When it comes to choosing a micro ingredient system for your facility, there are multiple factors to consider. Space, budget, labor, number of micro ingredients, storage capacity, and the list goes on and on. While each system is ultimately customized for each facility, gaining a basic understanding of the differences between gain-in-weight (GIW) and loss-in-weight (LIW) systems will help your team narrow down your search from the beginning. Below is a list showcasing the top five benefits and features of each of these systems.
Table Below: Top Features & Benefits of Each Micro Ingredient System Design
Gain-in-Weight (GIW) Systems | Loss-in-Weight (LIW) Systems |
Most universal and common type of system found in the feed mill industry. | Faster weigh up time because each bin has its own load cell and weighs up simultaneously. |
Most efficient design for facilities with 4-12 micro ingredients included per scale or batch. | Bin weights are recorded separately and can provide ending inventory on hand at the end of each batch. |
Design allows for increased number of ingredient bins per GIW unit. Most systems are built in a 12-24 bin design per scale. However, can be up to 40 bins. | More precise due to the lack of free fall compensation for the system to account for. |
Multiple systems can be used together to total 60-80 ingredient bins for a facility. | Less cross contamination possibility if the system is directly discharged into the mixer. |
Compatible with both rotary and funnel style discharge scales. A rotary scale is more economical for sharing one scale across many bins. A funnel scale offers greater capacity for higher inclusion rate of an ingredient per batch. | Best system for high-risk or high-profile ingredients due to increased traceability and lesser risk of cross contamination. |
More economical for number of ingredients or bins due to less load cells per system. | More expensive for number of ingredients or bins due to more load cells per system. |
Common inclusion rate for ingredients per batch ranges from 4 lbs. to 60 lbs.* | Common inclusion rate for ingredients per batch ranges from 0.5 lbs. to 30 lbs.* |
*Common inclusion rates are ranges based on what we typically see most often. The ranges, on both the low and high ends are dependent on multiple factors and can be on either side of the ranges provided.
While the chart above gives a brief overview of the features and benefits of the different type of micro ingredient systems, it is important to keep in mind that with customization, each bin can be designed to meet the accuracy, speed and storage capacity for a specific ingredient or mill. Worried about sticky, fine or dusty products? There are multiple different design options such as adding vibrators or air agitation or auger designs and materials that can help with bridging or tough to move materials.
Interested in talking through specifics with one of our salesmen? Contact our team at Easy Automation to discuss your specific facility and needs and we’ll help you build exactly what you need. Visit www.easy-automation.com or call 507-728-8214 and ask for our sales team. We value your partnership and look forward to solving your equipment and automation challenges with you.
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