Modern industrial scales, especially weighbridges, play a key role in logistics, waste management, industrial manufacturing and the agricultural sector. These devices are often placed at or near the entrance of the site to weigh and check goods (feed, fodder, live animals and other products) arriving and departing by truck or agricultural machinery, thus ensuring efficient record-keeping and control. But what factors should be considered when selecting and installing the right weighbridge?
Let us take a detailed look!
Weighbridges can be distinguished based on several criteria:
- By material: Steel and reinforced concrete weighbridges exist. Steel weighbridges are lighter and can be installed more quickly, while reinforced concrete versions, due to their monolithic structure, have a surface that can be driven over from any direction.
- Dimensions: The size of scales may vary depending on the site’s conditions and the length of vehicles to be weighed.
- By installation method: We distinguish between surface-mounted (pit-less) and shallow-pit weighbridges. The pit-less variant is easy to clean, while the pit version requires deeper installation, is less prone to contamination but can be more space-efficient.
After selecting the appropriate type, it is important to pay attention to the details of installation and maintenance.
Weighbridge Installation and Maintenance
The following should be considered when installing a weighbridge:
- Proper substructure construction: The foundation must precisely match the manufacturer’s specifications, as this ensures the long-term accuracy of the scale.
- Water drainage: Proper water drainage is particularly important for pit-mounted scales to prevent premature equipment failure.
- Ramps and traffic management: For the surface-mounted variant, the maximum ramp slope can be 8% to allow vehicles to drive on safely and without obstruction.
- Maintenance: Although weighbridges do not contain moving parts, it is recommended to clean the area under the structure and check the bumpers twice a year.
The efficiency of scales can be further enhanced with various digital solutions and safety systems. Here we show how modern industrial scales can be expanded with numerous additional features:
Supplementary Software and Safety Solutions:
- Digital display and data collection: The display can be placed in a temperature-controlled room or outdoors in a weather-resistant version. The scale can be connected to a computer, enabling data recording and printing of weighing tickets.
- EKAER-compatible software: The system can be integrated with the EKAER system, which simplifies administration.
- Safety and traffic management systems: Proper weighing can be ensured by infrared barriers, while camera systems can document the measurement process and number plate recognition cameras can speed up the preparation of weighing tickets.
- Outdoor secondary display: Helps drivers with accurate measurement and optimisation of loading.
Having familiarised ourselves with the types, installation and supplementary solutions for weighbridges, let us look at what factors should be considered during selection.
Criteria for Selecting the Right Weighbridge:
Summary
Weighbridges are indispensable tools in industrial and agricultural weighing, but their proper selection and installation are essential for efficient operation. Modern scales can also be supplemented with integrated software and automated safety systems to enable even more accurate and faster measurements. If you are considering the purchase of an industrial scale or weighbridge, it is worth taking all aspects into account to obtain a reliable, accurate and efficient solution in the long term!
