Taco
Bell Weight Capture System:
This system was designed for use in fast food
establishments that want to keep track of weight data. Using
a web interface, the client is able to control, menus and report
on data collected from many extablishments. The rugged touch
screen computer is restaurant hardened and the scale comes with
a full flip down cover to protect it when not in use. This fast
food check weighing system is also sound enabled giving the
operator audio feedback whenever a transaction is recorded.
Color coded screens flash to the operator to notify them of
weight status for each transaction. A server application sends
out email on a selectable basis notifying corporate and stores
of their transaction averages and totals.
Bitterant
Addition System:
Client: Anti-Freeze Manufacturer
System: Due to new goverment regulations, this very large Anti-Freeze
manufacturer was forced to add bitterant to its products to
keep it from tasting sweet which has led to accidental animal
deaths. The product used to make the Anti-Freeze taste bitter
is a very unfriendly substance. The manufacturer needed to handle
it as little as possible. Progressive was commissioned to build
a weight based automated bitterant filling and delivery system.
The system worked so well that the batch master coined progressive
the "True Rocket Scientists"
Meat Distribution Software:
Client:Meat and Poultry Distributor in California
Goal: The client needed a meat distribution software that could
Create Track and Invoice all incoming and outgoing meat items
using the Provision Processing System Packaged Software. The
client was using a hand written system to track orders and was
having some issues with tracking inventory properly. Using the
wireless bar code capability in the food processing software
provided, the client was able to accurately track their daily
transactions and send all transactions to Quickbooks.
Fish Processing Plant Software:
Client: Large Fish Processing Plant, Boston MA and New Bedford
MA.
Goal: Collect Scale information to a database from 2 plants
simultaneously, label cases with bar codes, handle barcodes
with a wireless windows mobile device and push the information
to a web based SQL server for management.
Technologies: Progressive used the Rice Lake 920i's programmable
scale in each plant connected to Zebra Label Printers to collect
weight data and print labels. Using the nearly indestructible
Wireless Datalogic Falcon Windows Mobile barcode scanner, case
labels are scanned against orders and weight tickets are automatically
generated. All information is then sent to a web based MS SQL
database where management can report and print reports from
the resulting data. All data is synced between the Boston and
New Bedford Plants.
Pharmaceutical Scale and Balance System:
A division of Johnson and Johnson recently contacted Progressive
to build a custom system to track batching for a pharmaceutical
application. Phase 1 has already been installed and we are working
on phase 2. Phase 1 involves multiple scales batching by both
weight and volume using a measuring sensor. The measuring sensor
was used as a load cell alternative to reduce the need for placing
load cells at the bottom of every tank. Weight was calculated
using volume and density.
Food Processing Scale and Software System
A NJ area lamb processor needed a scale and software system
to collect data at their lamb weighing stations. Progressive
provided a SQL based system for both SKU recall and data collection
as well as a bar code label printing. This lamb processing system
has given the lamb processor the ability to go after new clients
because of their new traceability, and label compliance abilities. See Provision Processing System
Truck Scale Software System
H. Krevit manufacturing of North Haven CT, a manufacturer of bleaches
and caustics, contacted Progressive for a truck scale system
capable of bar code scanner integration and controls, weight
to gallon conversion, data collection and assuring the right chemicals
go in the right trucks. After installation of the truck scale
and controls, Krevit saw a huge ROI. Now that
the system is installed and running, the truck filling system
saves as much as 1/2 hour per truck and is accurate to 2-3 gallons.
Caviar Processing System, Canada
A client contacted us in need of a Herring Fish Processing Software
and Scale System. The time frame was very short, but Progressive
came through. This processor pays workers by weight so the fish
system needed to collect each weight as well as employee IDs.
The system involved 3 networked scales and an SQL database.
The main benefits are time savings, accuracy of data and integrated
Crystal Reports.
Scale Calibration System
Well we just launched freeware software for scale companies.
It is called X-Calibar and it is a scale calibration software system. Designed to be a little
more simple than say the certificate retrieval system from Rice
Lake. This software should work for most small to mid scale
companies. If you are in the market for custom projects,
maybe next time you will give us a shot.
Automated
Bar Code Scanning Validation. United States Surgical
- May 2007. In order to make sure every suture is bar coded
properly, United States Surgical Corporation called in Progressive
Software Solutions. At 1/5th the cost of the nearest competitor,
Progressive built an automated bar code scanning system. Using
2 Symbol bar code scanners, 1 photo eye and a logic controller,
the system validates 2 bar codes against each other and rejects
any invalid scans.
Counting
and Labeling Scale System - The world's largest switch
manufacturer contacted PSS to see if we could develop a networked
counting scale that prints bar code labels to replace their pricey
Intermec fixed station terminals. PSS got to work and developed
a system that allows the client to connect to scales in Mexico,
TX, CT, England and China all from an IT desktop at HQ. Scales
can be programmed and monitored remotely all from the comfort
of the IT director's office.
In Motion Check Weighing - Washington.
A reseller contacted us asking if we could duplicate a program
for a Rice Lake 920i that they had been buying elsewhere. PSS
took the challenge and built the system. To the client's amazement,
the system is far more accurate than the previous system making
it easy for the reseller to beat out its competition. In some
cases, the reseller is installing the in motion check weigher
on competitive set ups that use the same scale indicator. Clients
are thrilled with the accuracy increase.
Cross
Dock Barcode System - Waterbury, CT. ITW, one of the
largest manufacturing companies in the US, asked PSS to build
them a cross dock wireless bar code system. The system uses
Intermec wireless units to verify skidded boxes against an AS-400
database. As a result of scanning, master labels are produced
for skids. To the client's amazement, the bar code system found
errors on the first day of operation.
Automated
Box Weight Filling System - Greenville , SC. A local
scale dealer called in Progressive to pick up a project that
the scale manufacturer did not complete to the client's satisfaction. Each
box was filling to nearly 1/2 lb over target. A
loss of nearly $300/hr. After consulting with the customer,
Progressive devised a new program that would auto learn the
product fill rate. Progressive completed the project within
3 days time and now fills exactly to target with 0 loss. Process
includes automated box placement, automated filling, and automated
box removal.
UAS4000
Labeling Counting Scale - A
fully functional Rice Lake 920i based counting scale package
capable of part number, UW and 5 additional fields storage.
Unlimited label designs that you create. PC Integration. Bar
Code Scanner Integration. Network integration and more. The
UAS4000 far exceeds any counting scale system on the market today
and implements all the functions that clients have been looking
for in their counting scales but were up until now unable to
acquire, and it's American made. Over 35 0f these programs are
currently running without fail in multiple facilities. Demos
are available for this product.
Soft
Indicator - In response to many of the scale distributors
we work with we designed a PC based indicator package that works
with most scale indicators that have bi-directional RS-232.
The soft indicator collects data, prints labels, prints forms,
controls the scale and more. Demos are available for this product.
AS400
to Counting Scale - June 2006. Through a scale distributor
in the Northeast, PSS was able to assist in the winning of a
contract for a beta site of 4 Rice Lake 920i programmable scales
attached to their AS-400. Each scale pulls in job and average
piece weight data, customer data and label format data. The
system then controls a feeder and stops the feeder when a box
is full. The system then prints a label and logs this info and
sends the complete job info back to the AS-400 when complete.
Fiber
Bale Weighing and Labeling System
United Synthetics - Georgia
United needed a partner to help them track bales produced for
a particular PO and prevent over producing. United has 3 networked
920i scales tied to an SQL2005 server. Order data is entered
daily and operators make against open orders. The system also
labels each bale to comply with the customer labeling requirements.
The system handles partials and overrides for stock items.
New Enterprise Website Launch - June 2006. Haydon
Switch and Instrument (hsi-inc.com) is a world wide leader
in linear actuators, motors and switches. The people at PSS
were hired
to update their corporate
web site to include functionality that their engineers needed.
The new site now includes:
Intuitive Design • Outlook-like Menu Structure • Search • Product
Configurators • Database Driven Content • RSS News Feeds • Rep
Locators • Printable Pages • Email To a Friend • RFQ
Forms with Referring Pages • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) • Google
Marketing
Food Labeling Application - June 2006. A
Northeast based scale company asked us to design a labeling
system for a chicken processing plant it had been doing business
with for years. The current system from Digi (New Brunswick
International) was not being supported properly. Therefore we
set out to develop a chicken labeling system that was similar
yet easier to maintain. The new system utilizes a Rice Lake
920i and a Zebra label printer to print pricing labels for the
processor's grocery store clients. We had 2 days to develop this
system and it has been operational ever since.
Corn Flake Batching - April 2006. A Massachusetts based scale
company asked us to build a scale system for its client that
spoke
to a PC and pulled job data from an Access database and filled
totes accordingly then printed a tote label. The 2 systems
are currently
running
without
issue.
Large Scale Batching Application - April 2006.
A North Texas Scale Company hired us to help sell a client
on
a new
way of doing things as
their old equipment was no longer supportable. We closed the
deal together and delivered shortly thereafter. This system replaced
13 scale indicators and 1 programmable scale at the largest PVC
pipe extruder in the US. The new Rice Lake 920i system now
controls 16 scales and essentially
the
entire
24hr operation. The system processes approximately 150 batches
per day and has not once failed.
RF Bar Code System - A McKinney Texas based
manufacturer hired us to update their entire data collection
system. After carefully researching
the proper hardware and solution we gave a quotation to the
manufacturer. Time passed and one day the phone rang and it had
to be done "this week". We quickly did an Intermec site survey
one day and installed the next. Within 2 days their system was
up and operational.
Counting Scale Software System - May 2006
a NJ based scale manufacturer hired us to build a PC software
solution to work with
their counting scales. This solution is now distributed with
every scale sold. This solution was originally to be only a
data collection application but
was
finally delivered
with
multiple functionality such as
Label Printing • Database Sharing • Data Wedge
(where scale data goes into the cursor for any other Windows
application).
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