Customer Story · Food & Animal-Feed Manufacturing · Southern Indiana
Fit for Purpose Equipment Eliminated Monthly Breakdowns.
A food and animal-feed manufacturer in Southern Indiana was losing time to a mobile buggy weigh hopper that wasn’t rated for washdown and kept binding with material buildup. SSC’s Evansville team replaced it with a washdown-rated floor scale built for the environment, moving the account off unplanned monthly maintenance calls and onto a scheduled PM rotation.
The Problem
A food and animal-feed manufacturer in Southern Indiana had relied on mobile buggy weigh hoppers on an animal block production line for years, and the line regularly lost time because of them. The mobile scales were difficult to wash down, making it hard for operators to effectively remove buildup. Molasses and other binding materials accumulated in the mechanical system, throwing weights off and eventually causing the units to lock up. As buildup increased, operators had less confidence in the readings and in knowing exactly how much product had been produced.
Troubleshooting added another challenge. The buggy had to be lifted before technicians could access the scale, requiring additional equipment and multiple people before repairs could even begin. That made an already recurring problem slower and more complicated to address.
The Fix
System Scale Evansville evaluated the environment and production process and determined that a QC pit floor scale with stainless steel components, a lift deck, and a washdown-ready design was a better fit for the application.
To preserve the efficiency operators were used to with the mobile buggies, the team added a terminal and remote display combination. This gave operators clear visibility at the scale and allowed them to quickly tare between products without relying on a fixed panel elsewhere on the line.
When the scale needs service or a more thorough cleaning, the lift deck allows it to be raised and accessed directly. Technicians can begin troubleshooting without first moving equipment or coordinating additional manpower.
The Result
Downtime and maintenance costs dropped significantly. Instead of dealing with unplanned monthly service calls, the scales now operate on a scheduled preventive maintenance and calibration rotation. Accuracy and reliability improved as well. The old buggy scales would drift as buildup accumulated between repairs. The new washdown-ready equipment can be cleaned more effectively and maintains consistent readings without the same recurring buildup and wear issues.
Results at a Glance
Monthly Maintenance
Calls Eliminated
Designed for Easy Washdown
New Scale Standard
Customer Relationship
Project Details
| Application | Mobile Floor Scale Replacement / Washdown |
| Location | Southern Indiana |
| SSC Office | Evansville |
| Customer Since | 10+ Years |
| Industry | Food & Animal-Feed Manufacturing |
Dealing with a similar recurring issue? Tell us what’s happening and our nearest team will diagnose it.
Why It Matters
A Company Built to Last.
Not to Flip.
SSC’s Evansville team has serviced this account for over a decade. When a recurring issue kept resurfacing, they stopped treating it as a routine service call, traced it to a mismatch between the equipment and its operating environment, and fixed the root cause instead. That’s what a decade-long PM relationship with an employee-owned company looks like: technicians who think like owners, not like shift workers running a call list.
System Scale has been employee-owned since 1995. In business since 1979. We’re not a roll-up. We’re not for sale. The team that fixed this line has the same stake in the outcome you do.
Dealing With a Similar Problem?
Tell us what’s recurring and we’ll put the right team on it. SSC has locations across the Midwest and Gulf States. Odds are someone near you has seen this exact issue before.
More From the Field
Real problems. Real fixes. No new equipment unless the equipment is actually the problem.
