Automation of logistics in a waste-to-energy plant
ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation has extended the existing entry/exit area for the Kassel waste-to-energy plant (MHKW ) with a modern driver weighing solution on the two truck scales consisting of driver self-service terminals, EWP weighing software, cameras and barriers.
Customer
The Kassel waste-to-energy plant is the modern and environmentally friendly solution for the safe disposal of waste – and has been for exactly 50 years. In 1968, the Kassel waste incineration plant began operations on the Lossewiesen. Today, it recycles the waste from around 617,000 citizens and their households, municipal facilities and commercial enterprises in the region. Thermal recycling not only reduces the waste by 90 percent by volume, but also recycles the raw slag. Any remaining pollutants are filtered out during the incineration process and disposed of safely.
The waste-to-energy plant began generating district heating and electricity back in 1985. The waste-to-energy plant thus makes an indispensable contribution to climate and environmental protection and at the same time to security of supply for the city of Kassel.
It goes without saying that the MHKW Kassel fulfills the strict requirements of emission protection, water protection and soil protection and is regularly monitored by authorities, testing institutes and certifiers.
Requirements for the automation of logistics in the entry/exit area
The MHKW Kassel has been working successfully for many years with the EWP weighing software to weigh the incoming and outgoing trucks and to process the resulting weighing data.
With an increase in the volume of traffic in the entry/exit area of the Kassel waste incineration plant, handling was to be optimized and modernized. To this end, the automation of logistics in the entry/exit area was implemented.
Technical solution for automated logistics
The EWS-8000E is used as a display and input terminal for driver self-service. Deliverers and collectors identify themselves by order number or daily order number. The program sequence is determined by the EWP weighing software. The plain text operator guidance and alphanumeric input make operation particularly easy.
Our legal-for-trade industrial weighing terminal EWS-8000E in a robust stainless steel housing is suitable for harsh industrial or outdoor applications where environmental conditions mean that standard PC technology cannot be used. The terminal is designed for demanding weighing tasks. In addition to the excellent visualization via a colour TFT display, the high processor and measuring speed, the EWS-8000E offers completely new possibilities for integration into control systems and/or networks.
Controls on the driver’s self-service pillars
The GFS built-in barcode scanner can also be used for driver self-service identification. If a data carrier (with barcode) is held in the scanner’s reading field, the defined data content is read and the successful reading is acknowledged by a brief optical and acoustic signal. The data is converted into an interface format and transmitted to the higher-level terminal via the interface. Here, the corresponding weighing is carried out automatically using the data (orders) stored in the barcode.
A kiosk printer is used to issue receipts at the self-service terminal. The direct thermal printer has a high printing speed and is equipped with a paper cutter that outputs the receipt quickly and cleanly. The printer is specially designed for unattended, customer-operated applications, such as retrieving receipts at self-service terminals.
To contact the monitoring personnel on site, the control pillar is equipped with a hands-free telephone for connection to the customer’s telephone system. The call button can be assigned a fixed (also external!) telephone number, which is dialed when the button is pressed.
Weighing software and cameras for automating the logistics of the waste-to-energy plant
The devices are mounted in a control column. In terms of function and design, the TERMINAL MXXL control pillar is the ideal addition for complex entry and exit control systems on truck scales. The large installation depth creates a universal platform for the installation of a wide range of access control elements. The control column is made of aluminum and stainless steel and is therefore designed for a long service life.
In manual operation, the scales are still operated remotely from the office using our EWP weighing software, which is also used to manage master data for customers, materials, etc. and to evaluate the weighing data (statistics).
The connection between the existing IT system and the self-service terminal is established via a network (Ethernet).
The network cameras make it possible to monitor the weighbridges (vehicle status). The current image is displayed on the PC workstation or via a browser on any other PC in the network. The HE-Webcam software can also be used to save still images for each weighing operation on the weighing workstation.
The barrier is a complete solution for access and/or exit control at truck scales or on company premises.
In addition to the design, the high level of basic functionality is impressive, allowing almost all requirements to be met.
Related products
