Industrial scales for production and manufacturing

What a factory weighs, and with what

At goods-in, pallets and big bags arrive: that is a job for a floor scale or a pallet scale. In the process itself, material is dosed, weighed out and counted: a bench scale next to the workstation, a counting scale for screws, connectors and other small parts. At the end of the line a checkweighing scale checks that every pack weighs what the label says, and in dispatch the consignment is weighed once more before the consignment note is printed.

Each of those places needs a different capacity and a different readability. A scale that goes up to 3,000 kg reads in steps of 500 g or 1 kg; if you want to count parts of 2 grams, it is of no use to you. So choose per workstation, not one scale for the whole hall.

Verified, or just calibrated

If you only weigh for your own process, stock or quality control, the scale does not need to be verified. An auditor for ISO 9001, HACCP or BRC will still want to see that it is accurate: a calibration certificate is the proof.

If the weight determines what a customer pays, or you put a weight declaration on a prepackage, the instrument must be verified and carry the green M mark. The same applies to weighing raw materials that are bought and invoiced per kilo. Which scales can be supplied verified is shown on the verified scales page; we explain the difference between the two under verification or calibration.

Rough, wet or dusty

A production hall is not a laboratory. If equipment is hosed down or rinsed, choose a version rated IP65 or higher: IP65 floor scales and stainless steel bench scales are grouped separately. With dust and vibration, look for a sealed indicator and a sturdy platform; where there is a risk of explosion, an ATEX version, which we supply on request. More on this in which IP rating does my scale need and what is an ATEX scale.

A custom weighing system: indicator, load cells and software

If no standard scale fits, we put one together. A weighing indicator with load cells under a silo, a mixing tank, a roller conveyor or your own structure; with software for recipe weighing, statistical control or labelling. The R10 indicator, built by WPL Industries in Geldermalsen, the Netherlands, has its own type approval and can therefore also be used in a verified system. We put the combination together and commission the whole system. How such a system fills and doses is explained in filling and dosing by weight; connecting it to a PLC or ERP in connecting a scale to a PC, PLC or ERP.

Machines and installations

If you build machines yourself, or the weighing has to be built into a line, a silo or a frame, you are not buying a scale but components: load cells, an indicator and the connection to your control system. That is covered separately under weighing technology for machine building and installations.

Maintenance, in your own hall

A floor scale does not come to a workshop. Our engineer brings the weights to you, calibrates and adjusts; for a verified instrument, re-verification is arranged through the manufacturer. We are authorised by KERN, Adam, OHAUS, Baxtran and Gram to repair and recalibrate their instruments. See verification, calibration and repair.