The Best Industrial Scale for Weighing and Dimensioning
There are many reasons why we may find it necessary to weigh something. For example, those with family members living overseas often like to send presents on birthdays and feast days. However, before the post office can accept a parcel for delivery, an official must weigh it and check its size to calculate how much to charge. Lockdown has led to many of us stepping up our intake of comfort foods and gaining a few kilos. Although not as accurate as an industrial scale, a tape measure and the display on the smaller digital devices found in most bathrooms will confirm what the mirror suggests.
Weighing and Dimensioning in Industry
When a courier company delivers a large parcel ordered from an online store, it will be its contents that interest the recipient rather than the details of its size and weight. Nevertheless, attention to those details enables the manufacturer or supplier of that flat-screen TV or electric scooter to keep the delivery cost as affordable as possible. Consequently, an industrial scale requires greater accuracy than the domestic and postal models.
The size and shape of an item are as significant as its weight when calculating freight and storage requirements. For example, the former rather than the latter will determine precisely how many packages will fit into a 6-metre container. That number, in turn, will provide the shipper with an accurate freight cost per item. These figures can also serve as a guide for a courier company regarding the size of the vehicle and the number of handlers required.
Types of Weighing Equipment
An industrial scale resembles that seen in the post office. It also consists mainly of a platform on which to place the items to be weighed. However, that is where any physical resemblance ends, and their relative performance standards highlight their differences. The models typically used in industry are of two main types. They are either bench models or floor models. The former is more compact and limited to handling smaller items. Consequently, its maximum capacity is correspondingly lower. By contrast, the floor models are larger and intended for heavy-duty work.
However, one significant difference between domestic weighing machines and an industrial scale is that the latter are often fitted with a scanning device, which enables them to measure the dimensions and weight of an item simultaneously. This ability is particularly useful for high volume operations where rapid turnover is essential to meet scheduled delivery commitments. Some models are automated and designed to operate in conjunction with a conveyor system to maximise throughput.
How Do These Industrial Scale Work?
Early weighing techniques employed a balancing device with two pans. The item was placed in one, and the user added objects of known weight to the other until the two balanced. Modern industrial scales avoid this somewhat hit-and-miss process of balancing items. Instead, they owe their greater accuracy to a device known as a load cell. These may take several different forms, of which the strain gauge is the most common. An object placed on the platform compresses the gauges positioned beneath, causing them to become distorted. The distortion generates an electric current proportionate to the applied force and, in turn, the weight of the object on the platform. The machine performs the necessary conversion and presents the result on a digital display.
Often, an industrial scale will also be required to measure the dimensions of the objects placed on its platform. Some models are restricted to handling rectangular or cubic packages, although others can also cope with irregularly-shaped items. In each case, the dimensioning system generally employs laser sensors mounted in an array through which the object must pass. Specialised software combines the length, width and height measurements with the weight reading to record an item’s dimensional weight. The instantaneous feedback possible with this form of industrial scale can be invaluable to eCommerce shippers as it can help them manage freight charges.
Are You Ready to Buy An Industrial Scale?
Most buyers will prefer to deal with a reputable supplier when purchasing a capital item, especially if precision and reliability are essential. One name has long been known in South Africa and worldwide for its extensive knowledge and experience of weighing and dimensioning technology and the innovative state-of-the-art products that have made it the industry leader. Teraoka products include the iconic SPK-3000, an advanced industrial scale suitable for measuring both cuboid and irregular shapes, even when presented at an angle. Contact head office, email us or complete an online enquiry to learn more.