Category Archives: Digital Weight Indicators

Can I Buy An American Made Digital Weight Indicator?

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Quite often a customer will contact us looking to buy a scale. Often they will have a list of features that they’re looking for, most of which we are able to accommodate.  It could be that they need a large size floor scale or maybe they need a scale to be extremely accurate. Or maybe they need a scale that can connect to their computer system via USB or ethernet cable.

doran 7000xlm weight meter

However there is one question about digital weighing indicators that makes us stop and think for a few seconds. Can I buy a Made in the USA digital weight readout for my scale? You see many of our favorite U.S. scale manufacturers actually import their digital indicators.

So as of today the best choices we can come up with for true Made in the USA quality when it comes to digital weight indicators would be the following:

  • Pennsylvania Scale 7600
  • Doran Scales 7000XLM
  • Cambridge CSW-10

The Pennsylvania 7600E is a really nice indicator for truck scale customers who are looking for a nice indicator that has many great features but doesn’t cost a fortune.  The Cambridge CSW-10 is an entry level basic indicator that is great for simple weighing applications.

So there you have it. If you are serious about finding made in the U.S.A. scale equipment we can provide that for you. It may be a little tough to find sometimes and it may cost a little more than the chinese imported products but in most cases we can get you a MADE IN THE USA weighing product.

Cardinal Scale’s New 190A Weight Indicator with Axle Weighing Software

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cardinal 190a with 760 axle scalesDesigned for non-legal-for-trade portable axle weighing applications such as with Cardinal’s CWL-40 and 760 series mobile wheel weighers, the 190A weight indicator features axle weighing software, traffic control mode to automatically capture accumulative axle weights without the driver having to leave the truck (when connected to a remote display with traffic lights and printer), two RS232 serial ports (for printer and remote display), optional rechargeable lithium ion battery, capacitive touch keys, and IP69K-rated wash-down enclosure (the highest protection rating possible).

The 1-inch/25-mm high backlit LCD is visible in direct sunlight and may be set to any one of 6 different customizable settings. The 190A weight indicator features 3 watertight gland connectors, quick-connect power connector, and one ID.

The 190A easily factors axle weights by pressing the PRINT key for each successive axle weight, or it can function in traffic control auto mode sensing each truck axle’s weight when connected to a remote display such as the SB500 with traffic signals and a printer such as the P150. Traffic control mode allows the truck driver to never have to leave the truck during the axle weighing process which speeds up weighing operations.

A variety of power options for the 190A enable mobile weighing on the go!

The PS190 wall adapter with US, UK, EU, and Australian plugs.
The 190DC12 car battery charger cable with 12-foot length and battery terminal eyelets (also available in 6 and 18 foot lengths).
Or the popular BP190 rechargeable lithium ion internal battery pack, which charges from the indicator through the PS190 or 190DC12 power options.

Three different modes of power give you versatile options with Cardinal’s 190A indicator.

Cardinal’s model P150 mobile high-speed direct line thermal printer is rechargeable lithium-ion battery powered (included) for use with the 190A indicator and portable scales. The P150 is compact and robust with a long-life printing head and high reliability. It features easy paper handling due to its paper drop-in style, 3.15-in/80-mm per second printing speed, 203 DPI x 203 DPI resolution, and serial and USB connectivity. There are three LEDs to indicate battery status. Charging time is 2 hours for 90 minutes of continuous use. The overall dimensions are 3.7 W x 5.3 D x 2.2 H inches (96 W x 136 D x 58 H mm). Print width is 1.89 in/48 mm, 384 dot. Standard serial printer cable provided.

No Network Available for Data Collection? No Problem.

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Over the past several years Doran Scale has become a leader in scale communication and data collection applications. With the new advanced features on the 2200 series this system now offers more flexibility in real world data collection applications. While collecting data using Ethernet and a Local Area Network (LAN) is ideal in many instances, there are times when this is not practical because of complexity, facility restrictions or cost. An ideal solution when a LAN is not available is the Doran 2200 Scale with the Bluetooth option utilizing data buffering.

The 2200 with the Bluetooth option (EXOPT205 ) is set up with an appropriate data string which could include Product ID, Description, User defined fields for Lot ID, Employee ID or Location and scale information. Data buffering is enabled in configuration and the data output method is selected. This could be a manual output by pressing the PRINT button or one of several automatic outputs. When weight is on the scale and data is output manually or automatically, the configured data string is Continue reading →

Check Out the Latest Advanced Features of the Doran 2200 indicators

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Doran listens to their distributors and their needs.  Along with the 2200’s standard features such as Gross, Net, Tare, multiple product ID’s, full numerical keypad, accumulator, eight setpoints, two RS232 ports, Doran recently released the latest offering of advanced features for the Doran 2200 Indicator which include: Continue reading →

Happy Easter

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We sincerely hope you and your families enjoyed peace and happiness as we celebrate Passover and Easter.

In an era of sea change for weighing equipment and its distribution, certain important brand attributes remain the same for Pennsylvania brand scales.  Consistent, flexible treatment; Made in USA quality; long Warranties; 15-20 year service life (in a world of throwaway equipment); Technician-friendly products; and a commitment to our customers.  Continue reading →

Floor Scales 101 the Fine Print or should we say chinese print?

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From time to time we hear from folks asking us about 4’x4′ floor scale systems priced well under $800 with FREE SHIPPING.  Can you truly get a quality 4’x4′ floor scale system for that price?  OR LESS!   Just take a stroll around the internet and you see all kinds of offers.  Well as it turns out, we happened to get a couple of these beauties in our shop to look at.   By the way, they were brought in for repair.

First, almost all of these low cost floor scales are not the size they are promoted to be.  They’re 44″x44″ or 47″x47″.  And that is just the top plate. Once you measure the actual supported frame underneath the top deck plate, that low cost “4×4″ floor scale that you thought was such a great deal is now really a 46″ x 46”.  One of the scales we had in our possession had no label on it.  Who Continue reading →

Become more efficient with a fork lift scale

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Rice Lake CLS model fork lift scales are factory calibrated and delivered with innovative packaging that allows safe and fast installation. Compatible digital indicators can accept data wirelessly from the two-channel digital iQUBE® junction box, located on the scale carriage. Or, if you choose, the wired version communicates weight data via the coil cable provided with the scale. For wireless versions, the communication electronics are protected in enclosures mounted to the back of the indicator and in the junction box. Both models are designed with a separate on/off switch to conserve forklift power and will display battery hours remaining before a recharge is needed.

The CLS has a 5,000 lb capacity that is electronically and mechanically supported by two 5,000 lb stainless steel load cells and mechanical overload protection. The centering pin is welded directly to the scale instead of using mounting bolts that often break. The welded centering pin ensures proper Continue reading →

Medical Scales

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I took a tour recently of a local pediatrician office. Unlike the other people on the tour, I was actually sneaking a peek at what scales the doctor’s office had.  I was able to see a digital Detecto Medical scale along with a couple of digital baby scales. There was also a separate stand alone height rod in the weighing station for the kids.  All the weighing equipment seemed to be in good condition and it appeared that the scales had calibration stickers on them stating that the scales had been checked for accuracy on a consistent basis. Continue reading →

FLOOR SCALE PRICES

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The price of mild steel used in the manufacture of Pennsylvania M6600 Floor Scales rose considerably in 2008. It is difficult in a world market where steel demand drives up the price of the Pennsylvania “Made in the USA” floor scales and meanwhile inferior “no name” products are dumped in the market, putting enormous price pressure on everyone as well. For example, the steel structural extrusion material that is used in the most popular 48″ x 48″ Pennsylvania floor scale designs has DOUBLED in cost since January 2008 — and they use 16′ of it in each and every 4×4 scale. A few comments about the Pennsylvania floor scale design and marketing philosophy:

  1. Pennsylvania will not cheapen the M6600 floor scale to match the competition. The floor scale Continue reading →