AMCS innovation is removing the cost barriers associated with Front End Loading weighing system adoption.
The new Front End Loading (FEL) system by AMCS Group is the next generation in weighing system technology, while eliminating the need for load cells and additional installation costs.
Typical FEL systems rely on load cells that generate readings of the waste collected, but not without significant cost factors involving equipment, installation, calibration and the load cell technology itself.
This, along with the long-term maintenance required, often makes FEL systems cost prohibitive.
Currently, over 160 certified FEL systems are deployed worldwide.
AMCS’s solution is expected to raise the numbers in Europe and Australia, with New Zealand next on the horizon.
According to Michael Bates, AMCS Head of ANZ Region, the new system’s development was driven by the company’s experience using load cells on FEL and the cost of fabrication on the forks. Another consideration, he adds, were issues related to load cells being damaged by containers being shunted.
“The industry challenge was to develop a system that could be easily retrofitted to FEL with no modification to the forks, that was robust and also provided accurate weighing. The AMCS FEL extensometer solution delivers on all these challenges,” Bates says.
AMCS’s FEL technology sheds load cells and uses extensometer technology. This in-motion, dynamic scale doesn’t require action from the driver.
“It measures the extension in the FEL arms during lifting using tilt sensors, which enables a lift cycle customised for the customer’s needs,” Bates says.
“This eliminates fixed-mount proximity sensors that communicate where the container is in the lift cycle.”
AMCS’s FEL system is intelligent and able to distinguish between a true lift and false lifts caused by partial arm movements.
“Using our weighing algorithms, along with the tilt sensor to provide constant position of the lifter, allows AMCS to determine both the best position to weight and also to be able to identify what is a true lift verses a driver just moving a container position,” Bates explains.
The system is also more accurate at recording weights than traditional FEL systems, he says. Bates adds that it can deliver +/- 20 kilograms on average per lift or better, compared to traditional systems that have weight accuracies of +/- 50 kilograms. As such, waste management companies will know the actual weight of each container.
“They’ll no longer have to absorb the costs they don’t charge for,” Bates says.
By generating real-time collection data with AMCS’s FEL system, companies can analyse their activity and container weights. This in turn enables actionable insight.
“They can determine which customers are profitable and develop new strategies to increase revenue and customer satisfaction,” Bates says.
“They’ll know if they’re selling the right container based on a customer’s actual composition data, weight data and disposal habits. They can also increase revenue by shedding unprofitable customers.”
Additionally, companies can track lifts and verify collection on each route.
“This ensures that collections are completed, which eliminates additional callouts. Higher fleet efficiency is another way to prevent revenue leakage,” Bates says.
Where traditional load-cell FEL systems need intensive modification to vehicle forks, AMCS fits extensometers to the FEL arms, which represents a significantly lower hardware cost.
Traditional systems require time investment for installation, set up and testing, particularly where calibration and frequent adjustments are concerned. The AMCS system requires little calibration or maintenance.
“Our solution can work in standalone mode or integrate with AMCS On-Board technology options, including mobile tablets or 3rd party in-cab devices,” Bates says.
“Our goal is to make technologies for the waste industry cost effective and easy to use. Our new system is one more way we’re doing that.”
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