The challenge
A honey distributor in Southern California was losing valuable product to recurring overfills during long manual production runs. Operators relied on visual judgment and manual timing to stop each fill, so small overages repeated across the run created meaningful product giveaway.
Southern California | Food processing | Controls & SCADA
A right-sized automated solution
The project began after nextova founder Joe Ratterman met the company’s owner at WestPack 2024 and learned that recurring overfills were creating unnecessary product loss. nextova helped scope and deploy an automated weighing and batch-control solution in collaboration with BizAutom.
The system monitors container weight in real time and automatically closes the product valve when the selected target is reached, giving operators a more controlled and repeatable filling process.
System capabilities
- Real-time scale monitoring
- Touchscreen HMI with weight and system-status visibility
- Operator-selectable 30 lb, 60 lb, and custom setpoints
- Automatic valve shutoff at the target weight
- Manual start and stop control
- Field testing, commissioning, and operator handoff
Project roles
nextova led customer discovery, project scoping, field-installation coordination, system testing, commissioning, and operator handoff.
BizAutom provided controls engineering, SCADA and HMI development, valve-control integration, system support, and the finished stainless enclosure.
Operational outcomes
- Reduced costly overfills and product giveaway
- Improved fill consistency from container to container
- Reduced reliance on operator timing and judgment
- Created a more repeatable process for long production runs
- Provided real-time operating visibility and flexible setpoint control
Why this project matters
Many growing manufacturers have valuable opportunities to automate, but their projects are often underserved by traditional integration models. They need a partner willing to understand the operation, right-size the solution, coordinate the technical resources, and stay accountable through implementation.
This project reflects the model nextova was built to deliver: practical automation tied to a clear operational problem, with the right equipment, controls, and field specialists brought together around the customer’s actual process.
Reduce waste and improve production accuracy
If your operation is dealing with overfill, product giveaway, inconsistent manual processes, or limited process visibility, nextova can help assess the opportunity and define a practical path forward.
