Bluetooth is helping manufacturers to cut loose from cables, improve workstation mobility and boost interactivity. A&D Weighing’s Director of Marketing, Jeff Long analyzes the technology.
Dated: 9 May 2006
BY ELIZA LEUNG
AFJ: Why should manufacturers invest in Bluetooth?
Long: If your scale has to be moved or cleaned frequently, you’re a good candidate. Bluetooth is a stable and proven technology, and it’s a great choice for food and beverage manufacturers that might have space constraints or conditions where cables are not convenient. Several scales can be connected together without wiring, translating into dramatically-reduced installation times and costs.
Bluetooth Basics
If you’ve synchronized your PDA with your computer, chances are you’ve used Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a short-range, wireless, communication technology that replaces cables connecting portable or fixed devices. It’s secure, has low-power requirements and allows for wireless communication through a series of small networks called piconets. Bluetooth technology can handle both data and voice transmissions. Each Bluetooth-enabled device can dynamically and automatically connect and communicate with up to seven other devices. |
 AFJ: What should manufacturers look for?
Long: First and foremost, a scale should meet the basic needs of your manufacturing process. Look for the correct capacity, size, and resolution—you’ll want to be able to both handle product and read the display from multiple angles in low lighting. Also, a Bluetoothenabled scale needs to be durable enough to withstand existing environmental conditions. This is important, given that it can represent an investment of $350 per scale.
A supplier should be able to provide data-collection software with the scale, so that weighing figures can be sent to a PC. Supplier reputation is also an important consideration, as is support after the purchase is made. A&D Weighing has all three—quality products with industry-leading warranties, proprietary data-collection software ( WinCT), and a history of being the world leader in providing Bluetooth-enabled scales.
AFJ: Bluetooth helps manufacturers ‘cut cords’. Tell us more.
Long: Bluetooth is a secure wireless connection without interference issues, so it can work through walls, ceilings and floors. Imagine the convenience of being able to move your scale around without having to unplug wires—it’s mobile and connected at all times. As a result, customers have demonstrated a willingness to pay for a higher price for a quality scale, rather than risk breakdown and factory downtime due to substandard equipment. However, there are limits to the distance that the signal will travel. The maximum distance between a scale and a PC is 100m. If remote monitoring is performed back in the office area, then a PC will be required on the factory floor to collect data. (That information, in turn, can be sent remotely back to the office.)
AFJ: Walk us through the set-up process.
Long: First you need a PC for collecting weighing data. A computer is an important part of the system—the number of communication ports it has will dictate the number of Bluetooth devices you can connect to. While some PCs already have Bluetooth installed, others do not. In that case, both Bluetoothdriver software and a USB transceiver will have to be installed. (All of this can cost as little as $30.) They assign different ‘channels’ to individual scales. As a result, the same scale can always be monitored on the same channel. If only one scale is being run, there is no need to assign a channel as only one data string is being sent to the PC. But with multiple channels, our software allows multiple scales to be monitored at the same time, within the same screen. Therefore, channel assignment can be very useful. This is especially helpful when creating Excel spreadsheets to evaluate production variation over time. Channel allocation only needs to be performed the first time a new scale is added to a system. After that initial assignment, the scale will automatically link itself to the same channel every time. And that means you are ready to start weighing.
With a click of an icon, the PC will start searching for Bluetoothenabled devices within its range. Any scale that is powered-up will already be transmitting a signal and will be picked up by the PC.
Then the production manager can select which scale they would like to monitor and how often they would like to collect information. Our system is designed to either collect information when the scale operator pushes a button on the scale, or the computer can prompt the scale to send data at set-time intervals.
AFJ: Bluetooth is designed for low power consumption, even in a blackout. Tell us about battery options.
Long: Battery life ultimately depends on application-use, quality and price, and local-service support. Nevertheless, a battery will easily last hundreds of hours on a full charge. In the event of a power outage, remember that your PC will also need to have battery backup in order to collect data delivered by the scale.
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