Celebrating the Mathematics of Sustainability
There is no getting around it; America’s education system has dropped the ball when it comes to math and science. According to the National Math + Science Initiative, only 45% of U.S. high school graduates are ready for college-level math, and a shockingly low 30% are ready for college-level science. Have we always been in this position? The answer is a firm, no. Not long ago, 25 years to be exact, the U.S. led the world in high school and college math and science graduation rates. Today, we are 20th and 16th respectively. This educational vacuum is not just a shame, but also a matter of national security and even more important, our survival on Earth. The world is getting more technically advanced by the second, there is no room to stand still, let alone fall so far behind.
It is with this in mind that the STEM Education Coalition is encouraging educators, parents, and students to take the month of April to celebrate National Mathematics Awareness Month. This year, a group of the leading mathematical organizations, decided on the Mathematics of Sustainability as the theme of the month. The general idea behind this timely theme is that humanity needs to use mathematics to help balance human needs and the world’s resources.
The hope is that we can get students excited about STEM fields, by linking math and science to the future of humanity. In many ways, this connection could not be clearer. Only a strong dose of math and logic, can secure the ecological and geopolitical future of the human race.
With many of our clients facing a skills gap in their manufacturing operations or in their engineering staff, it is imperative that more focus on math education is championed in and out of our public and private school systems. Manufacturing is a key element to our economic recovery and ongoing stability and as a country we need to begin somewhere, and spreading the word about Mathematics Awareness Month is a great place to start. To learn more on how you can take part in Mathematics Awareness Month, visit their website at www.mathaware.org
Keeping the Line Rolling with Micro Scales
Manufactures of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, inks, and even baked goods, rely on a process known as batch production. This process entails the building of a product stage by stage, often in different areas of a factory. When utilizing this method of production, measurements and weights must remain exact or the entire process will fail. If you are, even 1/1000th an ounce off, it can mean the difference between success and failure. In fact, for those in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, even the smallest slip up can quickly become a matter of life and death.
The answer to maintaining the highest level of quality whether on the front end of producing a product or in the midst of batch production is the constant use of proper scales and balances. Micro scales are a perfect solution for taking samples for quality control or for other purposes. These scales, which are also referred to as laboratory balances, are super sensitive, portable, and can be quite versatile. Some of the micro scales we offer at Carolina Scales can even analyze moisture content.
While quite popular, batch production does have some drawbacks; one being that a single mistake or breakdown can cause the entire process to come to a screeching halt. A good example of this situation is when a scale goes down whether due to wear and tear, malfunction, or for some other unknown reason.
Unfortunately, most of these situations require repairs and complex recalibration, which in turn can take upwards of 3-5 days. One of the keys to success in batch production is buying your scales from a company like Carolina Scales. We pride ourselves in being able to offer, in most cases, same day service for these sudden costly situations. When it isn’t a 3 to 5 day wait for repairs, it is an instant way to save time, money, and aggravation.
So, if you rely on continual measurement to ensure quality control and for quality assurance in batch production, be certain to get your laboratory balances and micro scales from someone who can offer prompt superior service and will stand behind their scales 100%.
Mining and Weighing, Weighing and Mining
Mining is certainly a global industry, with raw materials being mined all over the world and shipped all over the world. After all, we can’t control where these resources are found – we can only control what we do with them and how we use them. In the U.S. and the Carolinas, the coal and metal sectors dominate domestic mining. With 36,000 employees, $20 billion in revenues, and $3 billion in exports in 2009, the industry remains a backbone of employment and industry in our country. As markets for homes, automobiles, and other end products where mined materials are used continue to improve, the industry looks to expand in the future.
In an area like mining where materials are extracted, sold, and shipped by weight, scales play an important role. No job site would be complete without wheel loader scales for the most efficient weighing and product transportation possible, and any mining company that doesn’t invest in top-of-the-line weighing equipment is risking its time, investment, and bottom line. Mining occupies an interesting and important position in the continued recovery of the American economy: it relies on the success of the aforementioned downstream industries like housing, but also provides a indication, both symbolically and tangibly, of the strength of industry in the United States. Carolina Scales is glad to contribute to this strength.
Scales in Chemical Plants
There may be no industry where extreme precision is more important than the chemical industry. When milligrams – or less – can make the difference between a successful product or a wasted effort (or “boom!”), equipment must be as finely calibrated and accurate as possible. Scales are understandably found at all steps of chemical production, from microbalances for formulations, to floor scales for deliveries and shipments. Regardless of whether the scale is inside a lab being used by a scientist, or on a loading dock measuring outgoing packages, accuracy and safety are paramount.
In operations where speed and accuracy are most important, our batch scales provide the greatest utility. These scales can be programmed with recipes and measurements, allowing workers to let the scale do most of the work. At the other end of the spectrum are huge tank scales for measuring bulk materials. These can be up to 200,000 pounds in capacity, necessary at the biggest pharmaceutical and chemical facilities served by Carolina Scales. As with any facility where shipments occur, forklift scales are also a common sight, ensuring that every piece of the puzzle is accounted for at every step of the way. Questions on making sure that your facility’s system is up-to-date and the best quality available? Contact us today.
Recycling Weigh-In
Did you know that in 2010, the last year with complete statistics, more than 130 million tons of refuse was recycled in the United States? This includes 74 million tons of iron and steel, 46 million tons of paper, and 654,000 tons of plastic bottles, among many other products. This recycling (as well as the recording of these statistics) could not have taken place with scales. An immense number of scales, especially floor scales, provides the bedrock of the recycling industry. For everything from scrap drop-off, to safe equipment operation, to reclaimed product shipment, scales, weighing, and measurement are necessary.
As the industry continues to grow, improve, and innovate, Carolina Scales will continue to provide this most basic need. Advances like RFID and GPS are providing greater tracking and efficiency in pickups and drop-offs, with contactless reporting leading to unparalleled time and money savings. Furthermore, although by now recycling bins on street corners have become as ubiquitous as garbage cans, the beverage industry is continuing an initiative for more public space recycling receptacles, hoping to increase the percentage of plastic bottles that are recovered. Despite a 100% increase in recycling in the US over the past decade, plastic bottles in landfills still represent a disposal problem with no easy solution other than recycling. Be sure to do your part!
Keeping Biomass Facilities Efficient and Safe
Biomass ready for transport.
Rarely will you find a scale installation or application that can be set up right out of the box, so to speak. Carolina is in the business of scales, so we’re in the business of custom constructions and configurations, and a recent job for a leading biomass company located in Georgia allowed us to show the range of our capabilities. Biomass is simply organic material that can be converted into energy or another form of biofuel. It can consist of anything from tree stumps to mulch to yard clippings, and more. Once a niche energy source, the growth of biomass and biofuel has led to the construction of several new facilities in the South.
This project required two inbound and two outbound truck scales, as well as a fully unattended kiosk for check-ins and check-outs. The unattended kiosk has quickly become nearly a standard feature for loading and unloading zones, allowing for better vehicle flow, higher accuracy, and easier reporting. As full-service experts in scales and weighing systems, Carolina Scales was able to develop and install this fully integrated system in conjunction with the truck scales themselves. We also included a dedicated scaling software for use with the facility owner’s maintenance system.
From concept through to installation, this project took us about 6 weeks, enabling the biomass plant to increase their capacity in the service of cleaner energy. For more information on our line of scales, visit our site today: www.carolinascales.com.
Weighing Devices Go Green: Solar Powered Scales
If you haven’t heard, Carolina Scales proudly introduced our solar powered scales for the marketplace. These new scales are powered by the sun and help reduce costs and the amount of power needed to operate scales in remote locations.
With the introduction of these solar powered scales, we wanted to give additional options for our customers of remote portable Truck Scales. The power generated by the solar panels is used to run printers, weight displays and scales of all types, giving the end user the ultimate in flexibility.
As well, Carolina Scales can custom design and build a solar powered scale system to fit any need that or customers may have. Imagine the possibilities, everything from a remote scale in the mountains of West Virginia near a coal mining operation or a scrap metal operator in Tucson that wants to use the power of the Arizona sun to reduce his expenses.
Carolina Scales’ solar powered systems start about $1,000.00 and increase in price based on your particular power and application needs. Please contact us with any of your requests.
