SR Instruments Installs New Platform Scale for Elephants and Rhinos at the Buffalo Zoo

Wireless and App-enabled, High-Tech Customized Scale Features Safe, Walk-on Capabilities for Animals and Ease-of-use for Staff

TONAWANDA, N.Y., Apr. 09, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SR Instruments, a leading manufacturer of customized, purpose-built scales for healthcare, veterinary, zoological, aquarium, theme and water park applications, today announced that it has successfully installed a new, large platform scale for the Buffalo Zoo’s elephant and rhino habitats.

The need to gather weight data on large mammals is important in order to maintain proper animal health. For zookeepers, finding a way to accurately and easily obtain weight information on elephants and rhinos is challenging. For the Buffalo Zoo, much of the equipment they had was outdated, difficult to set-up, and needed frequent maintenance. Turning to the design experts at SR Instruments, a new, modular wireless scale was designed and built to meet the needs of the zookeepers while providing a safe, reliable way to collect weight data of the animals.

The scale’s modular design is comprised of five components that can be quickly assembled by a team of two people. This enables the scale to be transported to various animal habitats for use. Completing the design of the purpose-built scale, a wireless app was developed that controls the scale, making it possible for the zookeeper to remotely tare the scale, obtain the weight, and save weights from a safe distance. The new SR Scales Zoo App has been named as one of the finalists for Best Mobile App in the 2015 InfoTech Niagara BETA Awards.

The Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest institution of its kind in the United States and promotes wildlife conservation through up-close animal encounters, engaging educational experiences, and participation in regional and international programs for endangered species.

"SR Instruments has engineered a variety of precision-manufactured scales that meet very specialized needs here at the Zoo. From sea lions, to tigers, and now for our elephant and rhino habitats, we are better equipped to manage the health of our animals," said Malia Somerville, General Curator at the Buffalo Zoo. "The innovative scales are easy for our staff to use and our animals to access. The wireless app on our new scale is just one example of the innovation that SR Instruments bring to our zoo."

"The Buffalo Zoo’s requirements for a safe, dependable, and easy-to-use scale are representative of the many creative design applications that we provide to our world-wide customers. We value the opportunity to work with the Zoo’s exceptional staff in developing this exciting project," said Mark Schulz, OEM Product Design Engineer at SR Instruments.

Online Resources:

About the Buffalo Zoo (www.buffalozoo.org)
Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the Zoo welcomes more than 450,000 visitors and is the second largest tourist attraction in Western New York, second only to Niagara Falls. Located on 23.5 acres of Buffalo’s beautiful Delaware Park, the Zoo exhibits a diverse collection of wild and exotic animals and more than 320 different species of plants. Open year-round, the Zoo is a constant source of conservation, education and recreation for Western New York

About SR Instruments, Inc. (www.srinstruments.com)
SR Instruments is a manufacturer of purpose-built scales as well as OEM and ODM solutions that address critical weighing and data management requirements across a wide range of specialized commercial applications. The company’s flagship product line, SR Scales, provides highly-accurate weighing devices for applications in healthcare, veterinary, zoological, and waterparks. The company’s innovative design capabilities provide leading-edge solutions for efficiently gathering and managing weight data for end users to make better decisions. The company manages the complete process of customizing scales; from prototyping, development, and manufacturing, to warranty and after sales service. Headquartered in the greater Buffalo, NY region, SR Instruments designs and manufactures SR Scales in the USA.

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Media Contact:

Will Smith
Director, Marketing & Business Development
SR Instruments
wsmith@srinstruments.com

Rachel Gottlieb, Public Relations Coordinator
Buffalo Zoo
rgottlieb@buffalozoo.org