Washing Systems Strengthens Field Operations with Remote Level Monitoring

Washing Systems

Washing Systems is the leading provider of innovative solutions for the commercial laundry processing industry. Driven by technological advancements, they deliver performance-focused cleaning, processing, and disinfecting a variety of textiles for over 30 years.

Applications: Laundry Chemicals

Market: Specialty Chemicals

Challenge
Washing Systems is challenged with reducing the costs of their field operations while maintaining a safe and reliable field operation. As a manufacturer of cleaning solutions, Washing Systems delivers its bulk products to its customers’ tanks. To optimize delivery, they currently have employees routinely check levels in their clients’ tanks, requiring an employee to drive to the tank location to manually measure the fluid level using a stick. The major goal was to improve the efficiency of their operation by reducing labor and vehicle mileage related to unnecessary travel. Fundamentally, they wanted to increase the efficiency of their deliveries by eliminating trips while increasing the number of gallons delivered per trip. Additionally, they wanted to improve the overall reliability of the delivery operation, improve the visibility of the supply chain to their clients, and ultimately know near real-time inventory levels in their remote customer tanks.

Physically traveling to the remote sites can take more than an hour for each location. Unnecessary trips like these are simply unacceptable with today’s fuel prices, shortage of labor, and availability of cost-effective technology. If the employee is rushed, checking the tank levels may be missed or inaccurate.

“We wanted a product that could minimize our everyday tasks. TankScan has improved our efficiency and ease of operation.” - Justin, Vice President of Operations

Solution
In 2022, Washing Systems installed the TankScan TSUT811 Non-contact Ultrasonic tank monitoring system outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. The remote monitoring system leverages existing wireless cellular infrastructure and a cloud software application to eliminate large startup and setup costs associated with typical SCADA systems. The install requires screwing the monitor into a 2” port on the top of the tank and plugging in the battery. The cloud application is set up remotely and offers unlimited users, historical trending, and email/text notifications.

The tank levels are viewed from a field operator’s cell phone or from a PC at a remote office. The system is cost-effective due to its use of existing infrastructures through internet connectivity, email, text alerting, and cloud computing. The user is provided with accurate readings to devices he already owns, understands and supports.

Results
Washing Systems has seen numerous benefits from remote level monitoring including:
• Reduced labor and overhead by eliminating trips to field locations and checking tank levels
• Improved quality of their field operations with remote tank level visibility
• Improved confidence and reduced environmental risk with automated notifications
• Improved safety by reducing travel in hazardous weather conditions
• Overall ease of use and more efficient operations

“We have noticed many qualitative benefits from reducing unnecessary labor and
improving our supply chain visibility.” - Justin, Vice President of Operations

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