Solvent Inventory Management Using Non-Contact Radar

National Coatings Inc.

National Coatings Inc. is a trusted leader in high-performance industrial coatings, solvents, and paint ingredients. Since 1980, the company has built a reputation for quality, innovation, and exceptional customer service across diverse industries. As a pioneer in environmentally responsible solutions, National Coatings continues to set the standard for sustainable performance in the packaging and metal decorating markets.

Applications: Solvent Inventory Tracking

Market: Industrial Coatings / Chemicals

Challenge

Accurate inventory tracking is essential to National Coatings’ operations, ensuring seamless production and timely procurement. However, their previous tank monitoring method was outdated and inefficient—requiring team members to climb to the top of each tank and manually drop a ball-and-chain float to estimate fluid levels.

“Checking the solvent tank levels was very labor-intensive, and not very accurate” said Kris, VP of Technology.

This manual approach not only consumed valuable time but also led to inconsistencies in measurement and challenges in scheduling solvent reorders. The result was unnecessary operational strain and potential disruptions to production. To address these challenges, National Coatings set out to streamline processes, enhance solvent management efficiency, and establish a more reliable, data-driven approach to inventory control.

Solution

In 2024, a trusted colleague introduced Kris to TankScan, a modern, cloud-based tank monitoring solution. After a brief evaluation, National Coatings quickly recognized that TankScan could transform the way they managed solvent inventory.

Installation of the TSRT880 non-contact radar monitor was simple and efficient. Each monitor was easily threaded into a 2” port on top of the tank. The system’s cloud application was configured remotely, providing seamless access for unlimited users, complete with historical data trends and real-time alerts via email or text.

“Once we learned how to do it and got the right fittings, the installation process was really easy” Said Kris.

Now, field operators can view tank levels directly from their smartphones, while managers can monitor multiple sites from their office PCs. By leveraging existing infrastructure, like internet connectivity, web browsers, and mobile devices, TankScan delivers an accurate, cost-effective, and user-friendly solution that integrates effortlessly into daily operations.

Results

National Coatings Inc. has seen numerous benefits from remote level monitoring including:
• Reduced labor and overhead associated with manually checking the tank level
• Improved inventory accuracy
• Improved reliability with a simplified re-ordering process
• Improved safety by eliminating the need to climb the tank

“TankScan has been fantastic for monitoring the inventory and it has simplified our re-order process”, said Kris.

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