Kevin is the VP at Central Carolina Scale and has been providing customers proper weighing equipment for their applications for over twenty years. He often writes about scales and weighing equipment solutions. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlamberth/
Today, we’re going to talk about the advantages of buying a pallet scale with a ramp vs. installing a pallet scale into your concrete floor.
Maybe you would like a more portable floor scale that sits above ground with a ramp beside it. Or perhaps you would rather just have an in ground style floor scale and not have to deal with ramps.
We’re going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types of industrial scales, while helping you make a more informed buying decision.
A floor scale is a type of scale that can be used directly on the warehouse floor. A typical floor scale usually has a 4 inch height and the vast majority of platform scales are usually 4×4 or 5×5 dimensions. Great for weighing most pallets and in many situations, your scale company can ship your floor scales direct to you, either from the scale company or the scale manufacturer.
When buying a 5000lb floor scale these days, most folks tend to choose an above ground scale. If they plan on rolling a pallet jack onto the warehouse scale, they typically buy a ramp for this scale. This is generally the most cost effective weighing solution.
Basically, besides cost, there are two main reasons why you would choose one version of a industrial floor scale over the other. The #1 reason is the amount of space, the floor scale and any ramps would occupy and the #2 reason is the ease of loading products onto the scale.
Pit Type Floor Scale Advantages & Disadvantages
Several years ago, placing a floor scale into a pit was fairly common. This was mainly due to a couple of factors. Floor scales had taller profile heights and construction costs. So, putting it in a pit was less expensive. While today’s floor scales have a lower profile design, which usually eliminates the need for a pit. There are a few applications where a pit scale still makes sense.
For example, a company that needs a 4×4 floor scale with ramps on both sides, A typical ramp is 48 inches in length on each side. This type of floor scale setup will take up to 12 ft in length. That’s a lot of space that your scale and ramps would occupy. When the scale footprint needs to be smaller, putting scales into a pit might be the right decision when placing this scale into a pit. The ramps are not needed. This eliminates 4ft of ramping on each side of the scale.
Another reason for placing a floor scale into a pit is the ease of getting the product onto the scale. Because the scale is set in a pit, the transition from the floor surface to the scale is seamless. Imagine having to push a loaded pallet jack onto an above ground scale several times per day. Having a pit type scale makes this process much easier vs one with ramps.
Floor Scale with Ramp Advantages & Disadvantages
Today’s floor scales are built to have a low profile height, usually around 4 inches. When space isn’t an issue, having a floor scale with ramps may make sense. Having a longer ramp makes loading products with a pallet jack much easier.
Another reason many people choose to use an above ground pallet scale with ramp is that this setup is fairly portable. It can be moved to different parts of a warehouse or factory if needed. In our example, we’ve been mentioning ramps. However, ramps aren’t required with an above ground floor scale. You can also drive your forklift to the scale and set pallets on the scale. So, standard pallet weighing while loading and unloading the scale with a forklift is the most portable and cost effective solution.
IMPORTANT POINT REGARDING SCALE REPLACEMENT
Another variable to consider, is the potential to outgrow the size of your in-ground floor scale. An above ground floor scale can be easily replaced — without needing to backfill a 4×4 or 5×5 hole in your concrete floor!
Hopefully this information helps you make the correct decision when deciding where to put your next floor scale. Be sure to contact our sales team for buying advice and product recommendations.
We’re going to try & help you understand all the truck scale terminology that you need to know. Especially if you’re new to truck scales.
So let’s say your business has decided to purchase a truck scale in order to determine accurate and reliable vehicle weight for your application. That’s great! Understanding fundamental truck scale basics and how a truck scale works will help you know which questions to ask your local scale distributor to ensure you purchase the truck scale style that fits your needs with the options and accessories that can enhance your application.
Whether monitoring a vehicle’s weight for safety guidelines or to complete business transactions, you should know what the info determined by a truck scale means to your business.
For example:
Gross weight is the total weight of the vehicle and loaded product. Tare weight is the weight of only the vehicle. Net weight is the weight of only the loaded product.
Today, most scales at solid waste facilities or recycling centers are installed with above ground or concrete pit foundations. Depending on state or regional requirements, scales can also be installed in a shallow pit, as opposed to the deep pit required by older mechanical scales. A pit installation requires less space than an above ground scale since longer approaches are generally required for above ground configurations. However, pit-styles require sump pumps and drains, and are generally more vulnerable to corrosion due to potential standing water.
The truck scale’s driving surface is called the weighbridge. Weighbridges are composed of steel or concrete decks, and are typically manufactured in modular designs that are connected together during installation.
The indicator, also called a controller, or terminal, can display basic weight functions, as well as serve as the command center for a weighing system with truck in & out programs to control the entire truck scale system, including any remote displays and ticket printers.
Load cells are vital to truck scale performance. There are various types of load cells, but they all basically have the same function—to accurately measure weight on the scale. How do load cells work, you may be asking? All load cells take an analog measurement, and then that signal is converted to a digital output either at the load cell, junction box, or in the scale indicator. Load cells are typically constructed of steel and are integrated within the weighbridge, usually at the corners of each module.
A junction box properly manages multiple load cells. By matching the signal of each load cell and summing them into a signal that’s sent to the indicator, junction boxes equalize the system for accurate and reliable weight readouts.
We’re going to wrap up our entry on truck scale basics and terminology. I hope we made all this truck scale jargon a little easier to understand for those of you in the market for a truck scale. If you need some truck scale buying advice or scale recommendations, we are just a phone call or email away.
A lot of customers are curious about this question… how long should a truck scale last? Or perhaps it’s phrased like this… how do I know when my truck scale needs to be replaced?
The vast majority of truck scales are located outside. This means the scales have the hot sun blazing down on them all summer (every year). Then, they have the piles of snow on them in the winter (every year). In between all the hot and cold extremes, they have all the rain that you typically see fairly often.
So, with all the weather conditions, that means a truck scale must be able to withstand all the environmental challenges while working reliably and accurately…. For years and years! And, be able to handle 80,000 lb vehicles everyday!
So, how long can I expect my truck scale to last?
That’s a really good question and it’s a question that has a variety of answers.
Depending on the environment and application, most truck scale owners can typically expect a truck scale to last anywhere from 15-30 years.
If your location consistently has over 250 trucks a day going over the scale (or you project it will eventually have that kind of truck traffic) then you will need to choose a truck scale built for that kind of traffic. Choosing an “economy” or standard duty truck scale in that situation may be cost effective now… but will most likely lead you to have a shorter truck scale life and force you into looking for scale replacements or weighbridge repairs sooner than you would prefer.
Sometimes spending an extra few thousand dollars up front will allow you to purchase a heavier duty “HD” scale that will last you significantly longer than the “SD” model. What’s an extra few thousand dollars when you average it out over twenty-five or thirty years of use? Especially if the extra cost helps you gain an extra five or ten years of scale use?
Can I Repair My Truck Scale Instead of Buying a New One?
This is a good question and a common question that a lot of people ask when they have an old truck scale. In most cases, the answer is yes. Depending on the age of the truck scale and severity of the issues, repairing a truck scale can certainly work and be a cost savings.
However, once a truck scale has been in service for over 20 years or so… repairs may not be the best choice. Often you will hear people refer to the scale repairs as “band-aids”. We understand what they’re referring to, but the truth is that truck scale repairs on a 20+ year old scale weighbridge are just that, repairs…
A “band-aid” is supposed to heal your wound and help you get back to 100%. A “band-aid” on a 30 year old truck scale is not going to “heal” the scale. It is simply designed to get a few more years out of the scale before the scale will need to be replaced.
Unfortunately, truck scales that have been repaired often don’t last as long as you would like. One of the reasons is simply the age of the steel and the components. Often the areas that were repaired may be ok after the repair, but then the other areas that were doing ok before the repair, are now starting to fail.
When you think of a truck scale overhaul, the Truck Scale components can usually be replaced… things like load cells, junction boxes, summing boards, etc…, but the core weighbridge construction and integrity are sometimes challenging to rebuild in a cost effective & timely manner…. especially in a scale that’s 25 or 30 years old… or older.
It’s also important to look at the actual repair costs. Sure it can be overwhelming when you see a $80,000 quote for a new truck scale. However, if you attempt to repair and put “band-aids” on a 25 year old truck scale, how much money is that going to cost? Between materials and labor, we’ve seen these repair costs rise above $3000. Plus there is down time where the scale can’t be used.
And even after the scale is repaired, there really is no guarantee or warranty that the scale is going to last X number of additional years. So, in this example, you could spend several thousand dollars on scale repairs that may get you a few more years of service…. or, that $3000 could be used to help pay for a new truck scale.
Planning for Buying a Replacement Truck Scale on Your Terms
Here is one other scenario that we would like you to think about. Let’s say you have a 25 year old truck scale. It has some weighbridge issues and probably should be replaced. But, you and the scale company talk and decide that some weighbridge repairs could likely be made that might give the scale a little more life. Keep in mind at the same time this talk is taking place, new truck scales are readily available with a short 1 to 2 week lead time for fast delivery.
Well, the truck scale repairs take place and it turns out that you did in fact get an extra year of use out of the scale. Unfortunately, the scale now has more weighbridge issues and repairs will likely not make much sense at this point. And, as often happens, the scale failure has just happened right in the middle of your busiest time of the year! And, now it looks like the lead time on truck scales is closer to 14 weeks and there is a 8% steel surcharge now in place.
This scenario that we just mentioned above is all to real and can very well take place. Sometimes if your scale has lasted for two or three decades, it can be a smart move on your part to setup the replacement purchase on your watch (before the scale actually “breaks”). Maybe you talk with your scale company and decide the next time there is an incentive offered, you’re ready to purchase. This can be a wise decision because we all know that no one wants to be in a situation with a broken scale that must be replaced and then be facing extended downtime and a 14 week lead time before your scale can ship.
There are a variety of options in the truck scale market today and, to the casual observer, initial acquisition price may be the only differentiator. However, manufacturers promising great bargains are able to do so only because they’ve cut corners at some stage of the process—design, materials, components, finish or all of the above. While the price may seem attractive now, the eventual failure of a lower quality truck scale could mean a higher total cost of ownership from extensive downtime, increased maintenance costs, lost revenue and premature replacement.
One other note to mention on the subject of money would be taxes and leasing. This article is not going to be in depth on either of those subjects but if you purchase a new truck scale there can be tax advantages (see IRS section 179). We also have leasing programs which can make it easier to afford a larger purchase like a truck scale.
One other thing we wanted to mention on this subject is the overall trend for truck scale pricing. Generally speaking, the price for new truck scales is not going to get any less expensive in 2021 and beyond. In fact, at the time of this article in early 2021, we have received word from at least (3) truck scale manufacturers that there will likely be surcharges very shortly due to steel prices. (So if you’re in the market for a new scale, it might be time to act now!)
2023 UPDATE: Throughout 2022 and 2023 we have seen multiple price increases and lead times from certain truck scale manufacturers that were in excess of 40 weeks!
Believe it or not, the goal of this article is not to be completely gloom & doom about repairing a truck scale weighbridge. There are certainly situations where a truck scale overhaul makes sense. Most of the time, it makes more sense to upgrade components and less sense to try and do major weighbridge structural repair.
However, if you’re in the market for refurbishing a truck scale or purchasing a new truck scale… we encourage you to look at the entire picture and get a true understanding of the costs involved and the expected lifespan with each scenario. The fact is that many truck scale manufacturers are getting really good at building their truck scales to fit existing foundations. This can help to lower costs and lessen the down time when you’ll be without a scale.
Truck scales are important to the daily operations of the facilities that use them. That means that selecting a truck scale is an important decision. Whatever scale you choose (or have chosen), will likely be your scale of choice for possibly two or three decades! Often, a little extra thought or cost up front, can pay off down the road with a durable truck scale that can provide decades of service with proper scale maintenance.
If you have questions or would like to obtain a truck scale quote, please complete our RFQ form on our website or you can call our heavy capacity scales team at (919) 776-7737.
Believe it or not, the warmer months will be here before long and we’ll all be looking to cool down at the local froyo shop. Today, many of these frozen yogurt shops allow the consumer to dispense as much frozen yogurt he or she wants.
The yogurt is priced at around fifty cents per ounce, so if you want many different flavors or a cup that is filled sky high, you can. However, the real question is are you paying for just the yogurt and toppings that you consume or are you also paying for the cup that the yogurt is placed in?
Many yogurt shops determine price based on the weight of the yogurt and toppings, but they are required to subtract the weight of the cup or package first (which is called the tare weight). According to Jerry Butler, NCDA & CS Weight and Measures program manager, not every shop is aware of that. Butler heads a team of 24 inspectors whose job is to inspect scales in the state, and he guesses that they’ve inspected around a hundred or so yogurt shops so far. Of those, he estimates about 75 percent have not been using their scales properly. “Say you’re a family of four,” Butler says, “you could be paying up to a dollar extra just for the weight of the cups. So it’s important that the shops know how to use their scales.”
Now that the NCDA & CS inspectors have discovered that yogurt shops use scales, they’re keeping an eye out for them as they drive to other jobs. If they see a frozen yogurt shop while they’re out, they’ll step inside to inspect it. Most shops that have been violating are quick to correct their mistakes, which were usually made in ignorance, Butler says. A second offense would result in a notice of violation, and a third offender must pay a penalty of up to $5,000. So what can frozen yogurt eaters do to make sure they’re getting the most yogurt for their buck? “The bottom line is: the consumer needs to look and ask,” Butler says. “Make sure that the yogurt shop employee uses the tare. And if they’re not, the consumer needs to call me.”
Fortunately for frozen yogurt shop owners, we have electronic scales available that make this process fairly easy to accommodate. Contact the sales staff today (919) 776-7737 and they will be happy to provide you with prices for the legal for trade scales that will work best to accommodate weighing frozen yogurt by the ounce, and using the tare feature to subtract out the weight of the cup.
We offer over 40,000 products (and counting) — the largest selection of quality weighing products available—and the best customer service in the business. Contact us today for all of your scale needs.
Over the years the idea of solar power and scales has been brought up before and in fact there are currently a few products in the marketplace that accommodate that type of technology. Well, you can add Intercomp Company into the same sentence now as well with their latest product innovation.
Intercomp, the manufacturer of portable wheel load scales that we know you’ve heard of such as the popular PT300, recently announced an exciting solar panel update to their most popular wheel load scale models. A solar charger built into the scale indicator allows the scales to operate continuously without requiring direct power charging. This solar boost makes Intercomp scales even more versatile, and virtually eliminates the need to recharge batteries in-between uses. This is a major upgrade since battery life is one of the most important considerations for customers of these products. Being able to operate your portable wheel weighers without having to manually recharge batteries makes weighing that much easier and reliable.
By building solar chargers into the Intercomp weight indicators, it offers you exceptional battery life and eliminates the need to manage charging and replacement of batteries; which not only benefits customers, but the environment as well. Now, the question you’re probably asking is, which Intercomp scales does this include? Well, at the time of this write-up the time saving, solar charging technology will be standard on all PT300™,PT300DW™, LP600 and LP600-15T™ Wheel Load Scales moving forward. Therefore, charging cables will no longer be included, but are still available to be ordered as options if you desire.
At Central Carolina Scale, we’re proud to offer our customers the quality and performance of Intercomp scales and to be an authorized Intercomp distributor. For more information or to obtain a price quote on Intercomp scales, please contact our sales department by phone (919) 776-7737 or complete our sales request for quote form on our website.
This is a pretty cool scale system. We are often asked about using a tablet computer to see scale weights but often it’s really not too practical for industrial situations. However, for racing scales it can actually be a great choice. Longacre Racing has developed an exciting new system that includes four scale pads and an android tablet which displays the scale weight info along with quite a bit of additional customized weight information. Take a look below.
Computerscales on a Tablet
This is the future of chassis setups. This tablet has many times the capacity of any dedicated scale control box. This scale was designed from the ground up as a tablet based system, not an add-on to an existing model. The wireless signal goes directly from the pads to the tablet without any bulky re-transmitter boxes needed. In the future we will have many more ‘apps’ for various setup functions.
Tablet Included
The tablet included is an Android™ based model and can support other ‘apps’. Computerscales XLi app is pre-installed and the entire system is ready to use. (Tablet brand / model may vary.)
DUAL Load Cell CNC Machined Pads (Single Cell Pads Also Available)
Dual cells give you a much more rigid platform than any single cell pads can. The lower deflection significantly improves accuracy and consistency, particularly for critical cross weight. These pads are fully CNC machined to a dead flat finish – within just .005″
Some of the features I like include the fact that all your partial weights & %’s can be seen. Scroll thru the options with your fingertip. The Tablet shows Memory weights and current weights AT THE SAME TIME so you can easily compare (50 memory storage). The Tabet features a customizable display – Easily tap your preferences in the order you want them displayed. You can even add a blank line if you want to separate %s. Select as many or few as you want. Up to 5 will be shown on the main display but you can access the others scrolling the list up or down. You can also change partial weight % resolution and weight units. Pad battery status shown on display for each corner. There’s even a Bright Sunlight screen mode for easier viewing outdoors. Contact Central Carolina Scale today at 919-776-7737 to place your order.
What would it be like to be in total control? Imagine saving at least 2.1% of your yearly ingredient costs. What would that be worth to you? Picture having an extra supervisor watching over your employees’ shoulders monitoring and controlling the formulation process. What effect would that have on your product consistency and production efficiency? Well actually the Doran FC6300 Formula Control System puts you in total control and can pay for itself in four months or less!
Field-Proven Ingredient Savings
In today’s competitive marketplace, reducing production costs is a sure path to greater profits. Doran’s Formula Control has been guiding production plants along that path with ingredient savings of at least 2.1%—even more. Combine lower ingredient costs with the elimination of the money wasted on bad batches, and you can understand why successful companies are investing in the FC6300 Formula Control System.
Take a look at the savings one company experienced with the FC6300. This plant realized that improving the performance of their formula scaling could lead to a significant impact on profitability. Additionally they were averaging one bad batch a week due to errors that were traced back to the scaling process. They turned to Doran Scales to reduce costs from wasted ingredients and bad batches—the solution was the FC6300 Formula Control System. Return on investment due to ingredient cost savings was achieved in just four months, and the net one-year effect on profit margin was $27,068.71. It’s no wonder that plant managers at this company’s other location suddenly became interested in the FC6300 Formula Control System.
Consistent Batches—Guaranteed!
Reduction of ingredient costs is easy to see, but the costs associated with bad batches are often overlooked. Like a dripping faucet, those bad batches can gradually drain your plant’s profits. Production downtime to clean production lines and discard the bad batch, along with cost of wasted ingredients, can add up. Our field studies show that bad batches cost a company $837 per incident. With guaranteed consistent batches, your plant will run more efficiently, adding to your profitably.
Because the system prompts the user through the formula, the correct ingredients are accurately scaled every time. Each ingredient of the formula is weighed within a tolerance that you define. The color-coded Accu-Track display on the bright LCD screen ensures that added ingredients are within those tolerances. Each step of the formula is clearly labeled with batch ID, batch name, the step number, ingredient name, target weight, and actual weight. Accurate scaling can be achieved with or without experienced production employees.
Ensures Employee Accountability
Formula Loader is a standard component of the FC6300 Formula Control system. This Windows™-compatible software is used to configure formulas as well as to provide production reports. Standard Formula Loader reports can be used to evaluate scale operator efficiency and ingredient usage. Using scale operator ID’s, the FC6300 tracks when a user logs in and out of the scale. Management can easily determine how long the scale operators are taking to prepare each formula and how accurately it was done. It’s like having the plant manager watching over your employees’ shoulders 24/7.
For more information on this exciting product from Doran, please fill out our request form on the website with your particular requirements and specifications.
Recently, I was informed of a situation that involved a digital infant scale and a “test weight” also known as a 5 pound consumer barbell weight. Apparently, the barbell weight was used to check the digital scale and it was thought that the scale had not been calibrated correctly due to a scale readout of 5.2 lbs.
Actually, consumer barbell weights like those used in the above scenario are manufactured to tolerances between +/-1% and +/-7%, a significant range of tolerance as compared to NIST certified test weights. Using a consumer barbell weight with a wider manufacturing accepted tolerance than the scale may result in a scale display reading that seems inaccurate. A +/-5% tolerance on a 5 pound consumer barbell weight means the weight can weigh from 4.75 lb to 5.25 lb and still be sold as a 5 pound weight. Compare that to a 5 pound NIST Class F weight which is manufactured and adjusted to within +/-230 mg tolerance. In the example above, the user contesting the calibration accuracy of the digital scale checked their consumer barbell weight again, this time on a certified Legal for Trade scale and found that it weighed 5.2 pounds, meaning the digital scale was correct.
Cardinal Scale’s S2WIFI connects to IEEE 802.11b/g wireless local area networks (wireless LAN) and allows you to wirelessly send data from weight indicators to existing networks, remote displays, printers, laptops, PCs, tablets, and smart phones. The robust S2WIFI allows you to utilize Cardinal’s extensive library of mobile apps for smart phones and tablets, such as Pathway and RemoteWeigh. The S2WIFI converts serial to a Wi-Fi signal and supplies wireless Ethernet for any Cardinal Scale indicator. It may be added to an existing network or you can create a stand-alone network.
•Cardinal quality and technical support
•Watertight, weatherproof enclosure
•Easy Web browser configuration
•Supplies wireless Ethernet for any indicator
•Compact, fully-enclosed module
•Network configuration recall
•Appears as a wireless access point
•Polycarbonate box with clear-smoke cover
•No external power needed
•Easily connects to an existing network
The S2WIFI cable’s serial connector easily plugs into the main board on Cardinal model 205, 210, and 225 indicators and SB250/SB500 remote displays. For the 825 and 201 indicators, you will need to remove the connector and connect the red and black wires (for power) directly into the main board. Four communication status LEDs allow you to quickly identify power, link connection, transmit/receive, and reset to the factory default. The S2WIFI doesn’t require any batteries or an AC adapter, since all power is supplied by the indicator. Contact the sales team at Central Carolina Scale for price information.
We’ve actually covered the subject of how often to calibrate a scale before but it’s always a good idea to remind customers just how important the accuracy of their scales can be. We get this question fairly often so today with the help of Doran Scales we’ll take another look at why it’s important to have your scales calibrated on a regular basis by a trained scale technician.
What is the value of the product to be weighed on the scale?
If the product being weighed is very expensive, there is value in regular and periodic inspection and calibration. For example if the product costs $10 a pound and on an average day 1,000 pounds of product is weighed on the scale, the total value is $10,000. Let’s assume the scale is out of tolerance by 0.5%; that discrepancy would be $50 per day, $250 per week, and $1,000 per month. Obviously, eliminating this error would save a tremendous amount of money and more than pay for the calibration services.
Is it a legal-for-trade application?
If you buy or sell product based upon weight using your scale, it will need to be inspected and certified by the State or local Weights and Measures Department at the time of or shortly after installation. If a scale is tested and found to be out of tolerance or if products in the field are found to not meet the stated weight, Weights and Measure can condemn the scales so that they cannot be used until recalibrated, and literally shut your production down.
How many weighments per day and at what % of scale capacity?
Generally speaking, with time and use scales can start to lose accuracy. It may be a tiny error but over months and years it can grow to unacceptable levels. Think of it in these terms: when you buy a new car, you can expect that the wheel alignment will be exactly accurate. When this same car has 75,000 or 100,000 miles on it, the wheel alignment may need to be adjusted due to normal wear and tear. The same idea is true with your scale. Regular calibration of heavily used scales will correct any accuracy errors that will normally occur with this type of use.
Are the scales frequently moved around in your facility or from one location to another? Doran scales are designed to be portable, in the sense that they do not require a permanent installation location. However, many times when scales are moved, they are handled incorrectly, resulting in damage that can affect the calibration and accuracy of the unit. If your scales are constantly being moved around in your facility or moved from one location to another, regular calibration will help keep them accurate and reveal any damage that may have occurred when they have been moved.
