feed Mills took on the challenging 

project of establishing and building a complete 

pre-mix facility, Circuit Scale provided, through Rice 

Lake Weighing Systems, much of the weighing solutions and 

equipment, including a 93 foot concrete deck OTR truck scale.” 

Ian Scott, Rice Lake regional director in Eastern Canada adds, “Don 

and Doug had previously been top technicians with a scale manufacturing 

company and they knew their stuff. When Jones Feed 

asked for a quote on weighing equipment, they wanted the best. 

Circuit Scale is ISO/IEC 17025 certified and that was important 

because of the traceability requirements Jones Feed had to meet.” 

▪ 

The 920i flexible and intuitive indicator/controller combines the best features 

of weight instruments, PLCs, and computers. 

If it is true that we are what we eat and that holds for all animals, it could 

be said that Jones Feed ran the Kentucky Derby [2011] when Animal Kingdom 

won by 2¾ lengths. 


MotoWeigh ® equipment rushes the cherry crop through cleaning, metal 

detection, washing, grading, weighing, and labeling. The MotoWeigh line 

of in-motion equipment is built to withstand nonstop commercial use 

and sticky cherry juice. Unique design and features reduce 

washdown and maintenance time. 

See MotoWeigh in action at ricelake.com/motocherry 

800-472-6703 


m.ricelake.com

Put Rice Lake’s MajorSlice in charge. This all-stainless commercial 

slicer holds thickness without retreat, and ranks highest in both safety 

and sanitary performance. 

• Patented VARIOCUT non-slip thickness adjustment 

• Smooth edges and fewer moving parts, sanitary by design 

• Straightforward removable carriage 

• Detached sharpener 

• 12" and 14" blade sizes 

Visit ricelakeretail.com/command 800-472-6703 

www.ricelakeretail.com

RETAIL 

A Cut Above 

Rice Lake’s MajorSlice commercial slicers take a lead role in delis 

Sue Zielke knows how to slice 

the perfect ham. The Park ’n Shop’s 

deli department shows off her work in 

their display case much like a high school 

proudly exhibits its trophies. Rows of 

perfectly sliced meat adorn the container 

in Culver, Indiana, waiting for a resident 

to include it in a summer picnic lunch on 

the shores of nearby Lake Maxinkuckee. 

With 23 years of deli experience and 

as manager of the Park ’n Shop’s deli 

department, Sue has seen new technology 

come and go throughout the years. When 

she was asked by Rice Lake Retail Solutions 

to beta-test the new MajorSlice 300, 

she had a few hesitations. The department 

was already using two slicers, and was a 

city with a population less than 1500, is 

a third slicer necessary? And there was 

nothing wrong with the existing slicers. 

Sue had never heard of Rice Lake and 

when she discovered it was a scale company, 

she wasn’t sure what to expect. 

The MajorSlice features 

an index control knob 

that clicks into position 

and doesn’t move as the 

slicer is cutting. 

looks the same and afterwards, it’s very 

easy to clean.” Previously, a slice of meat 

taken at the beginning of the stack would 

not have the same thickness as one taken 

at the end of the stack. The MajorSlice 

features an index control knob that clicks 

into position and doesn’t move as the 

slicer is cutting. Another of the deli 

department’s annoyances with their 

old slicers was the difficulty in cleaning 

beneath the units—their short feet didn’t 

allow for hand clearance. The MajorSlice 

has taller feet which allow for a quick and 

easy countertop wipe-down, and a lever 

to elevate the unit when more comprehensive 

cleaning is required. 

After the beta-testing period was complete, 

the Park ’n Shop’s manager began 

prepping the MajorSlice for its return to 

Rice Lake. But Sue wasn’t ready to see it 

leave. She wanted the store to purchase 

the beta unit. “I must have told him every 

day how much better it was than the 

others and how much everyone in the 

department liked it,” said Sue. “I think 

my manager was getting tired of me 

pestering him about it and got the hint.” 

The straw that broke the camel’s back 

and triggered the purchase, however, 

MajorSlice Variocut technology holds product in 

position, ensuring each slice has the same thickness. 

“Once I showed him the 

hand guards and that the 

blade isn’t exposed like 

the others, he was sold.” 

was safety. Sue explains, “Over the years, 

we have had a few nicks from using the 

old slicers. Once I showed him the hand 

guards and that the blade isn’t exposed 

like the others, he was sold.” 

Six months after its arrival, the MajorSlice 

300 has taken command of the Park ’n 

Shop’s deli department. Now serving as 

the everyday slicer, it has relegated its 

predecessors to spot duty—used only 

when the MajorSlice is already busy. It 

has even accommodated some unusual 

slicing requests. “I’ve had customers ask 

for their tomatoes and potatoes to be 

sliced,” Sue remembers. “I knew if I put 

those products on one of the old slicers, 

they would get shot against the wall as 

soon as they touched the blade. But the 

MajorSlice’s product pusher keeps that 

from happening. I think the customer 

was expecting us to use a knife to cut 

the tomato for them, and they couldn’t 

believe it when we used the slicer. 

It came out perfectly!” ▪ 

However, when the MajorSlice 300 arrived, 

those hesitations were put to rest. 

“The first thing I noticed was how heavy 

it was,” explains Sue. “I could tell it is very 

well built and extremely high quality.” Immediately 

after using the MajorSlice, Sue’s 

initial impressions were confirmed. The 

101-pound slicer not only surpassed the 

others in weight and build quality, but also 

in ease of use, safety, and cut consistency. 

“The product pusher keeps everything 

in place as I’m slicing,” Sue continues. 

“Whenever I have something to cut, I 

choose our MajorSlice. The meat always 


When people set out to 

shatter world records, they 

rely on Rice Lake floor scales 

to deliver accurate and 

provable weight data.

ON LOCATION 

Rice Lake floor scales weigh a record-breaking 

1,187-pound, 3-ounce shrimp cocktail. 

MAZATLÁN, MEXICO—Mazatlan 

prides itself on seafood, to say the least. 

The “Pearl of the Pacific,” as its nickname 

notes, sits on the country’s western coast 

and is renowned for its fishing industry. 

Residents have also taken to calling their 

city “El Capital de Camerón,” the Shrimp 

Capital, an unofficial title for sure, but 

one they claim with pride nonetheless. 

Now the people of Mazatlan have a 

legitimate title to attach to that pride: 

Guinness world record holders for 

the largest shrimp cocktail ever made. 

Once all the shrimp had been added to 

the cocktail glass, all the dipping sauce 

had been mixed in, and the glass rim 

lined meticulously with more shrimp, 

each the size of a hotdog, the Rice Lake 

RoughDeck® floor scales indicated 

an incredible 1,187-pound, 3-ounce 

shrimp cocktail. Victor Santana, Solo 

Peso, supplied the weighing equipment. 

Mazatlán, Mexico 

MONTREAL, QUEBEC—McGill University shattered the 

Guinness world record for the largest fruit salad that tipped the 

Rice Lake RoughDeck floor scales at a whopping 11,197 pounds. 

In all, some 5,000 pounds of watermelon, 2,250 pounds of pineapple, 

1,300 pounds of cantaloupe, 1,000 pounds of honeydew, 

360 pounds of strawberries, and 220 pounds of apples were used 

in the record-breaking salad—with about 60 percent of it coming 

from nearby Macdonald Campus Farm. 

Throughout the day, the Guinness adjudicator scrutinized every 

step of the process. “There are strict guidelines that must be fol- 

lowed in order for the 

record to be recognized by 

Guinness,” she said. “In the 

case of this attempt the 

salad has to be made of at 

least five different varieties 

of fresh fruit with a very small 

percentage of added juice or other liquid.” 

Rice Lake equipment was supplied by 

Balance GTR, Inc., Châteauguay, Quebec. 

This fruit salad is anything but light; with Rice Lake 

scales indicating a precise 11,197 pounds. 

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA—To celebrate Qzina Institute of 

Chocolate’s 30th anniversary, pastry chefs created the world’s 

largest edible chocolate sculpture, breaking the previous Guinness 

world record of 10,736 pounds and setting a new record of 

18,239 pounds. The sculpture, six feet tall and ten feet wide, 

had a base that weighed more than 3,000 pounds. This Mayan 

chocolate temple is a replica of the Temple Kukulkan based in 

Chichen Itza, Mexico. Mayans worshiped the cacao tree and 

praised its beans as the food of the gods. 

The giant chocolate pyramid was measured and weighed on a 

special digital scale system devised for the event by ABCO Scale 

of Ontario, California. They arranged four 4 foot by 4 foot Rice 

Lake RoughDeck floor scales under the corners of a 12 foot 

by 12 foot platform. The scales sent data to a 920i® Indicator/ 

Controller. The 920i summed up the four scales and provided an 

accurate total weight that the Guinness judges accepted as proof. 


230 W. Coleman Street 

Rice Lake WI 54868 

Change Service Requested 

Presort Standard 

U.S. Postage 

Paid 

Rice Lake 

Weighing Systems 

Weight 

Training for 

the Brain 

Sharpen skills and update knowledge by sending scale techs to Rice Lake Technical 

Training Seminars. They learn hands-on from experts who teach, demonstrate, 

and work one-on-one with students. New and experienced scale techs learn 

and use the latest weighing equipment, software, and techniques. 

ES-111 Fundamentals of Electronic Systems 

Hands-on training for novices in the basics of calibration,configuration, serial interfacing, 

and troubleshooting components. 

ES-222 Advanced Scale System Troubleshooting 

A systematic and methodical approach to troubleshooting for intermediate technicians. 

Little lecture, heavy-lifting lab work. 

ES-300 Indicator Format and Process Control 

Basic setup and configuration of 720i , 820i ® , and 920i ® indicators using the front panel 

and software tools iRev, Revolution ® , and PCEE, and setup and use of the iQUBE 2® 

digital diagnostic junction box. 

ES-301 920i Advanced Programming 

Work with components and syntax of the iRite programming language. 

Gain experience in writing, compiling, editing, and downloading 920i 

programs. Explore capabilities of the 920i database. 

SA-101 Successful Selling Skills 

Put muscle into selling complete scale solutions. 

Develop presentation and listening skills, and learn important 

techniques for how to close the deal. 

Contact our Training Coordinator: 

Call 715-234-9171 or 800-472-6703 

Email: seminars@ricelake.com or visit 

ricelake.com/training. 

800-472-6703 


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English - Rice Lake Weighing Systems

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