Weighing Scales

Help with choosing a Weighing Scales to suit your needs.

When you are buying a weighing scales or labelling scales for your business there are a number of questions that you can ask yourself.

Your answers to the following questions may help you in deciding which weighing or labelling scale is the best one for your business.

1. What is the basic type of scales that you need and what will it be used for.

In our website we have divided our full range of weighing and labelling scales into 3 main catagories:

• Retail Weighing Scales

• Industrial Weighing Scales

• Labelling Scales

2. Weighing Scale Capacity

• What is the lightest items that you need to weigh on the weighing scales.

• What is the heaviest item that you need to weigh on the weighing scales.

While buying a weighing scales to suit your current capacity is ideal it is also important to consider your future capacity needs and to factor in a margin of up to 40% for future needs.

3. Weighing Scale Accuracy

• What accuracy do you need on the weighing scales.

The minimum division that the weighing scale can display as the weight of an item on the weighing scale platter or pan increases or decreases indicates the accuracy of the scale. Accuracy in scales is also referred to as their division size. An accuracy of 50g means that the weight of an item will be displayed to the nearest 50g and accuracy of 5g means that the weight of the item will be displayed to the nearest 5g. When buying a weighing scales to suit your needs it is important to consider the smallest or minimum weight that the weighing scales will be required to measure.

4. Weighing Pan or Platter size

• What is the physical size of the object or material that will be weighed on the weighing scales

It is important to consider the physical size of the object being weighed and choose a weighing pan / platter that is large enough to accommodate weighing the object.

5. Labelling

• Do you need to place a label on the items weighed.

• What information is needed on the label.

Food Labelling Regulations are designed to provide better information to consumers, in particular about ingredients and allergen. New regulations have strict guidelines on how and where critical food information is displayed on the product packaging and label. The legislation applies to all food and beverage products manufactured and imported into the EU.

Link 1: Food and Drinks Labelling Guide

Link 2: Food Regulation Document

 6. Are the items being weighed for sale to customers

• A Trade approved scales may be required where items are offered for sale to a customer.

7. Will the scales be used for direct sales to a customer

• If you are weighing goods in front of a customer at the point of sale you may need a rear display so that both the customer and the operator can see the weight of the item.

• For retail outlets, Price Computing Scales allow you to weigh the item, input a price, and the scale will then calculate the individual sale amount.

• Will the weighing scales be linked to a computer and/or a cash drawer

8. What type of environment will the scales be used in

• Will the scales be used in a wet, humid or damp environment.

Water-proof stainless steel weighing scales are best suited to wet environments.

9. What power supply is available to operate the scales

• Will the scales be moved from place to place or fixed in one location

• What power source is available for the scales.

• Is portability important for using and operating the scales

• Will the scales require battery power as well as mains power

If you are planning to use your weighing scale in a fixed location is there a power source available for the scales? If the position or location of the weighing scales is not fixed a portable weighing scale that is battery operated or main and battery operated may be the preferred option.

10. Will the scales be linked to ancillary equipment

• Will the scales be linked to a cash register or point of sale system

• Will the scales be linked to a cash drawer

• Will the scales be linked to a computer or Back Office Management System.

If you are planning to link the weighing scales to a cash drawer, point of sale system or back office system the weighing scales must have the required supporting connections to allow for communications between devices. The correct cabling and network infrastructure is also necessary to ensure quality and reliable exchange of information between connected devices.

The answers to these questions may help when deciding which Weighing or Labelling Scales will meet your unique business requirements.

If you require further information or advise on finding a suitable Weighing or Labelling Scale to meet your requirement contact Astec P.O.S.

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