Buyer’s Guide: Weighing Systems for the Manufacturing Industry

In the realm of heavy-duty industries, the importance of reliable weighing systems for manufacturing cannot be overstated. Not only do these systems enable precise industrial measurement, but they also contribute significantly to overall production quality.

The manufacturing industry refers to sectors involved in the production of goods on a large scale through the conversion of raw materials into finished products. This could involve various forms of transformation including physical, chemical, or mechanical processes.

The manufacturing industry includes diverse sectors such as:

• Automotive Manufacturing: This involves the production of vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.
• Chemical Manufacturing: Chemical manufacturers process raw materials into products like synthetic materials, pharmaceuticals, resins, and cleaning solutions.
• Electronics Manufacturing: This sector is involved in the production of a wide array of electronic components and devices, from small chips and circuits to large servers and networking equipment.
• Food Manufacturing: Companies in this sector take raw foodstuffs and transform them into finished food products. This includes everything from baking bread to packaging pre-made meals.
• Textile Manufacturing: This sector turns natural and synthetic materials into fabric, which can then be made into clothing or other textile goods.
• Jewellery, Toy, Sports Equipment, Musical Instrument Manufacturing
• Heavy Industry and Machinery Manufacturing: This includes the production of large machines, equipment, and vehicles used in industries like construction, mining, and agriculture.
• Aerospace Manufacturing: Involves the production of aircraft, spacecraft, related parts, and equipment.
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Companies in this sector produce medications and other health-related products.

These sectors utilise different methods and technologies, but all fall under the umbrella of the manufacturing industry. The process of manufacturing can be done using manual labour, machinery, or through a combination of both. 

It’s important to note that the manufacturing industry is a crucial part of the global economy, creating goods that are either consumed directly or used in other industries. 

Most Popular Scale Types in Heavy-Duty Industries

Industrial weighing scales, specifically designed to withstand high-capacity loads, are an essential asset in heavy-duty industries. Load cells, acting as the heart of these scales, respond to pressure and render accurate measurements, no matter the weight or the environmental conditions.

Platform Scales

Platform scales are widely used in various heavy-duty industries, including shipping, manufacturing, and construction. They consist of a large, flat platform that accurately measures the weight of large objects placed on top of them. Their heavy-duty build makes them resilient to harsh industrial environments.

Drive-through-scales

Drive-through scales play a critical role in the manufacturing industry as they allow for efficient weighing of large, heavy loads. Their design enables vehicles to drive directly onto the scale platform, significantly speeding up the weighing process compared to other methods. 

In addition to this, drive-through scales provide precise weight measurements, ensuring accurate inventory records and enabling correct shipping and receiving records. This helps to prevent errors, discrepancies, and potential disputes with suppliers or customers. 

From a safety perspective, overloaded vehicles present significant risks, and drive-through scales allow weights to be checked easily and quickly, preventing accidents and equipment damage. Furthermore, many regions have strict regulations concerning vehicle weights for safety and infrastructure protection. 

Drive-through scales help businesses ensure compliance with these regulations, avoiding potential fines or penalties. Lastly, by enabling accurate weight-based billing and preventing overloading and underloading of vehicles, drive-through scales contribute to the cost efficiency of a manufacturing operation.

Pallet Scales

Pallet scales, an essential tool in warehouse and distribution centres, are designed to weigh loaded pallets. These scales feature a low-profile design allowing pallet jacks to easily load and unload items. They provide accurate weight information, which is vital for inventory management and shipping.

Weigh Beams

Weigh beams are portable, heavy-duty scales used for weighing large or irregularly shaped objects. Comprising two separate beams, they can be positioned according to the size of the object, giving them flexibility. They are particularly popular in agriculture, shipping, and construction industries.

Pallet Truck Scales

Pallet truck scales are integrated into pallet jacks for simultaneous transportation and weighing of goods. This enhances workflow efficiency in warehouses and manufacturing facilities by eliminating the need for separate weighing and transportation processes. The readings provide vital data for inventory control and compliance.

Forklift Scales

Forklift scales combine the functionality of a forklift with a weighing scale, allowing operators to lift and weigh loads in a single operation. These scales increase productivity in warehouses and industrial environments by streamlining the material handling process. They’re built to endure rough handling and heavy loads.

Vehicle Scales

Vehicle scales, or weighbridges,, are used to weigh vehicles, such as trucks and trailers, often for compliance with legal weight restrictions. They can measure the total weight of a vehicle, or can be used to calculate the load weight by subtracting the vehicle’s empty weight. They’re essential in industries like logistics, waste management, and agriculture.

Crane Scales

Crane scales are used to measure the weight of loads lifted by cranes or hoists in industrial settings. These scales are attached directly to the lifting device and provide weight measurements in real-time. They’re robustly built to withstand heavy loads and are particularly useful in the construction, shipping, and manufacturing sectors.

Floor Scales

Floor scales are designed for weighing heavy loads in industrial environments. They have a large, flat surface and a low-profile design for easy loading and unloading. These scales are used across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, shipping, and retail, for tasks like inventory management and quality control.

How are Weighing Scales Used in the Manufacturing Industry?

Heavy-duty scales are used in multiple areas across the manufacturing industry. They cater to everything from verifying raw materials to weighing finished products for dispatch, ensuring a smooth workflow throughout the manufacturing process.

Industrial weighing plays a critical role in the manufacturing industry, helping to improve the accuracy and efficiency of production processes and shipments in several ways:

• Raw Material Measurement: At the start of the manufacturing process, raw materials need to be accurately weighed to ensure the correct quantities are used. This helps prevent waste, save costs, and ensure the quality and consistency of the final product.
• Process Control: During the manufacturing process, industrial scales can be used to ensure that each step is carried out correctly. For example, in a mixing or batching process, each ingredient needs to be accurately weighed to meet the required specifications. This ensures consistency in product quality.
• Quality Control: Accurate weighing can help detect defects or variations in products. For instance, a product that weighs less or more than expected could indicate a problem in the manufacturing process that needs to be addressed.
• Inventory Management: Weighing helps to keep accurate inventory records, which is crucial for managing supply and demand, planning for future production, and maintaining efficient operations.
• Packaging: In packaging, accurate weighing ensures each package contains the correct amount of product. This is especially important in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals where regulations often require exact quantities.
• Shipping and Distribution: Industrial scales are used to weigh products for shipment, helping to determine shipping costs, ensuring vehicles are not overloaded (which can be both illegal and unsafe), and verifying that the correct amounts of product have been loaded.
• Regulatory Compliance: In many industries, products, shipments, and processes must meet specific weight requirements set by regulatory bodies. Accurate industrial weighing is critical to maintaining compliance and avoiding penalties. Get to know everything you need to know about industrial scales: Verification, regulations and calibration.

Using industrial weighing systems in the manufacturing industry helps maintain product quality, optimise operations, reduce waste, and comply with regulations, all of which contribute to improved accuracy and efficiency in the manufacturing industry. It’s an essential part of modern manufacturing processes and logistics.

Best Scales for Weighing Heavy Machinery

A significant use of weighing scales in manufacturing is to weigh heavy machinery and equipment. Digital weight scales with high load-bearing capacities have proved to be the best in these scenarios. They offer precise readings that help manufacturers maintain safety measures and optimize operational efficiency.

In heavy-duty industries, the demand for robust, reliable, and accurate weighing equipment is high. Among the variety available, here are the most popular types of industrial weighing scales:

Xtrem Bengal

The Xtrem Bengal platform scale is particularly robust and durable thanks to its thick, non-slip checker plate and epoxy coating. It is suitable for installation at ground level and offers state-of-the-art connectivity with Industry 4.0 technology. Optional drive-on ramps and various connections such as USB and WLAN allow the scale to be efficiently integrated into the production process. The calibration class III and high-quality load cells guarantee precise measurements. These features make the Xtrem Bengal the ideal choice for demanding weighing tasks in the manufacturing industry.

Crane Scales

Crane scales are specifically designed for weighing heavy items that are challenging to place on a traditional scale. They can easily handle the demands of a busy industrial environment, offering precise readings even for extreme loads.

Crane scales, particularly models such as the Gram C5, Gram C6, and Gram C7, play a pivotal role in the manufacturing industry. With their capability to accurately measure loads ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 kilograms, they provide invaluable support in managing and controlling heavy-duty operations effectively.

Xtrem Zebra

The Xtrem Zebra weighing beams are an adaptable solution for various weighing tasks in the manufacturing industry:

• Versatile application: Ideal for special pallets, tanks, animal cages or long metal bars.
• Fixed mounting: Optionally available with base plates for permanent installation.
• Flexible connections: Multiple connection options available for PC or printer.
• High flexibility: Suitable for weighing goods with unusual shapes and sizes.
• Structure adaptation: Various structures can be permanently installed through holes in the weighing beams.
• Easy transportation: Handles on the weighing beams allow easy transportation.
• Sufficient cable length: 4 meter long cables offer flexibility in placement.
• Double load cells: Each beam is equipped with two load cells for accurate measurements.
• Adjustable feet: Choose between flexible feet for uneven surfaces and fixed feet for stable weighing.
• IP-67 protection class: Protection against dust and short-term immersion in water (Learn everything bout IP Grades here).
• Robust construction: Made of epoxy-coated steel for corrosion protection.
• K3 indicator: With LCD display, automatic backlight and protection against splash water and dust.

These features make the Xtrem Zebra weighing beams a versatile and robust tool for the challenges of the manufacturing industry.

Gram Bull Forklift Scales

Additionally, the Gram Bull Forklift scale, a latest-generation wireless forklift weighing-system, is another worthy consideration. It’s easy to install, enabling your operations to start weighing in no time. 

Read here: Weighing system for forklift trucks: increase the efficiency of your warehouse with the innovative and cost-efficient Gram Bull. 

Platform scale: Gram Xtrem Mamut

The large platform scale Xtrem Mamut availabe at Weighing-Net is designed for the requirements of the manufacturing industry, especially for weighing heavy loads. The robust monobloc structure made of epoxy-coated steel is suitable for both floor and pit mounting and can also withstand forklift truck traffic. The scale is Class III legal for trade and has a low height for easy access. Its rotating lifting ring facilitates maintenance and the non-slip surface increases safety. With options such as ticket printing and connection to PC software via Ethernet or WLAN, it is a state-of-the-art instrument that brings efficiency and precision to industrial weighing.

Best Scales for Weighing Raw Materials

Scales for heavy machinery are not the only essential weighing systems in the manufacturing sector. High capacity scales are equally important for weighing raw materials. Precise measurements help ensure that the quality and quantity of raw materials adhere to the predefined standards.

When it comes to weighing raw materials in the manufacturing industry, accuracy, reliability, and durability are key considerations. Depending on the kind of materials you’re dealing with (ranging from small quantities of high-value materials to large amounts of bulk materials), different scales may be more or less suitable. 

Scales for small quantities of raw materials:

Z3T

The Z3T is a rugged industrial bench scale, suitable for a wide range of weighing tasks in the manufacturing industry. Its stainless steel platform and DSF filter ensure precise measurements under industrial conditions. Features such as direct PC data transfer, variable platform sizes and ticket printing increase efficiency in production processes and quality control. The scale also offers stability and safety, making it a valuable tool in manufacturing.

Bench Scale S5i

The S5i is a rugged and industrial-grade scale tailored for professional weighing in harsh environments. Its stainless steel construction and watertight design with IP-65 protection ensure durability and reliability even in challenging conditions. The scale comes equipped with advanced functions to boost production productivity, and it supports ticket printing via cable or wireless connection with compatible printer accessories. Additionally, the S5i offers multiple connectivity options to connect with a PC, facilitating seamless data transfer and analysis for efficient workflow management.

Accurex DSX compact scale

The Accurex DSX is an entry-level industrial scale that is valued in the manufacturing industry for its fast and precise weighing functions. With a response time of less than two seconds and a robust stainless steel weighing plate, it is ideal for fast and efficient weight determination in production processes. The tare and percentage determination functions assist with quality control and material mixing, while the weight check function with audible signal helps to maintain weight standards. Their adaptability to uneven surfaces and the option to switch between kg and lb increase their practicality in industrial use.

Scales for large amounts of raw materials 

Scales for large amounts of raw materials in the manufacturing sector include Crane Scales and industrial floor scales. These heavy-duty scales are specifically designed to weigh bulk materials efficiently and accurately when placed on the floor. Industrial floor scales are built with sturdiness and durability in mind, ensuring they can withstand rigorous and intensive treatment in demanding industrial environments. With their high capacity and reliability, these scales play a crucial role in handling and weighing large quantities of raw materials for various industries.

In the manufacturing sector, when dealing with large amounts of raw materials, industrial floor scales are essential tools. Among the top choices are the following:

1. Gram Xtrem Rabbit: The Gram Xtrem Rabbit is a highly adaptable mobile weighing solution designed for warehouses and production units. It features a sturdy column, handlebars, and rubber wheels, providing mobility for weighing and moving objects simultaneously. With four large rubber wheels and rear brake wheels for stability, it ensures easy steering and secure positioning during weighing operations. The K3 Indicator, fixed atop the integrated column, includes an LCD display with automatic backlight and IP-65 protection. The scale offers optional wireless connections to a printer and PC and can connect to the Xtrem PC software for recording data from multiple scales.
2. Gram Xtrem F: The Xtrem F is a digital bench scale that is particularly suitable for the manufacturing industry. Its robust steel construction and stainless steel weighing pan are ideal for use in the harsh conditions often found in manufacturing. With protection class IP-65, it is protected against water and dust, making it easy to clean. Thanks to the latest digital technology, a wireless connection is possible, which simplifies integration into existing systems and minimizes technical problems. These features make the Xtrem F a reliable solution for weighing large quantities of raw materials in the manufacturing industry.
3. ZMissil: The ZMissil floor scale is optimized for intensive industrial use. Thanks to its robust stainless steel column, it is stable and easy to clean. Its weighing pan made of high-quality AISI 304 stainless steel and the four wide rubber feet ensure stability and prevent slipping. It has advanced functions such as ticket printing and data transfer to the PC. Different platform sizes and a customizable tare function make it flexible for many applications. With the Hold and DSF filter function, it provides accurate weight readings even in moving environments. These functions are essential for weighing large quantities of raw materials in the manufacturing industry, as they enable fast, accurate and efficient weight recording and processing.

When choosing a scale, it’s important to consider not only the type of material and the weight range you’ll be dealing with but also factors like the need for portability, the working environment (e.g., is it likely to be wet or corrosive), the legal requirements for your industry, and the type of readout you prefer (digital, analog, connected to a network, etc.).

Can’t Decide? Call Us and Rely on Experts’ Recommendations and Analysis

If you’re finding it challenging to choose the right scales for raw materials or other heavy load weighing requirements, Weighing-Net is here to help. With our expert analysis, we can guide you to the perfect solution for your specific industrial needs.

Why Precision and Accuracy Matter So Much?

In the context of the manufacturing industry, why precision and accuracy matter so much is clear. They are integral to maintaining production quality control, ensuring that the products meet the stipulated specifications, and providing the customer with consistent value.

Enhancing Product Quality Through Precise Measurements

Product quality and weighing precision go hand in hand. The ability to perform accurate weighing plays a vital role in manufacturing safety measures, directly impacting the overall quality of the end product.

Mitigating Risks

Mitigating risks in the manufacturing sector often begins with ensuring accurate weighing. Adherence to industry-standard certification protocols further aids in this process, promoting a safer and more reliable production environment.

Improving Production Efficiency

By reducing measurement errors, we can significantly improve production efficiency. Accurate weighing is at the heart of production efficiency improvement, as it minimises waste and enhances resource utilisation.

Costs of Inaccuracy in the Manufacturing Sector

Inaccuracy in the manufacturing process can lead to substantial costs. With production efficiency and accurate weighing in focus, it’s crucial to minimise errors and maintain strict quality control to avoid these unnecessary expenses.

How to Properly Maintain and Calibrate Heavy-Duty Scales in that Sector?

To ensure consistently accurate readings, the maintenance of heavy-duty scales is essential. Regular calibration is part of these maintenance routines, meeting the legal requirements for UK manufacturers and assuring the credibility of the weight data.

What Regulations Do You Need to Keep an Eye on for UK-Based Manufacturing?

UK manufacturing regulations mandate regular calibration of industrial scales. Weighing-Net offers comprehensive support in calibrating your scales to ensure your business remains compliant and your scales remain accurate.

Get ISOCAL Certification for Your Weighing Scales!

Achieving ISOCAL certification for weighing scales is a vital step for any manufacturing industry. Not only does it validate the accuracy of your scales, but it also contributes to quality assurance in manufacturing, helping to optimise processes and boost productivity.

At Weighing-Net, we offer a wide range of industrial weighing solutions, from precision weighing instruments to heavy equipment weighing systems. Our commitment to quality and customer service makes us one of the leading weighing scale manufacturers in the UK.

FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions