Scale service: calibration, repair and maintenance

Scale service is everything that comes after the purchase: inspection and maintenance, fixing faults, calibration with a certificate, and arranging re-verification of a verified instrument. We do this for KERN, Adam, OHAUS, Baxtran and Gram, on every type of weighing equipment we supply - at your site or in our workshop, across the Netherlands.

What we are authorised to do, and by whom

Adam Equipment, Giropes (Baxtran), Gram Precision and OHAUS Corporation have authorised WPL Industries to repair their weighing instruments and recalibrate them, using original parts and working to the manufacturer's own type approvals and test certificates. For KERN & SOHN we work in the same way under the manufacturer's authorisation.

That is not a trade agreement but an authorisation, and it is recorded brand by brand. Of the scales we sell, 88 series are covered by a manufacturer's certificate we are authorised to use.

Scale service for businesses

A scale that weighs half a percent too heavy goes unnoticed by everyone. It simply gives away a little too much product every day, or rejects batches that were fine. A scale that stops working does get noticed: the line stops, or the counter does.

That is where service earns its keep. A breakdown costs a day's work; overdue maintenance costs a measurement error you only discover through a complaint or an inspection; an expired calibration costs you a non-conformity in the audit; and a verified instrument with a broken seal may not be used for trade until it has been re-verified. We are the company you call for all of this - including for weighing equipment you did not buy from us.

Maintenance, repair, calibration and verification: what is what

Maintenance is preventive: cleaning, inspecting, staying ahead of wear and checking that the instrument still weighs within its tolerance.

Repair is fixing a fault or a defect - a load cell that has been overloaded, a power supply that gives up, a display that fails, a cable that has been run over.

Calibration is measuring how far a scale deviates and recording that in a certificate. It is not a legal requirement, but it is demanded by quality systems such as ISO 9001, HACCP and GMP.

Verification is a legal inspection. If you weigh for trade - the weight a price is based on, in a butcher's shop, a wholesaler, a recycling business, a pharmacy - the instrument must be approved and carry the green M mark. That is not a choice; it is required by law.

A calibrated scale therefore cannot simply be used for trade, and a verified scale does not automatically come with a calibration certificate. We supply scales verified from the factory - the initial verification is carried out by the manufacturer - and we tell you which of the two you need. The difference is explained in more detail in the knowledge base under verification or calibration.

Scale maintenance

Maintenance is the service that prevents the other three. A scale gradually weighs less accurately, and you will not see that on the display: dust and product residue under the platform, a foot that has sunk, a cable that has been run over, a load cell that was overloaded once, a seal that has hardened. The result is a measurement error that does not look like a fault.

With us, a maintenance visit means: cleaning, levelling and inspecting the construction, checking the load cell, cabling and connections, going through the settings, and measuring with test weights what the instrument does across its whole range. Anything worn or damaged is replaced with original parts; if it deviates, we adjust it and record the measurement.

How often that is needed varies per instrument: the type of scale, how intensively you use it, where it stands - wet, dusty, cold, subject to vibration - and what a measurement error would cost you. We help you set that interval and keep track of when the next service is due. If you would like it done periodically, let us know when you make your request.

More on this under scale maintenance.

Scale repair

When there is a fault, we first find out what is going on: load cell, power supply, circuit board, display, cabling, keypad, or a mechanical problem in the construction. We tell you what we find in advance, with the price, so you can choose. With a load cell or a power supply, repair is usually worthwhile; with an ageing instrument for which no parts exist any more it is not, and we will tell you so.

We repair with original parts from the manufacturer. That is not a detail: with a different part the type approval lapses, and a verified instrument can then no longer be re-verified. If the weighing technology has been worked on, re-verification is arranged through the manufacturer. After every repair we check with test weights that the instrument weighs within its tolerance again.

What can be done on site depends on the instrument and the fault. An indicator or a power supply can often be replaced on the spot; delicate work on an analytical balance we prefer to do in the workshop, where the conditions are controlled. More on this under scale repair.

Scale calibration

Calibration is measuring how far your scale deviates and recording it. You receive a calibration certificate with the measured values, the weights used and their traceability, the conditions under which the measurement was made, and the date. That is the document you use to show an ISO 9001, HACCP or GMP auditor that your weighing equipment does what it should.

If the instrument deviates too much, we adjust it and measure again; both values appear on the certificate. For a verified instrument, re-verification is then arranged through the manufacturer. Calibration can be done at your site or in our workshop.

For 498 versions in our catalogue a calibration certificate can be supplied with the scale; it then arrives calibrated and your records start on the day of delivery. More on this under scale calibration with certificate, and in the knowledge base under what a calibration certificate contains.

Verified scales and re-verification

If your weighing equipment needs to be legal for trade, we supply it verified from the factory: the initial verification is carried out by the manufacturer. Re-verification is any inspection after the first: after the weighing technology has been worked on, after a seal has been broken, or when a check shows the instrument is outside its tolerance.

Keeping the instrument within its tolerances at all times is the responsibility of the user. What that means in practice is explained in the knowledge base under legal-for-trade rules and your scale.

Re-verification is arranged through the manufacturer. The manufacturers' authorisations cover 101 model ranges; 88 of them are in our own catalogue, with 355 versions that can be supplied verified. An older model we no longer sell is often covered too - give us the make and type and we will look it up. More on this under scale re-verification.

Scale service on site, or in our workshop

A floor scale or a weighbridge does not come to the workshop; the engineer comes to you, with the weights needed. A bench scale or a laboratory balance is often quicker and cheaper to bring here. We decide together with you what makes sense.

On-site service has an advantage that goes beyond convenience: the instrument is checked where it stands, with the floor, the vibrations, the draught and the temperature it has there. Those are exactly the things that make a scale deviate. Maintenance, calibration and a large share of repairs can be done at your site; what is possible in your case depends on the type of equipment, the fault, and the tools and weights that need to come along.

If there are several scales at one location, we do them in one visit. That saves travel and saves you a second appointment.

Weighbridges and silo weighing are covered separately under weighbridge verification and calibration.

Nationwide scale service

Our customers are spread across the country and our engineers go there too. We work nationwide: whether you are in Groningen or in Zeeland, a visit depends not on where you are but on what needs doing. We have our own transport for the heavy test weights.

That does not mean everything happens on site. If you are far away and the instrument can travel, sending it in or having it collected is often quicker and cheaper than waiting for a round to pass by; if it is fixed in the floor, we come to you. Which of the two it will be in your case, we tell you when you make your request.

Service for different brands of scales

We service the brands we supply and for which the manufacturer has authorised us: KERN & SOHN, Adam Equipment, OHAUS, Baxtran (Giropes) and Gram Precision, plus the WPL indicators built by WPL Industries in Geldermalsen, the Netherlands. Where you bought the instrument makes no difference.

A scale of another brand we can usually still calibrate - measuring and recording works on any instrument - and often repair too, depending on the parts. Re-verification then cannot be arranged through us: that requires the type approval of that manufacturer, and we work with the five brands above. Give us the make and type and we will tell you in advance what can and cannot be done. See also the brands we supply.

When does my scale need service?

You can tell from these signs yourself:

• the same weight gives a different result twice;
• the scale no longer returns to zero, or drifts while nothing is on it;
• the display shows an error message, dashes or an unsteady number;
• the instrument responds slowly or jumps in steps;
• the platform wobbles, is not level or is damaged;
• a cable, plug or connection is broken or loose;
• your own check weight shows a deviation larger than you have set as your limit.

And these are the moments to call us in advance: the calibration is due under your quality system, the instrument has been moved or relocated, it has been dropped or overloaded, or the weighing technology has been worked on and a seal broken - then re-verification is required before you may use it for trade again.

Just unsure whether it is still accurate? Put a check weight on it and note what it reads. That is the cheapest check there is, and with that log you can later also show that the instrument was in order between two calibrations.

How often does a scale need maintenance?

There is no interval that applies to all scales. For calibration, your own quality system sets the rhythm: ISO 9001, HACCP, GMP, BRC and IFS require a defined interval, and the auditor judges whether it is reasonable. Once a year is the usual starting point, and maintenance generally goes along with that visit - the same appointment, the same engineer.

After that you adjust the interval to what you measure and where the instrument stands. Heavy use, vibration, temperature changes, moisture and dust make a scale drift faster, and a critical weighing - a dosage, a recipe, a batch that is rejected on the result - calls for more frequent checks. If the deviation stayed well within the limit twice in a row, the interval can be extended. The full considerations are in the knowledge base: how often should a scale be calibrated?

What does scale service cost?

That depends on what needs to be done and on the instrument. The weighing range determines how much test weight is needed and how it gets to the site; make and type determine which parts are involved; and a calibration is something different from a repair with a new load cell. Where the scale stands counts too, and whether it is one or five.

That is why there is no rate here: a figure that does not fit your situation does not help you. What we do is give you a price in advance, so no extra bill follows afterwards. For a repair we also tell you whether it is worth it.

Your certificates online: the Masslab customer portal

We calibrate weights under our own laboratory name Masslab, and Masslab has a customer portal. There you can view your calibration certificates and reports online - with the measurement results, the measurement uncertainty and the status - and download them as PDFs. You will also find an overview of your calibration and test weights with class, serial number, calibration date and the date of the next calibration, and you can schedule a collection appointment yourself on a date that suits you.

You receive login details after the first calibration. If you no longer have them, or would like an account, just ask.

Go to the Masslab customer portal

Request scale service

Call +31 345 786 553, email sales@weegexperts.nl, use the form at the bottom of this page or the contact form. If you are not sure what you need, we will work it out in a few minutes, free of charge.

Useful to have to hand:

• make and type - a photo of the type plate is enough;
• the serial number;
• the weighing range and the readability;
• whether the instrument is verified: does it carry the green M mark?;
• what you notice, or what you need: maintenance, repair, calibration with certificate or re-verification;
• where the instrument stands, and whether it can be moved.

We will then tell you what can be done, what it costs and how long it takes.

Frequently asked questions

Can every scale be repaired?

No, and we tell you so in advance. Whether a repair is possible depends on the brand, the type, the fault and whether original parts still exist for it. A load cell, a power supply, a display or a cable can usually be replaced; with an ageing instrument for which the manufacturer no longer supplies parts, it stops there. We first look at what is going on and give you the price before we start, so you can choose between repair and replacement.

What is the difference between verification and calibration?

Verification is a legal inspection: the instrument is approved and receives the green M mark, and that is required if you weigh for trade, where the weight determines the price. Calibration is measuring how far a scale deviates and recording that in a certificate; it is not a legal requirement, but it is asked for by quality systems such as ISO 9001, HACCP and GMP. A calibrated scale therefore cannot simply be used for trade, and a verified scale does not automatically come with a calibration certificate.

Does my scale need to be verified?

If the weight determines what a customer pays or what must be legally accounted for, then yes. Think of selling by weight, waste processing, pharmacy compounding and weighing prepacked products. If you only weigh internally, for your own production or stock, verification is not required and calibration is usually enough.

When does a scale need to be verified or re-verified?

Verified: before you use it for trade. Re-verified: after the weighing technology has been worked on, after a seal has been broken, and as soon as a check shows the instrument is outside its tolerance. You are responsible for making sure the instrument is within its tolerances at all times. A periodic check with a certificate is the usual way to demonstrate that.

Does a scale need to be re-verified after a repair?

If the weighing technology has been worked on, a verified instrument must be re-verified before it may be used for trade again. Re-verification is arranged through the manufacturer; we tell you in advance what that involves for your instrument.

Can my scale be serviced on site?

Usually, yes. We carry out maintenance, calibration and a large share of repairs at your site; the engineer brings the test weights that match your weighing range. For a floor scale or a weighbridge there is no other way. For delicate work on, for example, an analytical balance our workshop is often better, because the conditions there are controlled. We decide together with you what makes sense in your case.

Do you also come to my area?

Yes. We work nationwide and visit customers on site across the Netherlands, with the weights and tools the instrument needs. If the instrument can travel, we collect it or you send it to our workshop.

How often does a scale need maintenance?

There is no frequency that applies to all scales. The law does not prescribe one; your quality system usually does, and once a year is the usual starting point. After that you adjust the interval to the type of instrument, how intensively you use it, the environment (moisture, dust, vibration, temperature changes) and what a measurement error would cost you. With heavy use or critical weighings, more often is wise.

How do I know whether my scale measures accurately?

Put a check weight on it whose value and class you know, and note what the scale reads - daily, weekly or monthly, depending on how critical the weighing is. Also try it not in the centre but at the edge of the platform. If it deviates more than you have set as your limit, or the same weight gives a different result twice, it is time for a calibration. Knowing for certain what the scale does across its whole range is only possible with a calibration: we measure it and you get it on paper.

Do you also service scales of other brands?

Calibration is possible on virtually any instrument, whatever the brand, and repair often too - that depends on the parts. Re-verification after a repair can only be arranged for the brands whose manufacturers have authorised us: KERN, Adam, OHAUS, Baxtran and Gram. Give us the make and type and we will tell you in advance what can and cannot be done.

Can I have a scale re-verified that I did not buy from you?

Yes, as long as it is a make and model covered by the manufacturers that have authorised us: KERN, Adam, OHAUS, Baxtran and Gram. Re-verification is arranged through the manufacturer. This also applies to models we no longer sell ourselves - the authorisations cover more ranges than our product range includes. Give us the type and we will look it up.

Can I have just a calibration carried out?

Yes. A calibration with certificate is a separate job; you do not need to order maintenance or a repair with it. If the calibration shows that the instrument deviates too much, we adjust it and measure again - both values appear on the certificate. If there is more going on, we report that first, with a price; you decide.

What does scale service cost?

That depends on the weighing range, the make and type, where the instrument stands and what needs to be done: a calibration is something different from a repair with a new load cell. That is why we do not quote a rate here. Ask for a price; you get it in advance, so no extra bill follows afterwards. If there are several scales at the same location, we do them in the same visit, which saves per instrument.

Can I view my calibration report online?

We calibrate weights under our laboratory name Masslab, and Masslab customers can view their certificates and reports in the customer portal and download them as PDFs, including the measurement results, the measurement uncertainty and the status. The portal is at masslab.nl/klantportaal; you receive login details after the first calibration.

Can I schedule an appointment through the Masslab customer portal?

Yes. In the customer portal you schedule a collection appointment for your calibration and test weights yourself, on a date and time that suit you, and you can see for each weight when the next calibration is due. For on-site service on a scale, you make the appointment with us: call +31 345 786 553 or email sales@weegexperts.nl.

How do I request scale service?

Call +31 345 786 553, email sales@weegexperts.nl or use the form on this page. Tell us: make and type (a photo of the type plate is enough), the serial number, the weighing range, whether it carries the green M mark, what you notice or need, and where the instrument stands. We will then tell you what can be done, what it costs and how long it takes.