METTLER TOLEDO Automated Count Terminal Reduces Error, Cost at ELESA


Nänikon, Switzerland - With more than 65 years producing plastic and metal components for a variety of industries, ELESA trusts METTLER TOLEDO to provide the exacting weighing and counting technology it demands. "METTLER TOLEDO instruments give us maximum precision, quality and reliability," said Marcello Porro, Technical and Production Manager of ELESA S.P.A.

Already certified to ISO 9001 in 1993 and ISO 14001 since 2007, ELESA is "very careful," Porro noted, when choosing measurement instruments and technology used at all points of its manufacturing process. This includes technology employed in its intermediate warehouses and logistics centers where employees must provide fast, accurate shipping to end customers.

In the most recent case where METTLER TOLEDO technology solved a production issue, ELESA needed to increase precision when processing molded thermo-plastic items by eliminating manual post-process weighing and counting. METTLER TOLEDO rose to the challenge by integrating a fully-automated piece counting system into ELESA's molding machines: the IND 445, part of the "count+" level of the METTLER TOLEDO 4-Series.

With the IND 445, operators directly enter tare, ID and target values via an intuitive numerical keyboard. An internal database stores specs for a hefty 100 different components-important for a company that produces tens of millions of pieces annually. "It has kept downtime to a minimum and reduced staff control activities significantly," said Porro.

The scale electronically interfaces with the tilting chute conveying molded parts to discharge containers. Once containers reach target weight and count, the chute shifts. Pieces are sent to the next container until staff-in-charge, alerted by sound and light alarms, intervenes for recovery.

Integration allows for better management of discharge containers and avoids additional count passes. Processors benefit from the IND 445's easy-recall machine settings, less spilled material, and fewer production stoppages to replace full receptacles with empty ones.

All METTLER TOLEDO 4-Series scales possess a resistant chassis manufactured in die-cast aluminum to meet the strictest EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) standards. This helps guarantee long instrumentation life and prevent breakdowns. Depending on model, the 4-Series can help manage production weights from milligrams to tons.

For supreme process flexibility, the IND 445 has a variety of connection options including RS232, RS422/RS485, Ethernet, USB (Slave) and digital I/O (4 in / 4 out). This makes it possible to configure automated weighing systems in a nearly limitless array of environments and between diverse machining components.

To learn more about how the IND 445 piece-counting terminal can help in your company's industrial weighing and counting applications, visit
http://us.mt.com/us/en/home/products/Industrial_Weighing_Solutions/counting_scales/4series-countplus-countingscales/IND445US.html.

About ELESA

After more than 65 years of leadership in the field of producing plastic and metal components for the mechanical engineering industry, ELESA has earned the status of reference point for designers and builders. ELESA lists more than 20,000 product-specific codes for an annual production of tens of millions of pieces; holds more than 150 patents registered worldwide; has earned 29 international awards in Industrial Design; and attained ISO 9001 certification in 1993 and ISO 14001 certification in 2007. ELESA provides the people, machines and technology capable of anticipating and satisfying the demands of a global manufacturing network. For more, visit www.elesa.com

About METTLER TOLEDO

METTLER TOLEDO is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. The Company isthe world's largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications. METTLER TOLEDO also holds top-three market positions in several related analytical instruments and is a leading provider of automated chemistry systems used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development. In addition, the Company is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and holds a leading position in certain process analytics applications.

Additional information about METTLER TOLEDO can be found at www.mt.com

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