Gallagher Touch Screen Scales Weigh Up with New Technology

KANSAS CITY, MO - Gallagher’s new touch screen scales represents a complete re-work of the company’s weighing and data collection systems, until now served by both the robust W610/810 models and the TSi integrated scale range.

“We were looking for a complete re-design from the ground up. We wanted a design that recognized how producers interact with equipment. Touch screens are part of their daily lives now, with smart phones and tablets with simple user interfaces, and we wanted to deliver a new generation of scales that shared that simple interface,” says Gallagher product manager Terry Cole.

A key factor in determining the current design was user feedback. Often packing multiple features into a piece of equipment like weigh scales requires a complex menu, with options that can be confusing to navigate.

Weigh scale devices are typically used infrequently by producers, so it is easy to forget how to use them, which is frustrating and time consuming.  Extracting information from scales and linking it to other systems also proved difficult so was often put into the “too hard” pile.

“Many producers told us they only use 20% of the functionality in equipment and devices, because of complexity, so we spent considerable time developing a very friendly user interface.”

Repeated trips out to producers to test and re-retest improvements in the interface proved invaluable. The resulting TW-1 screen interface is extremely intuitive, from initial scale setup to final weigh data download.

This new line of Touch Screen Livestock Scales usability is also reflected in their touch screens. Their full color displays deliver maximum screen visibility regardless of sun light conditions. They are designed to be robust and tough in harsh operating environments, repelling water and capable of taking abuse.

The TW Scale series uses software that is designed to connect simply and quickly to load bars and readers regardless of what brand they may be.  Both offer a significant advantage over competing brands by connecting with Gallagher’s own Animal Performance Software (APS) system.

APS provides easy access to animal information, offering timely analysis and understanding of individual and mob performance. All data recorded in the field can be directly uploaded into the APS software, doing away with the one thing producers dislike the most – having to enter data twice.

“It is just something you do not want to do at the end of the day, and once its down loaded you can simply check out the results, not do more data entry,” says Cole.

Links can be achieved via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, connecting to the user’s cell phone bringing up the Gallagher Dashboard software. The Dashboard provides a quick view of crucial animal data, easily visited on tablet, smartphone or PC.

The TW-1 is ideally suited for producers already using livestock EID, and wanting to weigh and draft by average daily gain, or draft on weight ranges.

The TW-3 has all the capability of the TW1, plus the ability to record animal traits, including ownership, breed, sex or age, and the ability to draft the animal based on the recorded traits. For commercial producers, the TW-3 gives them the option to manage animals based on attributes other than just weight.

The TW scales have been developed to meet the needs of livestock producers who want scales delivering rugged reliability within a design that incorporates the latest in connectivity and ease of use.

“Given most producers are well familiar with smart phones and touch screens, the TW series will fit easily into their range of devices. It seamlessly delivers them very useful, easy to follow and actionable information on how their livestock are performing,” says Cole.

The TW series comes with its own spacious protector bag, and will be launched at this year’s Canada Outdoor Farm Show and Husker Harvest Days.