July/August 2019
Containers
Weighing things up
I
n addition to the Bison C-Lifts, the company’s container
scales are used by customers in bulk logistics.
Fish produce company Talleys, for example, uses the scales to
optimise the weight of containerised fl exitanks for its fi sh oil
exports.
The scales can also be used for weighing ISO tank containers.
Generally, ISO tanks are weighed to determine the amount of
contents inside, or the remaining contents. This needs to be done to
comply with SOLAS VGM regulations, and to determine accurately
commercial quantities.
A common method for weighing tanks is to weigh a truck with
chassis and container on a weighbridge.
One option is to weigh the truck and trailer without the tank, but
this requires the tank to be lifted off the trailer with expensive
handling equipment, which may not be available.
Another option is to use the declared tare weight of the truck and
trailer, but this also has drawbacks.
The variation in the truck’s fuel load means that the weight
calculation can easily be out by hundreds of kilograms. This is
compounded by the accumulation of mud or ice in winter months.
The presence or absence of the driver or a passenger, or other
equipment can also throw off the readings.
Moreover, in some regions weighbridges are scarce, making them
uneconomical to use.
An alternative is weighing a tank with portable scales. As well as
providing accurate weight measurements, Bison’s C-Jacks can be
used at the site where the tank containers are situated, providing
immediate information to the producer or consumer. It provides
real-time information when fi lling a tank container, or when
consuming the contents, and it allows the quantity of residual
contents to be easily determined.
C-Jacks can be used to weigh tanks on the trailer-chassis, or on
the ground.
To weigh tank containers, the C-Jacks are used with stands. Four
C-Jack scales are fi tted to the lugs on the lower corners of the
container, and the stands are placed under the scales. The container
is then lifted with hydraulic bottle jacks a small height above the
trailer-chassis, to bring the full weight of the container to bear on
the scales. Finally, the weight is read with either the master display,
or a smartphone app.
B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR
C-Jacks: the entire process, including setting up and packing away, takes one person around fi ve
minutes
Weighing tank containers on the ground is even easier. The
C-Jacks are attached to the container in the same fashion, but the
hydraulic bottle jacks are placed directly on the ground. The tank
container is lifted a few centimetres clear of the ground and
weighed. The entire process, including setting up and packing away,
takes one person around fi ve minutes.
The P Series handles containers weighing up to 32 tonnes
What support and training is available for your customers?
Every Bison container lifting and container weighing solution is
supported by a through set of training videos and manuals. These
are accessible from our website though we also arrange
demonstrations and other training. In addition, we provide onsite
training when a customer purchases a new system such as the C-Lift
A-Series.
Any plans for future products?
Innovation at BISON is driven by our customers’ needs. We work
closely with them and are always looking for ways to solve their
specifi c problems.
For example, we are currently working on a proximity warning
safety system. These will alarm the spotters and driver if the truck
chassis gets too close to any of the C-lift legs.
How did you get the idea for C-Lifts?
We began by producing container weighing equipment to enable
exporters to comply with SOLAS VGM requirements. As we talked
to our customers, we realised that they also had problems with
getting containers on and off trucks safely - and the C-Lift concept
was born. In 2017, we produced the P-Series, our high-capacity
portable system, and then last year we released the A-Series - our
automated system - and the M-Series - our most cost-effective and
transportable option. Now, we are working on increasing
production to meet our orders!
www.bison-jacks.com
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OTHERS FOLLOW.
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The C-Lift A Series is suited to sites with regular container throughput
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