USERS BUSINESS:	Manufactures Special Industrial Liquid Chemical Products
APPLICATION:	Drum Filling
OPERATION:	Oils processing special characteristics are blended in kettle mixers to a "Gel" viscosity. This gel is used in fiber optics as a medium filler by companies like AT&T, ITT and 3-M. The gel is discharged into four 55 gallon drums positioned on a pallet to a volumetric level on the inside of drum. The mark is measured from the upper lip of drum.
Because the viscosity varies with temperature, directly effecting the volume and weight, one of the four drums had to be spot checked on a scale to insure the drums were not under filled. If they are over filled, that just becomes lost product. In order to weigh the 350 pound drum, it must be rolled off the pallet and up approximately 9 inches on the scale and then back to the pallet. Also, care must be given not to tilt the drum more than 45 degrees during this operation. That could create air voids (pockets) in the gel product. After the pallet truck scale was purchased all four drums were filled to their exact weight, capped and moved to storage. The benefits realized by this product were numerous. * 5 - 6 % Savings annually on raw materials. * Reduced time of filling operation. * Reduced chance of body injury. * Prevents damage to product caused by tilting drum. * Pay back estimated in 4 to 6 months. The customers satisfaction in the pallet truck scale was further noted when an order was placed for the 2nd unit 6 weeks later.