Auto Id proofing of Materials to be Conveyed

By Greg Washburn, Joshua Belisle and Fred Eichhorn · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 8, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · July 17, 2026

Summary

How does Auto ID prevent wrong material reaching a press?

Auto ID, also called material proofing, lets the conveying system move material only when the operator connects the correct source to the correct destination. The operator assigns a source to each destination receiver from a configurable list, then connects that press’s hose at the manifold. If the connection matches, material transfers; if not, the control sounds an alarm and does not convey.

Material Proofing or Auto ID is a system that can be utilized with certain Quick Selection Manifolds. The system, called Auto ID or “Proofing” provides the operator with instructions as to which source and destination to connect and then allows the system to convey material only if the right connection is made. The system cannot function if the wrong connection is made. This can reduce costs greatly by eliminating the problem of sending the wrong material to a source – saving lost material, machine downtime and rejected parts. With the manifolds enclosed in a cabinet, it is easy to clearly mark material names on the cabinet. Likewise, machine numbers are marked on the hose connections.

How it works…

Auto ID allows an operator to assign a defined source to any eligible destination receiver. With Auto-ID enabled, the operator simply selects the correct source from a customer configurable pull down list while viewing the destination receiver setup screen. For example, if Press #42 is assigned source Blue PP 123, the operator then goes to the material manifold and connects the Press #42 flex hose to a manifold dispensing Blue PP 123. If the connection is made correctly, material is transferred. If the connection is not made correctly, the control will sound an alarm and not transfer material.

This method guarantees your process will always receive material from the operator designated material source. As an added protection, the control can receive material selection requirements from a master scheduler controller via Ethernet communication as part of an end user networking setup.

Learn More About Quick Select Manifold Station with Optional Auto ID

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if an operator connects the wrong hose with Auto ID?

The control sounds an alarm and does not transfer material. For example, if Press #42 is assigned source Blue PP 123, the operator connects the Press #42 flex hose to the manifold dispensing Blue PP 123. Only a correct connection allows the transfer, which helps prevent lost material, machine downtime and rejected parts.

Can Auto ID take material assignments from a plant scheduling system?

Yes. As an added protection, the conveying control can receive material selection requirements from a master scheduler controller over Ethernet as part of the end user’s networking setup. That lets material assignments come from the plant’s scheduling system rather than relying only on the operator entering the source for each receiver.

How should material manifolds be labeled to reduce hose errors?

With the manifolds enclosed in a cabinet, material names can be clearly marked on the cabinet and machine numbers marked on the hose connections. Clear labeling at the manifold supports the Auto ID check, which only allows material to convey when the operator connects the correct source to the correct destination.

About the Authors

Greg Washburn

Vice President of Operations, Novatec

Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments.

Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. He is a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), reflecting his professional involvement in both plastics processing and mechanical engineering.

Joshua Belisle

Technology Manager, Novatec

Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, with a focus on simulation and advanced engineering tools used to better understand the science of resin drying. Since joining Novatec in 2023, he has applied new simulation capabilities to investigate aspects of the drying process that were previously difficult to measure directly, helping turn complex process behavior into useful engineering insight.

Joshua earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023. He is a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), connecting his work in advanced simulation and engineering analysis with the broader plastics and mechanical engineering communities.

Fred Eichhorn

Engineering Manager – Electrical Controls, Novatec

Fred Eichhorn is Engineering Manager – Electrical Controls at Novatec, where he has held engineering and leadership positions since 1992. His experience spans automation, product development, electrical controls and R&D across Novatec’s resin drying and material handling technologies. Fred has also contributed to technology development at MachineSense and Opteev.

Fred holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has earned professional certifications in PLC and HMI programming, Lean business practices and ISO 9001. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), bringing together expertise in industrial automation and plastics processing.