Accurate weight measurement is critical to a massive range of industries, from manufacturing, and agriculture, to food processing and logistics. Platform scales are used in all of these industries for weighing heavy and large items – and calibrating them correctly is absolutely key to ensuring their ongoing precision and reliability.
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of platform scale calibration, its benefits, and the steps involved in how to calibrate a platform scale.
What Is Calibration, And Why Is It Important For Platform Scales?
Calibration is a critical step in ensuring that the measurements obtained from a platform scale are accurate and reliable. During the calibration process, the scale is compared to a known reference standard, such as a calibrated weight or a known value, to determine its accuracy. If the measurements obtained from the platform scale deviate from the known reference standard, adjustments are made to the scale to bring it back into alignment.
Because platform scales are mostly used to weigh large quantities of goods – such as raw materials, finished products, or livestock – even a small error in weight measurement can result in significant financial losses, production downtime, or even legal consequences.
Inaccurate weight measurements in the food processing industry, for example, can lead to incorrect ingredient ratios, spoilage, or underfilled packages, which can result in customer complaints, recalls, or legal actions.
What Are The Consequences Of Using Uncalibrated Platform Scales?
As mentioned above, using uncalibrated platform scales can lead to inaccurate weight measurements – which can result in several negative consequences, including product defects, production delays, and safety issues, with potential financial losses for businesses. Leaving scales uncalibrated for too long can also have an impact on the longevity of the machinery and equipment.
How Often Should Platform Scales Be Calibrated, And What Factors Can Affect The Calibration Frequency?
The frequency of platform scale calibration depends on several factors, including the type of scale, how often it is used, and the environment in which it operates. In general, platform scales should be calibrated at least once a year. However, some industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry, may require more frequent calibration due to regulatory requirements. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and vibration can also affect the calibration frequency.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Professional Calibration Services Company To Calibrate Platform Scales
Using a professional calibration services company to calibrate platform scales offers a number of benefits, including:
- Ensuring that the platform scales are calibrated accurately and reliably
- Providing documentation and certification of the calibration process, which can be used to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Identifying potential issues with the platform scales and recommending corrective actions.
How Can Businesses Choose A Reliable And Reputable Provider?
Not all calibration services companies are equal – when there’s potentially so much at stake, it’s really important to do your research. Make sure that you get a good idea of the company’s experience, expertise and reputation.
A reliable and reputable calibration services company should have experience calibrating various types of scales, including platform scales, and have a team of trained and certified technicians. The company should also have a reputation for providing quality services and meeting customer expectations.
How To Calibrate A Platform Scale: Platform Scale Calibration Procedure
Calibrating a platform scale involves several steps, including preparing the scale for calibration, selecting the calibration weights, and performing the calibration. Here is a platform scale calibration procedure that can be used as a general guide:
- Prepare the scale for calibration: Clean the scale surface and remove any items from the scale. Ensure that the scale is level and stable.
- Select the calibration weights: Select calibration weights that are appropriate for the scale’s capacity and accuracy. The calibration weights should be traceable to a national standard.
- Perform the calibration: Place the calibration weights on the scale and record the readings. Adjust the scale as necessary to ensure that the readings are accurate.
- Verify the calibration: Verify the calibration by repeating the calibration process and comparing the readings to the previous calibration.
Do You Need To Calibrate Your Platform Scales?
As you have seen from this article, the platform scale calibration procedure is critical for ensuring accurate weight measurement and avoiding the negative consequences of using uncalibrated equipment. Regular calibration of platform scales is essential for maintaining precision and reliability, and businesses must consider various factors that can affect the calibration frequency, such as frequency of use, environmental conditions, and industry regulations.
Why Choose GNW?
Professional calibration services companies can provide the expertise, equipment, and documentation required to calibrate platform scales properly.
At GNW, we are a reliable and reputable provider of calibration services for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, and logistics.
If you’re looking for a professional calibration services company for your platform scales or other measuring equipment, we encourage you to visit our weight scale calibration or contact our team directly. We can help you ensure accurate and reliable weight measurement and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulations.