Innovation

New ideas for weighing technology

10/13/2023

| Weighing, made in Balingen – three pioneering Bizerba developments for scales in retail, industry and logistics. The world of weighing technology is in the grip of an exciting transition stage. Given the increasingly close interaction between hardware, software and data analysis, this is a real advancement boost.

As with any mature technology, the iterative evolution of components and software continues to ensure that weighing, too, is continually optimized: Reliability, speed and precision of weighing continue to improve, while the core of the measuring process remains unchanged. Apart from this, we are also witnessing fundamentally new, digital approaches on the market aimed at complying with the expectations of the target industries - or actually surpassing them with pioneering technology.

Three innovations for retail, industry, and logistics

Weighing technology specialist Bizerba is setting new benchmarks for industrial, retail and logistics weighing by introducing innovative solutions. SensorHealth, smart shelves, and vibration compensation: these three keywords describe just some of the latest weighing technology developments coming from the Balingen-based company – here is a brief overview.

Predictive maintenance with SensorHealth

Your family physicians regularly monitor certain medical values during checkups. If there are any abnormalities, they recommend taking appropriate measures – after all, prevention is better than treatment, as the saying goes. Bizerba applies this principle to its retail scales: SensorHealth provides information about the condition of the heart of the scale, the load cell.

Load cell condition monitored

To this end, different parameters are monitored, determined not only by the weight sensor itself, but also by the sensors integrated in the load cell. They measure temperature, inclination, and acceleration. The acquired values map several potentially damaging effects, such as static overload, effects on the load cell, impact situations, exposure to extreme temperatures and undervoltage. The measured values are compared with stored reference values. If there are atypical deviations, SensorHealth detects it. This enables preventive protection or maintenance measures to be initiated – early enough, well before system failures or major damage occur.

Retail automation with smart shelves

Particularly thanks to the work of the agile "Basic Weighing Technology Development" team, Bizerba has become a highly sought-after OEM manufacturer of load cells over the past few years. At the same time, the Balingen-based company has also developed its own solutions based on the load cells produced in-house in collaboration with its partners. Examples include smart shelves: weighing shelf systems designed to automate inventory control in the retail sector. There is currently a rapid increase in demand – hardly surprising in times of widespread shortage of skilled workers.

 

Automated inventory monitoring

Smart shelves monitor how much product is still on the shelf. For example, the self-service bakery rack: With only four load cells per shelf bottom, the system detects several weight zones across the entire width. This is made possible by a center of gravity algorithm developed by Bizerba. That is how, for example, it detects that in the second rack from the left, where the pretzels are, there are only five pieces left. The networked system can then transfer a production request to the oven, while staff can restock pretzels on time. In principle, this also works with packaged food and non-food products. This eliminates the need for labor-intensive – and often incomplete – visual inspection of inventory restocking on shelves.

Retail automation with smart shelves

Particularly thanks to the work of the agile "Basic Weighing Technology Development" team, Bizerba has become a highly sought-after OEM manufacturer of load cells over the past few years. At the same time, the Balingen-based company has also developed its own solutions based on the load cells produced in-house in collaboration with its partners. Examples include smart shelves: weighing shelf systems designed to automate inventory control in the retail sector. There is currently a rapid increase in demand – hardly surprising in times of widespread shortage of skilled workers.

 

Automated inventory monitoring

Smart shelves monitor how much product is still on the shelf. For example, the self-service bakery rack: With only four load cells per shelf bottom, the system detects several weight zones across the entire width. This is made possible by a center of gravity algorithm developed by Bizerba. That is how, for example, it detects that in the second rack from the left, where the pretzels are, there are only five pieces left. The networked system can then transfer a production request to the oven, while staff can restock pretzels on time. In principle, this also works with packaged food and non-food products. This eliminates the need for labor-intensive – and often incomplete – visual inspection of inventory restocking on shelves.

result

Weighing becomes more digitalized

As described above: The interaction between hardware, software, and data analysis is becoming more and more characteristic for today's weighing technology. Networked, intelligent solutions ensure that results are even more precise than ever before, performance more reliable, and they open entirely new pathways to process automation. In times of widespread shortage of skilled workers across all sectors, this opens up unprecedented opportunities and profitability for industry, retail, the skilled trades and logistics. The trend is fast-paced. Companies that digitalize their weighing processes are gaining a competitive edge and greater independence from the tough labor market.

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