The Peril of Monopoly: The Dangers of Choosing an Industrial Scale Provider who Basically Only Recommends One Scale Brand

In the world of industry and commerce, precision measurement and weighing accuracy are paramount, making industrial scales and laboratory balances an indispensable tool in many industries. When it comes to selecting a reliable provider for your weighing needs, many local businesses seek convenience by opting for a one-stop-shop that sells scales and offers calibration and service support. And, often folks search for old and familiar scale brand they may have heard of years ago.

However, one mistake that some customers make involves choosing a scale supplier who essentially is only offering one brand of scale 99% of the time. This cozy relationship with a sole brand may appear convenient on the surface, but it comes with a range of potential pitfalls that businesses should be wary of. Do the terms Protected Territories, Limited Competition, and High Prices sound familiar? 

This article explores the perils of such an arrangement and underscores the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to selecting a local industrial scale provider in your area.

1. Limited Product Options:

Relying on an industrial scale provider who predominantly offers one brand of scales leaves your business with limited options. Each industry has unique requirements, and no single scale brand can cater to the diverse needs of every enterprise. By restricting yourself to just one brand of scales, you risk overlooking better-suited alternatives that might provide more accurate readings, advanced features, or even more cost-effectiveness. Opting to work with a local scale company with a wide array of scale options ensures you can find the perfect match for your business requirements.

2. Bias and Unreliable Recommendations:

The inherent conflict of interest in exclusively recommending one scale brand raises questions about the objectivity and credibility of the provider’s suggestions. Is the recommendation driven by the best interest of the client, or is it motivated by financial gains or meeting sales quotas from promoting a particular brand? A biased recommendation might lead to investing in scales that are not truly suitable for your operations, leading to suboptimal performance, increased maintenance costs, or even safety hazards.

3. Lack of Customization and Product Flexibility:

Industrial operations vary widely, and a one-size-fits-all approach to scales simply won’t suffice. By relying on a local scale provider who predominantly deals with one brand, you may face limitations in customizing the scales to match your specific requirements. Customization could involve factors such as scale capacity, platform size, and specialized features, which are critical to ensuring optimal performance and efficient workflow.

There could be situations where your number one scale brand might be a good choice for the scale platform but the scale controller might be a different brand. Is the scale company willing to use another brand?

4. Inadequate Support and Service:

Calibration and regular maintenance are vital to the accurate functioning of industrial scales. Choosing a local scale sales and service provider that primarily deals with one scale brand may limit your access to reliable service and support. They may lack the expertise to handle other scale brands effectively, resulting in subpar calibration or repairs. In contrast, a diversified local scale provider (like Central Carolina Scale) is more likely to have a skilled team capable of servicing a wide range of scale models efficiently.

5. Competitive Pricing:

Monopoly situations can also sometimes lead to inflated pricing. With limited options and no direct competition, the scale provider may not have any incentives to offer competitive prices. As a result, your business might end up paying more for a scale that could be obtained at a better price elsewhere.

high quality scales and weighing equipment

Final Thoughts:

Choosing an industrial scale provider is a crucial decision that directly impacts the efficiency and accuracy of your operations. While the convenience of an all-in-one provider might be tempting, the dangers of opting for one who predominantly deals with a single brand of scales cannot be ignored. The limited product options, protected territories limiting competition, biased recommendations, and inadequate support could all hamper your business’s growth and success.

Instead, we recommend working with a scale company like ours. At Central Carolina Scale, we have good working relationships with many different scale manufacturers. If a customer approaches us and asks for a product or solution for their weighing, we are going to base our product recommendations off things like past success, proven products, overall value, etc… We typically provide multiple reputable choices to customers to consider.

In our experience, rarely is one scale manufacturer the best choice for everything. Some manufacturer really good truck scales. Some manufacturer easy to use digital weight indicators. In fact, we often provide scale systems to customers that have one brand of scale platform and a different brand of digital weight indicator. Most of the time we do that because we’re trying to provide the customer with the best overall scale equipment for their needs.

How to Choose the Right Battery-Powered Counting Scale for Your Fastener Manufacturing Company

Fastener manufacturing businesses require accurate and efficient counting scales to keep track of the quantity of small components. Choosing the right battery powered counting scale is essential for maximizing productivity, minimizing errors, and maintaining quality control. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a counting scale for keeping track of those small fasteners. 

Scale Capacity and Accuracy

The first factor to consider is the scale’s capacity and accuracy. You need a parts counting scale that can handle the weight of the components you are counting and provide precise measurements. The scale’s capacity should be large enough to handle the heaviest components you use, and its accuracy should be sufficient for your parts counting needs. That’s essentially how a counting scale works.

This is often a challenge as scale buyers want a large 100 pound weighing capacity with a super small 0.0001 pound readability.  We suggest working with your scale company to discuss what capacity and readability options exist and what’s realistic.

Sometimes purchasing one top of the line high resolution counting scale is ideal, while other times, it may make more sense to buy a couple of less expensive counting scales with different capacities to cover all of your different items that you’re counting.

high resolution counting scale for weighing fasteners and o-rings

Scale Platform Size and Portability

The scale’s size and portability are also important considerations. A compact scale is ideal if you have limited space in your workspace, while a larger scale may be necessary if you have a high volume of components to count. A portable scale is also useful if you need to move it around your manufacturing plant.

Counting Scale With Long Battery Life

A battery powered counting scale must have a long battery life to ensure continuous operation. The scale’s battery life should be sufficient to last for a full shift, and it should have a low-battery indicator to alert you when the battery needs to be recharged or replaced. Many counting scales are using rechargeable lead acid batteries these days. Lithium ion is probably coming in the near future. 

Counting Scales that are Easy to Use

Don’t underestimate the importance of this one. The counting scale should be easy to use and have intuitive counting scale instructions. The scale’s display should be easy to read, and the buttons should be easy to press. It should also have a user-friendly interface that allows you to quickly set up and start using the scale. This is also important when you’re training others to use the scale when the main scale operator is out or no longer there.

Scale Connectivity

If you need to integrate the counting scale with other equipment or software, consider a scale with connectivity options such as USB or RS232. This allows you to transfer data from the scale to other devices or software systems, such as inventory management software or a label printer.

Industrial counting scale for fasteners

Scale Durability and Maintenance

The precision counting scale must be durable and able to withstand the demands of a fast-paced manufacturing environment. It should be made of high-quality materials and have a robust design that can withstand impacts and vibrations. This is where you start to evaluate the industrial counting scale versus the ABS plastic counting scale.

Counting Scale Prices

If you search online, you can find counting scale prices everywhere from around $100 to $3000…. While it may be tempting to opt for the cheapest option, a low-cost scale will probably not meet your business’s long term needs when it comes to consistency and durability. On the other hand, a high precision counting scale may be too expensive for your budget. We recommend discussing your budget and counting goals with your scale company to determine what will be some of the best counting scales for your applications.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right battery-powered counting scale for your fastener manufacturing business requires careful consideration. Things to consider include capacity, accuracy, platform size, battery life, ease of use, connectivity, durability, and of course, price. If you need assistance feel free to call us (919) 776-7737 or complete our RFQ form on our website. We have literally been recommending counting scales for customers for decades.

Counting Quarters Got You Down? Here’s How a Coin Counting Scale Can Help Your Laundromat or Game Center Business

For businesses like a laundry or game center that rely on coin-operated machines, counting coins by hand can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Whether you own a laundromat or a gaming center, using a coin counting scale to count quarters can provide a range of benefits compared to counting coins out by hand. Here are some of the advantages of using a coin counting scale for your business.

Quarter Counter Saves Time

Counting coins by hand can take a considerable amount of time, particularly if you have a large number of coins to count. And it’s usually prone to human error. How long can you go without getting a phone call or text to interrupt your hand count?  Using a coin counting scale can drastically reduce the time it takes to count quarters. With electronic coin counters, you can quickly and accurately count large volumes of coins in just a few minutes. This can free up valuable time for other important tasks in your business.

Scales Increase Accuracy

Counting coins by hand is prone to human error, which can lead to discrepancies in your final quarter count. A coin weight scale provides a high degree of accuracy and eliminates the potential for errors caused by human error. 

Electronic Coin Counter Improves Efficiency

Using a coin counting scale can help improve the overall efficiency of your business operations. By reducing the time and effort required to count quarters, you can streamline your cash handling processes and improve the flow of customers in and out of your business. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as improved profitability for your business.

coin counting scale

Quarter Counting Machine Can Reduce Labor Costs

Counting coins by hand can be a labor-intensive task that requires a significant amount of staff time. Using a coin counting scale can reduce the amount of time and effort required to count quarters, which can help you possibly reduce your labor costs. With the best coin counter scale, you can also assign your staff to other important tasks, such as customer service or maintenance, which can improve the overall performance of your business.

Weight Scale Enhances Security

Counting coins by hand can be a risky process, particularly if you have large amounts of cash on hand. A coin counting scale can help enhance the security of your business by reducing the amount of time that cash is handled by your staff. With a coin counting scale, you can quickly and accurately count quarters and reduce the risk of theft or mismanagement of cash.

Where Can I Buy a Coin Counter?

Using a coin counting scale to count quarters at your laundromat or gaming center can provide a range of benefits compared to counting coins out by hand. It can save time, increase accuracy, improve efficiency, possibly reduce labor costs, and maybe even enhance security. Investing in a coin counting scale can help you improve your business operations and improve your bottom line.  If you need some assistance choosing the right coin counter for your business just give us a call (919) 776-7737 or complete the RFQ form on our website for fast service.  

Affordable Counting Scales for Small Businesses – Our Top Picks

Today we are going to hopefully answer any questions you have about recommended counting scales and current prices of electronic counting scales. We always focus on providing a good selection of affordable counting scales for small businesses on our website.

Best Counting Scales for Any Size Business

A counting scale can save you so much time versus counting parts out by hand. We’ve discussed this before regarding exactly how a counting scale works. A piece counting scale measures the weight of the items you place on the weighing platform and divides the weight by the number of pieces you entered to compute the average piece weight. Of course, the items that you are weighing have to be uniform in weight.

affordable counting scales for small business

Warehouse Counting Scale Prices

If you’ve done any research online, you’ve probably seen a wide range of prices when it comes to piece counting scales. We’ve seen prices that range from just a couple of hundred dollars all the way up to a couple of thousands of dollars!  Let’s take a closer look at all these numbers. Continue reading

Dangers of Buying Certain “Cheap” Scales Online

The article below is courtesy of Mr. Boon Lim who has been involved in the weighing industry for many years. It really hammers home the points that we have been trying to discuss with customers for literally decades! 

There are differences in quality between certain brands of scales. We’ve discussed this numerous times over the years either here in our learning center or on our Youtube channel or perhaps via phone or email with you. A lot of times it’s a balancing act between value & accuracy. Many customers don’t have the budget or the requirements for the top of the line most expensive scale… but they also don’t need to buy the cheapest scale under the sun either. Let’s take a look at what Boon found when he purchased some of the cheapest scales available online. We hope you enjoy the article below.

Have you noticed a quality shift in the weighing industry? Quality standards have
decreased significantly on consumer scales with “assembly only” operations making big
waves in the scale community. Large sellers are dominating the online retail space for
consumers, and this is not any different for scales. Whether you support the
unstoppable rise of these ecommerce giants or not, there is no denying the profound
impact associated with their operation.

So, we bought some of the “Best Selling”, highly rated, affordable scales and balances to test the quality.

Yes, with 2-day free shipping too.

Our discoveries were astounding… Continue reading

What Does 5000 x 1 Mean? Scale Capacity x Readability

We’re going to discuss something that many folks wonder about the first couple of times they are tasked with buying scales.

What Does it Mean when you see 5000 x 1 on a Scale?

If you’ve done any research at all online for scales, you’ve probably seen something written like 5000 x 1, or perhaps you’ve requested a quote and seen that number written. Either way, you may be wondering what these mean. 5000 x 1 lb, or it could be 60 x 0.02lb or it may have been 3000 g by 0.01g. 120,000 x 20 lb, 500 x 0.1 lb etc….

600 x 0.1 LB

 

 

But what exactly does that mean? It’s actually pretty simple.

In the case of 5000 x 1 lb, this means that the total weighing capacity of the scale is 5000 pounds and the scale increases or decreases in weight by 1 lb increments from zero all the way to 5000 lb.

Some people refer to the 1 lb in this example as the readability or the graduation size. In the 60 x 0.02 lb example, it would be as follows, 60 lb is the capacity and 0.02 lb is the graduation size that the scale increases or decreases by from zero all the way to 60 lb. Continue reading

What Does a Counting Scale Do?

When you’re seeking solutions for increased efficiency and productivity. A counting scale can be a great choice. But, what exactly does a counting scale do?

We’re going to take a look at what a counting scale actually does

First, let’s define what a counting scale is. Counting scales are used for counting the same items, like bolts for example. As for how to use a counting scale, when a group of identical items are placed on the platform of a parts counting scale, the scale can determine the average piece weight and the scale display shows how many pieces are on the platform. Consider the human effort involved to count small items like screws or washers.

With a counting scale, this task requires just a few seconds of time. This leads to highly accurate parts counting results. Compare this to counting parts out by hand, which is virtually guaranteed to include human error. Remember when you were a child sitting on the floor counting pennies? It took time, and then even more time when you lost count and had to start over again! Consider a counting scale the industrial solution for saving time while providing extremely efficient counting accuracy. Continue reading

How to use Counting Scale (Instructions)

A parts counting scale is an amazing item.  The amount of time savings that one of these devices provides end users is truly remarkable.  Most of the time when folks are using a counting scale, they have the instructions or they just know how to use the scale, since they’ve been using the scale for many years.

Regarding parts counting, we’ve written about how to buy a counting scale. But what happens if you don’t know how to actually use a counting scale?  What if you can’t find any instructions or user manual?  Well, we will try to assist you below.

how to use counting scale instructions

Simple Parts Counting Using an Electronic Scale

First, the basic way to use a counting scale for inventory is to first, make sure the scale is on 0.00.  Then count out a small sample of whatever it is that you’re trying to count. Let’s say (10) pieces. 

Remember, all the pieces have to be the same.  You can’t count resistors and bolts at the same time. 

So, you’ve counted out your (10) pieces, now look for a button on the scale that says “Sample”.  This can be very simple or this can be quite difficult depending on who manufactured the scale.  You may have to experiment to figure out which button is actually the sample key. Some scales will actually have Sample written on the button. But, we’ve seen “sample” buttons that actually said everything from “Smpl” to “Sample Set” to “PWT”.

Also, some scales can differ with the timing of whether you place the (10) pieces on the scale and then press the Sample button or do you press the Sample button first and then place your (10) pieces on the scale.  

Once you’ve figured this out and the sample works, then you should be able to place the rest of your items on the scale and get the complete count.  

We hope this helps you with how to use a counting scale. We also suggest contacting our customer service team who might be able to get you a user manual or assist you with your parts counting needs. We’ve also put together a counting scale buying guide to make purchasing a little easier.

Choosing the Right Industrial Parts Counting Scale for Inventory

Precision counting scales are essential tools for any business that manages inventory, pulls orders from a stockroom for production, creates kits of parts, or provides fulfillment services for a third party.

Any products or parts that need tracked by count…. need a rugged and reliable precision counting scale, and with hundreds of different manufacturers and counting scale combinations to choose from, you might need a little assistance in buying a counting scale.

counting scale

To make sure you select the best solution, our friends at Pennsylvania Scale Co have gathered four of the most important features to consider when choosing a precision counting scale for your company. You can see those below.

Also, in addition to accuracy, the other benefit you gain from purchasing a Pennsylvania 7500 or 7600 counting scale, is the “industrial toughness” of those products. They are the complete opposite of the plastic lightweight imported scales that you’ve probably seen before.

#1 High Internal Resolution

When a scale is in counting mode, it calculates a piece weight in order to display a count (weight on scale/piece weight = count). The piece weight is determined by the internal resolution of the scale, not by the displayed resolution. (The displayed resolution is usually a larger graduation or resolution than the piece weight.)

High internal resolution determines the lightest weight change a scale can measure. The higher the internal resolution, the more accurate the piece weight will be, which is especially critical when weighing and counting smaller pieces.

The increased performance from a high internal resolution counting scale means greater accuracy in orders and inventory management. This in turn leads to greater customer satisfaction and higher profitability. Also see: sometimes the cheapest scale can be the most expensive.



#2 Rugged, Reliable, and Built for the Real World

Accurate high internal resolution counting scales improve operations by minimizing breakdowns and delivering maximum uptime. Unlike laboratory balances or other high-precision measuring devices, counting scales are typically used in the middle of industrial environments with all of the vibration, heat or cold, rough handling, and constant use of today’s fast-paced production climate.

Selecting a counting scale that is purposefully designed to provide high accuracy while withstanding the constant use and abuse that occurs in the real world is a must to avoid inconvenient and costly downtime and repairs. Pennsylvania counting scales are designed to thrive in these types of environments and promote high-performance counting operations.

#3 Flexible and Easy to Use

A high-quality, high-precision counting scale delivers exceptional accuracy while also being flexible and easy to use within the production environment. Setting up piece weights and displaying counts in the fewest number of steps will get your counting scale up and running quickly and will instantly produce measurable improvements in accuracy and productivity.

Plus, the easier a counting scale is for your team to use, the more they will use it, resulting in higher accuracy and lower waste. Pennsylvania counting scales are renowned for this high level of intuitive operation and flexible counting modes that include: 1-step counting, 2-step counting, negative counting, top end counting, counting with a manually entered piece weight, piece weight store and recall, and auto sample to bulk counting.

#4 Connectivity of Counting Scales

Creating powerful, intuitive counting systems requires software for data collection and management to automate and validate count or weight data from the process or production line. Pennsylvania counting scales are flexible enough to work with many third-party software systems, and their application support team is ready to provide expert assistance or scale manuals to help with scale integration, including counting scale label printing systems with design services for a custom human readable or barcode label to meet a variety of requirements.

Contact our sales department today for more information and buying advice on our complete lineup of precision counting scales.

Sometimes the Cheapest Scale Can Become the Most Expensive Choice…

WHY YOUR SCALE IS COSTING YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK

B2B ecommerce sales surged past the $1 trillion mark for the first time ever a couple of years ago and online shopping continues to grow at a very fast pace. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your perspective) weighing scales of every size and application are also selling online. We’ve seen everything from vehicle scales to laboratory balances become more widely available on the internet during the past decade.

But is that ultimately a good thing for customers?

When it comes to buying a scale online, the decision-making process often centers 90% + on price….  not necessarily what features or functions of the scale itself.

When buying a scale, you also need to consider things like:

Is it NTEP Approved, legal for trade?
Does the scale arrive calibrated?
Will the scale hold up in the environment where it’s used?
How is the scale constructed?
What is the resolution of the scale?
Who will service the scale?

What we’re saying is, the price of a scale is just one of many factors to consider. That’s where you often benefit from working with an experienced scale company who can recommend a proven product with a long track record of success.

Sometimes customers attempt to save time and perhaps some money and find their own scales online. That often sounds like a good idea. However, this is where mistakes can occur since price alone becomes the number one priority.

high resolution bench scale

SACRIFICING ACCURACY COSTS YOU MONEY

In some scenarios, buying the lowest priced scale could cost you much more in the long run. A cheaper scale rarely has the durability and longevity of a quality-made scale. Additionally, a cheaper scale often sacrifices resolution or repeatability which can lead to inconsistencies in accuracy, as the scale will not deliver consistent results. In some applications, this could result in millions of dollars of losses per year.

For example, the B-TEK High Resolution Counting Scale (HRCS) has a one billion internal count resolution thanks to the incredible accuracy of the Quartzell transducer. Additionally, the HRB Digital Bench Scale, which is mostly used in straight-weigh applications, also offers a one billion internal count resolution.

How much could such precision save your company over the course of a fiscal year?

DOES YOUR NEW SCALE COME WITH THE SUPPORT YOU NEED?

When purchasing a scale, there’s always more to consider than the hardware itself. Who will install the scale? Who will calibrate it? What is the process for registering the scale as legal for trade? How will you obtain future service, including both regular maintenance and unforeseen scale repair?

When you’re buying a new scale for your business, you’re also buying support and expertise. 

We hear stories all the time regarding online scale purchases. Over the years, we have seen few customers who purchased a scale, without consulting a salesperson, be happy with that decision years later. Many times, these customers quickly return to the buying market because they need to replace a scale that didn’t quite fit the application or function as intended.  That’s where working with an experienced scale company and/or experienced sales person is a valuable benefit for most customers.

HOW CAN CCS HELP YOU?

The bottom line in this article is, don’t choose a scale based on price alone! These days with all the overseas products available everywhere, you can likely find a scale for just about any price you need. However, the quality, durability, and accuracy of that product will be highly debatable! 

Contact us with your questions and a rough idea of what you’re looking to weigh. If you have a budget, let us know that as well. We’ve been providing customers with scales for over forty years!  Odds are that we can recommend a proven scale for your particular application. 

Let us help you find the right solution that will serve your company for many years to come. Purchasing a scale with the proper accuracy, support, and compliance is where you will truly save money. For more information, contact us online or by calling (919) 776-7737.