Ravas (Netherlands) - As of July, the verified weight of sea containers must be made known to the shipping company before loading them onto the ship. Two methods are allowed: weighing the packed container (Method n.1), or weighing all individual items in the container (Method n.2). With iForks on the forklift, every pallet lifted is immediately weighed, without taking the goods out of the process. Using the RAVAS SOLAS App, total container weights are easily computed and communicated with all stakeholders in the supply chain, including the shipping company.



The advantages of SOLAS Method n.2, determining container weights by weighing individual items:

• Weight information available early, end customers can make changes without missing their ship
• No overloaded containers during road transport to the port
• Highly accurate weight information, certified OIML III
• Efficient weighing, no driving back and forth to weighbridges
• Information available on individual shipments within containers

Amendments to the SOLAS regulations require that as of July 2016 the verified gross weight of containers must be made known before loading them onto a ship. The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) has decided that container weights may be determined by weighing the packed container (Method n.1) or by weighing the individual items in the container (Method n.2), earlier in the chain. RAVAS supplies the mobile scales and the connectivity to make individual pallet weights and shipments available throughout the supply chain.

iForks is the successful wireless mobile scale for forklift trucks from RAVAS. With iForks on the truck, every load lifted is immediately weighed. iForks provide a highly accurate weight read-out in 1 kg steps on a display in the cabin, and are available in legal for trade version OIML III. Extended scale functions include registering of ID codes with every weight recorded. iForks also communicates bi-directionally with WMS or ERP systems, via Bluetooth or Wifi connection. iForks can be installed on any counterbalanced or reach truck in a matter of minutes.

For efficient computing of container weights, RAVAS offers its SOLAS App. The App can be installed on a PDA, iPad or iPhone. After identifying the container by its number and registering its tare weight, the App allows the user to identify individual pallets or shipments and register their weight, communicated by iForks. Total container weight is computed and registered on the PDA, and can be downloaded to a PC via USB cable as a CSV file. If the App is used on an iPad or iPhone, the information can be e-mailed to the shipping company straight from the App.