By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-11-17 16:48:55 | Word Count: 664
Industrial platform scales are heavy duty scales. They come in two forms, the ‘small’ industrial platform scale and the ‘regular’ industrial platform scale. The distinction between the two is weight capacity. The smaller version cannot accommodate more than 500lbs of weight, while the larger ones can hold up to 20,000 lbs. You don’t want to end up in the position where you have purchased more or less than you need, because acquiring industrial platform scales is a big investment for most companies. Nevertheless, it is often an integral part of many enterprises in the manufacturing and industrial sector.
Construction
In addition to capacity requirements, various other features go into producing industrial platform scales. Since they are for industrial applications, they are built to last a very long time. The quality of the scales’ construction is thus important; otherwise it will end up being a waste of money. There are many die-cast aluminum models, but for the most rugged use, you will want to get one that is made of welded aluminum or steel. These are much tougher and will stand up to many years of punishment. The main idea is that you want your industrial platform scale to have as few moving parts as possible. If you can find one with no moving parts, that’s even better. Depending on what you are weighing, you may also need the platform to have a corrosive resistant coating for defense against many types of chemical substances.
[ advertisement ]
Output Device
The scales’ display features also need to be taken into consideration. The most beneficial models are mutli-talented. They don’t only provide weight measurement capabilities, but also help you manage your paperwork. Some industrial platform scale manufacturers have developed various kinds of industry–specific software than can be integrated into your model. These programs will enable your industrial platform display and your company’s computers and/or printers to speak to one another. This means that, as your weighing components onto your scale, the display will measure its weight, calculate what group or category it falls into, send that remotely to an Excel spreadsheet, which can then be remotely sent to a printer in your office. Weight and group category are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what these programs can do for you.
The construction of the display case is also important in terms of longevity. With such sophisticated software loaded into it, you will probably need one that has been housed in a durable enclosure. The displays are not always fixed to the actual scale; some can be hand held from a distance and are connected by a cable to the load platform. Nevertheless, in many industrial environments, it is necessary to make sure the display is properly protected by adequate housing.
Cost
Industrial platform scales can often cost thousands of dollars, but you can save quite a bit of money if you cut out the middle man and buy straight from the manufacturer. This is a case where manufacturer to manufacturer business yields great rewards. Retail environments have to mark scale models up thousands of dollars to make a profit. Fortunately, manufacturers who sell direct to users are available. One of the innovators in software and load cell technology, ArlynScales or Brightscale, is even willing to custom make one for you at costs comparable to standard retail models.
Contact leading industrial platform scale manufacture, ArlynScales or Brightscale, about getting one designed for your needs and in your budget.
