Grain Handling AUTOMATION
Automation solutions for grain handling and processing
NorthWind provides grain handling automation solutions to grain elevator and processing facilities throughout the United States. Our control systems include grain conveyance, hazard monitoring, temperature and moisture monitoring, motor control, and automated loadout.
Grain Conveyance
The cost of cross-contamination by adding a commodity to the wrong bin or shutdowns is high. NorthWind’s System allows for automatic bin inventory management and helps maintain safe operation of your equipment.
NorthWind systems are reading 500-700 temperature and moisture sensors throughout each bin. Hot spots are quickly detected, and drying/cooling zones can be tracked, leading to more efficient aeration management.
NorthWind’s control system integrates directly to your order system or ERP software for automated loadout. Our system reads the RFID tags on the trailers and automatically fills to order ensuring accurate and timely fulfillment.
Equipment and personnel safety is at the forefront of NorthWind’s control strategy. Hazard monitoring is used throughout the conveyance equipment and designed to shut down equipment if unsafe operating temperatures are reached or a slip in equipment belts occur.
Grain Milling
NorthWind has vast experience providing milling automation solutions to customers making product for pet food manufacturing, animal feed, and food ingredients. We understand the importance of preventing cross contamination and accurate ingredient delivery. Our recipe management software has features built in to mitigate the risks of cross contamination and our control algorithms ensure ingredient weighments stay within set tolerances.
SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
BatchLOGIX® – A recipe management tool designed exclusively for recipe storage, campaign management and traceability. BatchLOGIX allows you to be as flexible as you need to be with your recipes. Customizable set points for both ingredients and process equipment can be configured in the system. Historical data can also be accessed through easily customized reports to target specific information using filters. Once created, reports can be exported to Excel, WORD, RTF, or PDF for sharing.
With NorthWind PlantLOGIX™ Security, users are able to log in and navigate seamlessly between all applications in your automation system. As an added safety feature, users are automatically logged out after a pre-set time of inactivity, helping to keep your system secure. The chip in employee badges can also be utilized with an RFID reader for user log in.
BatchMATE® – Hand batching ingredients is a necessary, but often error-prone step in most pet food facilities. BatchMATE helps eliminate operator error by quickly guiding them through the weighing process. Ingredient ID and lot numbers must be scanned before ingredients can be weighed, ensuring automated lot tracking and ingredient accuracy.
WHITE PAPERS
Temperature Measurement in Industry
There are many different choices that can be made when selecting temperature measurement devices for industrial systems. When faced with these decisions, there are many factors to consider: accuracy, sensitivity, price, temperature range needed, etc. This article will discuss three types of temperature…
