Counting sheets on skids

[Edward]

Hi all,

We do large format printing up to 59"x81" sheets and we ship on anywhere from 11"x17" to 59"x80" pallets. We have been having difficulty confirming how many sheets are actually shipping on those pallets. We have been contemplating weighing a sample 100 sheets and then weighing the pallets. There's a lot of labor involved in that process and it's not perfect. We have also been toying with micrometers to measure a sample number of sheets and then measure the entire pallet. We're still working on that one. What methods do other printers use for this issue? The counters on the press just don't tell the whole story. I guess because of press pulls and the like.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[davarino]

The first question to ask is, "How precisely do you need to count these sheets?" (Which is predicated on another question, "Why are you counting these sheets?)

It may seem like a flippant question, but it will direct the entire rest of your search.

If you are simply trying to make sure that you have at least x number of sheets, you have many approaches available.

Weighing and measuring depth of piles are two good ways of getting a rough estimate of number of sheets. (When weighing, it's good to have tare weights marked on the skids.) Bear in mind that there is variance in the thickness, density, and weight of printed paper from batch to batch, and that the measurement process itself can have wide variances, too.

(In addition, don't fall into the error of believing that having a weight of 3 decimals precision means that you're right on the button with your count. There is always variance and lack of precision. A million sheets each weighing "1.0 gram" will most likely weigh more or less than a metric ton.)

If you wish to know precisely what x is, you have a much more limited group of choices.

For "precise" measurement, you either hire someone to count sheet by sheet, or use a sheet counting machine. This precision comes with a price.

http://www.vacuumatic.com/ http://www.whitakerbrothers.com/sheet-counters are two websites I came up with a google on "sheet counters".

So we come back to the basis question: Why are you counting?... and what is it worth to you to get a certain level of precision?

 

[turbotom1052]

in most cases the industry standard method of measuring is acceptably accurate. Rather than putting a micrometer to a single sheet and multiplying, I've found it to be more accurate to hand count a predetermined amount of sheets (say like 500) and multiply from there. By hand counting a larger amount the accuracy increases because your better accounting for some of the variables as mentioned above. If your trying to count sheets off a sheetfed press the larger hand count will better allow for the increase in thickness due to spray powder and waviness from water both as a result of printing or just the absorption of humidity in the plant.