Table of Contents
Introduction
Approved Scales
Scale Form and Configuration
Considering the Type and Quantity of Materials to be Weighed
Quality
Find a Scale
If you are looking for ways to increase the efficiency, accuracy, and productivity of your business; choosing an industrial scale that matches your performance, and use needs is a must. We are fortunate in a time of rapid technology growth to have specialized scales to meet the exact needs appropriate for varied industry uses.
If you begin searching for ‘scales’ you will quickly realize there are commercial scales, and industrial scales; but what exactly is the difference? Size and weight. While commercial scales are perfect for businesses that weigh small amounts of products or packages; industrial scales are designed to handle heavy-duty loads, with the durability needed for typical environments of industry. Both commercial and industrial scales come in various configurations including
Bench Scales,
Shipping Scales,
Counting Scales, and
Floor Scales.
Let’s talk about the various options to explore what would work best for you.
Does your business need
to have an approved scale? Global markets have varied governmental requirements for approved scales, certified by a regulatory body - intended for use in commercial weighing applications. Products that commonly require trade weight approval would include, food and produce, precious metals, and a wide variety of prepackaged products that are sold by a specific weight. An approved scale is an important consideration as an investment, as the approval provides confidence that the device has been manufactured per regulatory standards for compliance and performance consistency with weights and measures.
Although, not-approved scales are certainly useful, with an approved scale, your company has the confidence of your industrial weights and measures accuracy and compliance requirements. The ‘peace of mind’ is worth the investment. An example of a scale built for performance for commercial applications, the
OHAUS VN Series Floor Scale Platforms offers the unique combination of value, quality, and dependability.
The
Bench Scale is desig
ned for use on a workbench or other tabletop, small and compact in size - most often used for weighing, and counting.
Shipping Scales range from styles that manage consistent, accurate weighing of small parcels to floor models designed to handle weighing shipping pallets loaded with products.
Counting Scales are designed for counting multiple numbers of identical objects at the same time, providing weight, and counting accuracy, while reducing the human error factor.
Floor Model Scales are the workhorses of nearly every industry with a range of features - readability, weight capacity, and connectivity.
After deciding on the scale form, you must also consider the environment and placement, such as, do you require a scale that is movable, or a fixed installation? Regardless of whether the scale is installed or used as a portable scale, the operational feature of battery-power provides for scale function regardless of commonly experienced power fluctuations within an industrial setting. When choosing an industrial scale, make sure your choice's features match the environmental conditions.
When considering a scale, you must identify the intended use including, the types of materials that will be weighed, the size of each weight load, and the variances in load sizes that will be weighed. For example, the
OHAUS Defender Drum Scale has a capacity range of 500 to 2,500 pounds, while the shipping scales range from 20 to 440 pounds. Again, we remind you that it is best to choose a scale to match your range of weighing needs, including the container and pallet.
A load cell is a force transducer that converts force into an electrical signal that can be measured and standardized. High quality scales have protected load cells, which is a sign of a quality designed scale, exemplified by products like the
OHAUS Defender 5000 Base.
When choosing a scale, consider the weight of your materials - the size of the whole container, and confidence in the manufacturer’s reputation for accuracy. For overload protection, look for a scale with a weight capacity that is twice the anticipated need to accommodate the varied load, and container weights and sizes, while also allowing for a wide weighing range for optimal use flexibility. There are a variety of product qualities and providers within all industries, thus, choosing a commercial or industrial scale to be used for a task that requires precision, and accuracy should be acquired from a supplier with a trusted reputation such as OHAUS, an industry leader, for 100+ years.
Interested in getting a quote for one of the OHAUS products mentioned in this article? Click the links below:
OHAUS VN Series Floor Scale Platforms
OHAUS Defender Drum Scale
OHAUS Defender 5000 Base