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NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION
WWW.NISA.ORG

Updated 02/26/2010

 

 

 

TOPICS

of the

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

Technical Seminars Hopper Scales
Publications Belt Scales
Back Publications Railroad Track Scales
Newsletters Truck Scales
Membership Directory Proposed Changes
New Technology Technical Activities

 

 

 

JOIN

THE

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

 

NISA is the right organization for you if you're a:

Heavy capacity scale user (Hopper, Vehicle, Track, Conveyor)

Heavy capacity Scale Manufacturer or Dealer

Heavy capacity Scale Consultant, Service Technician, or other Specialist

Weights and Measures Official or Scale Inspector

In 1987, the National Industrial Scale Association was officially formed to support the heavy capacity weighing industry. Until that time, there was no forum for scale users, manufacturers, regulatory agencies and other interested groups to obtain or share information on a purely technical level. NISA is a highly respected professional organization serving the weights and measures community in a manner that no other organization can. A non-profit group, supported completely by our membership dues, publication sponsors and conference attendance receipts, we provide a unique scale information network.

How does this network work? Read through this booklet to find out. We'll show you how NISA can help you perform your scale-related job better by providing you with the personal contacts and specific information you need. Descriptions, samples and photos are included to illustrate how much NISA offers its members.

Review this brochure, share it with your associates, then complete and mail the membership application today. We can't wait to talk scales with you!

For more information, contact NISA:

 

NISA
P.O. BOX 680821
MARIETTA, GA 30068
Phone: (770) 971-7454
 

 

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TECHNICAL SEMINARS

of the

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

 

Around the middle of April and again in the middle of October NISA puts on a Technical Seminar. In addition to the presentations, there is hospitality and a time for fellowship. Each technical meeting is organized by the Board of Directors to make the most out of the allotted time away from our work place. The accommodations for these meetings are made at quality Hotels that see to the needs and comfort of our members.

The locations for the meetings are planned years in advance and are arranged with both interesting field trips and demographics in mind. Consideration is given to the availability of restaurants and activities in the area to satisfy those unfilled hours. Careful attention is given to ensure the quality of the technical seminar and the learning environment. Our meetings are for learning first and fun second.

There is an average number of nine technical presentation at each meeting. This number has gone as high as thirteen and as low as eight. Quality presentations and presenters are always first in the mind of our Program Chairman. After each presentation, a series of questions and answers allows audience interaction with the speakers. The presentations are formatted by our publisher and published in the form of our annual, NISA Technical Publication.

You can't run a good technical seminar on an empty stomach. That's why we have chosen accommodations that have quality restaurant facilities in house or adjacent to the Hotel. NISA will sponsor a number of breaks throughout the seminar and each meeting will have a lunch or a dinner hosted. In addition, each NISA conference typically includes an industry sponsored, hospitality suite for two nights. The breaks and the meal offer a great opportunity to talk over the material being presented, problems with scale applications, or just to have a friendly chat.

The best way to get to know one another and learn together is in the NISA technical sessions. The Spring Meeting often includes a field trip to see industry related applications first hand. Though most tours will include a scale site, we also slip in other types of interesting industrial visits. We have made trips to a Georgia Power generating plant, U.S. Steel's Pipe Mill, Black Thunder Coal Mine, and Ford's Truck Assembly Plant to name a few. All fascinating trips and well worth the time spent.

Join us! The experience is worth it!

 

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The

GOALS

of the

National Industrial Scale Association

shall be to:

 

Promote a better understanding of the importance and scope of the scale industry by the public, thus furthering the welfare of those engaged in weights and measures activities.

Encourage proper observance of requirements and regulations pertaining to the operation, business and practices of industrial weighing.

Work for cooperation and understanding between the scale industry and the regulatory community.

Provide a forum for the exchange of information on the technology and application of industrial scales.

Coordinate and implement lawful collective action for the improvement of industrial weighing to the mutual benefit of industry, users, the regulatory community, manufacturers of weighing equipment and the general public.

 

 

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OFFICERS

of the

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

 

Jay Visco

President

Jay has been working in the load cell industry since 1973 when he obtained his first position at BLH Electronics as a Test Technician.  After completing his degree in Electronic Engineering at Franklin Institute, he joined HBM as a production supervisor in 1983.  In 1988 Jay accepted the challenge of working for a small startup company which is now known as Flintec, as their Industrial Engineer/Production Manager.  He returned to HBM in 1999 as an OEM Sales Manager and then joined Vishay Transducers in 2004 as their OEM Sales manager.  Working from a "virtual global office" Jay handles direct sales for various OEM accounts throughout the USA and Canada and is also responsible for Vishay's US Sales Rep network.  His professional affiliations include NISA, SMA, NCWM and ISWM.  Jay, his wife Denise and their son Mathew reside in Waltham, MA.  His hobbies include their son’s sportsmotorcycles, golf, music, books and the challenges of his work.

 

John Fowler

Vice-President

John has been in the Weighing Industry for over 32 years.  He was with Fairbanks Scales for 15 years and Mettler Toledo for 17 years as a vehicle scale product and marketing manager.  Five of those years were spent in Europe.  John is currently with Rice Lake Weighing Systems as the International Sales Director for Europe. John attended the University of Kansas where he met his wife of 37 years, Debbie.  They have a daughter, Alison Fowler, a son, Gary and are the proud grandparents of two great Tennessee kids.  John and Debbie reside in Delaware, Ohio.

 

Bob Feezor

Secretary/Treasurer

Bob retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad where he began a thirty-year career as the first Electronic Scale Inspector in the country. He ended his railroad career with over twenty years service as Superintendent of Scales. Before joining the railroad, he learned his electronic skills courtesy of the U.S. Navy, and worked for Streeter Amet as a field engineer for several years. Bob is currently owner of Scale Consulting and Testing (SCAT), and resides with his wife Denise in Marietta, GA.

 

Mike Powers

Program Chairman

A life long native of Illinois, Mike graduated from Illinois State University in 1980 with a BS degree in AG Business. He spent his first few years after graduation in the insurance business and in 1986 Mike began his sales and service career in the scale industry. He joined Central Illinois Scale in 2002 as a sales representative in their Bartonville, IL office. Mike's professional affiliations include NISA and ISWM. He attained the ISWM Certified Sales Specialist designation in 2004. Mike and his wife Dana reside in Peoria, IL and he has two grown step children and four grand children. In his spare time he enjoys reading, golf, and being a fan of most spectator sports.

 

Bill Murphy

Past-President

Bill Murphy has spent the past 35 years selling, marketing, and promoting heavy duty truck and railroad track scale equipment around the world. He will tell you very quickly, experience is the best teacher. Bill is presently Director of Scales for Heavy Capacity Products at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, headquartered in Rice Lake, WI. Bill is a 1972 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky with a Bachelors degree in marketing. He currently serves as an Officer for the National Industrial Scale Association (NISA). He is also a member and former officer of the International Society of Weighing and Measurement (ISWM). Bill has two sons, Jason Thaddeous and Joshua Matthew and two grandchildren. Bill resides in Knoxville, TN with his wife Trish.

 

 

DIRECTORS

of the

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

 

Dean Smith

Director

Grew up as a farm boy in Kansas. My Grandpa, Uncle and Dad started a Sand & Gravel Plant, and guess what they had? (Scale) I had the pleasure of cleaning the Scale Pit! Regularly they stored dynamite there to keep it stable, always a concern along with the spiders and bugs. Graduated from North High in 1967. Left the Gravel Pit and moved to Colorado. Then Uncle Sam called and said Vietnam is your new home. 1970 I applied for a Scale Job, Hammel Scale Distributor for Mettler Toledo. Later worked directly for Mettler Toledo in Denver Colorado they had me move to Salt Lake City to help in that office and then in 1991 opened D & G Scale Inc and have been dedicated to the industry now for 37 years.

Steve Bloemker

Director

Steve is employed by the Canadian National Railroad as the Chief Scale Inspector, a position he has held since 1994. He began work for the Illinois Central Railroad in 1973 as a pipefitter after attending Kaskaskia College. He currently serves as vice-chairman for AREMA Committee 34 and is a NISA member. Steve and his wife Debbie live in Centralia, IL and have two married children and one grandson.

Brian Kotylak

Director

Brian Kotylak works for the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Safety Risk Management Department as the Manager of Scale Operations reporting out of the Calgary (Canada) office. Brian has been with CP for over 32 years and has been in the Engineering, Transportation, and Mechanical Departments. He is also a member of AREMA Committee 34 and NCWM. CP has several Railway Operations in the United States including the SOO Line, D&H, DME, and ICE.

Norm Brucker

Director

Norm Brucker worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for 32 years. Prior to that he has worked for Fairbanks Scale Company for 7 years. He is now the owner of Precision Measurement Standards, Inc. He is a charter member of NISA and is a member of NCWM and AREMA Committee 34. Norm lives in Rosemount, Minnesota.

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PAST PRESIDENTS

of the

National Industrial Scale Association

(NISA)

F. Joe Loyd, Jr. 1986-1988 CSX Transportation Company
Bill GeMeiner 1988-1990 Union Pacific Railroad
Steven Beitzel 1990-1991 Systems Associates, Inc.
John Robinson 1991-1992 Association of American Railroads
Peggy Cunningham 1992-1993 Virginia Electric Power Company
Max Casanova 1993-1994 Ramsey Technology, Inc.
Bob Brumbaugh 1994-1995 Systems Associates, Inc.
Shawne Gibson 1995-1996 ABC Scale Company
Bill McHale 1996-1997 Kanawha Scale Systems
Dave Quinn 1997-1999 Fairbanks Scales
Dennis Davis 1999-2000 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Joe Geisser 2000-2001 Rice Lake Weighing Systems
Mike Smith 2001-2002 Cardinal Scale
Ed Luthy 2002-2003 Brechbuhler Scales
John Holleman 2003-2004 Systems Associates, Inc.
Dennis Fox 2004-2005 Central Illinois Scale Company
O.G (Bubba) Buchhorn 2005-2006 A-1 Scale Service, Inc.
Steve Shelton 2006-2007 Scale Systems, Inc.
Eric Boggs 2007-2008 Mettler Toledo
Bill Murphy 2008-2009 Rice Lake Weighing Systems

 

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NEWSLETTERS

OF THE

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION

(NISA)

 

Several times each year, NISA publishes a Technical Newsletter containing interesting articles about the goings' on in the industry. There are articles on applications of scales with photos to give you ideas for future projects. A Tech Tips column provides facts and techniques to assist you in your efforts. The hands on, field level style provides you with useful information that will help with your next unexpected and unwanted problem.

Each newsletter has a calendar of events that will keep you informed of the meetings taking place that may affect you and articles about what happened at the meetings will let you know what you missed. There have been articles on metrication and people on the move as well as a comic or two to lighten your day. The newsletters are filled with the kind of stuff that will have you reading cover to cover and waiting for the next issue.

 

 

Membership Directory

Since 1990, NISA has published a Membership Directory of all its members. The directory has been given high reviews in that it provides a concise list of many of our day to day contacts. People with the same job responsibilities as you have. Many time a problem can be solved by contacting a colleague or checking with a vendor or user. NISA's directory provides the phone and fax numbers as well as the street address for those people most likely to provide that help.

Published once each year, the directory is as accurate as possible and takes up very little room in your brief case. Plans are in the works to provide the Membership Directory in a disk format for those that make use of the power of computers.

Members names are printed on the right side of the book with a full page on the left for notes of conversations or changes in address, phone or fax numbers. In the back of the directory, the Constitution and By-Laws are provided as a quick reference.

 

 

 

NISA
P.O. BOX 680821
MARIETTA, GA 30068
Phone: (770) 971-7454
 

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