Category Archives: Floor Scales

Is it Worth the Extra Cost to Galvanize Your Next Truck Scale?

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Does it make sense for you to pay extra and purchase the option for galvanizing your truck scale? Honestly, I haven’t given galvanizing a whole lot of thought in the past since everyone is so focused on truck scale prices and lowering the upfront costs. However, if you could come up with a process (Galvanizing) that could extend the life of your investment, it could well be worth the extra cost up front.

Have you noticed that most outdoor light posts and highway guard rails have the same grey color?

Do you know why?

Most people don’t pay attention to this but if you’re familiar with the steel industry you know that preparation, coatings, and paint systems are the single most important factors to prolonging the life of steel.

The reason for this grey color is because these metal products have been galvanized.

Generally, any metal made to be outside in the elements is commonly coated with a zinc finish through a process called galvanization.

Did you know that galvanizing has been around for over 200 years?

It flat out works, but is it worth it?

What is Galvanizing?

Hot dip galvanizing is the process of immersing raw steel into a liquid zinc “bath.” In order to provide the most effective galvanizing, steel must not be previously treated and prepared properly to ensure that zinc finds its way into the pores of the steel. The first five steps of the galvanizing process are related to cleaning and removing any impurities before the final zinc bath.

How Expensive is Galvanizing?

The better question is how expensive is it NOT to galvanize? In 2017 the NACE estimated the cost of corrosion to be $2.5 trillion! It estimated that by implementing early corrosion control practices, such as galvanizing, between $300 and $800 billion could be saved, annually!

While we can see this is a large sum of money globally, exactly how does this apply to your scale?

galvanized platform scale

Scale Applications

If you plan to buy a scale and run ten trucks over it each day in the warmer parts of the United States, you don’t need to read any further – galvanizing is probably not for you.

However, if you operate in an area where snow or saltwater are factors, then you should seriously consider a galvanized scale. If your scale comes in contact with caustic materials or it sits in water and grime, then you should definitely consider a galvanized scale!

Replacing something prematurely is never anything someone looks forward to, but consider the cost of prematurely replacing a truck scale – EXPENSIVE!

Cranes, downtime, steel repairs, etc.… not to mention the headache of dealing with the whole project. The price of galvanizing will far outweigh the cost and hassle of having to replace a truck scale prematurely.

Galvanized steel corrodes at a rate of 1/30 of bare steel in the same environment. If your current scale is corroding rapidly and you could likely obtain 30% more life from a galvanized scale, you should consider making the additional investment.

What does galvanizing my truck scale really cost?

While zinc fluctuates in price, you can typically expect to spend ~ 30% more for a galvanized scale vs. a painted scale. This price typically includes the galvanizing, handling of the scale and shipping it to and from the galvanizer and back to the factory.

Because this is a specialized process, scale manufacturers and many steel producers do not galvanize their own products, so the extra handling will have to be considered.

After galvanizing, the scale is returned to the manufacturer for inspection where the steel is inspected to ensure the heat of the galvanizing process did not warp any beams or effect any welds. Holes and open areas on the scale also need to be checked to make sure they aren’t plugged. If there are any issues, they can be remedied by the scale manufacturer before shipment.

Galvanizing your truck scale is always an option that should be considered based on the factors mentioned above. Considering that most static steel structures in harsh environments are galvanized, it’s compelling to believe that a wear surface exposed to harsh environments should be treated the same way. If you need any assistance deciding if galvanizing is right for you, the experts at Central Carolina Scale will be happy to assist.

Top Choices for IBC Container Scale Weighing Solutions

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You will often see an intermediate bulk container (IBC) tote bin or tank in various locations around industrial settings. And, in a lot of cases, customers are looking for IBC Tote scale options which would allow them to weigh those tanks and keep track of what is inside.

Before we get too far along, what exactly is an IBC container? 

Intermediate bulk containers (also known as IBC tank, IBC tote, IBC, or pallet tank) are industrial-grade containers engineered for the mass handling, transport, and storage of liquids.

Rigid intermediate bulk containers are stackable, reusable, versatile containers with an integrated pallet base mount that provides forklift and/or pallet jack maneuverability.

These containers can be made from metal, plastic, or a composite construction of the two materials. Rigid IBC design types are manufactured across a volume range that is in between that of standard shipping drums and intermodal tank containers, hence the title “intermediate“ bulk container. IBC tank capacities generally used are often 1,040 and 1,250 litres (275 and 330 US gal). 

As a distributor of Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) tote scales, there are several ways that you could go about weighing your IBC tank. A tote load cell setup could be used to weigh the ibc tote where you basically build a scale using a load cell kit.  The more popular approach would be to actually use an industrial floor scale where you could place the industrial platform scale under the tote in order to weigh the 275 gallon water tank. 

ibc tote scale

Every few months we get asked if anyone uses a 5×5 platform scale for weighing totes?  A customer typically sees a scale online with 10,000 lb capacity and 5×5 size for sale. Adding a scale like that would eliminate guessing on how much product is left in the tote.

We basically offer high capacity weighing solutions for applications requiring frequent loading and unloading of IBC Totes and Carboys. An IBC Tote / Tank Scale is designed for weighing tote bins and carboys. We can provide industrial floor scales with various platform sizes (48″ x 48″, 60″ x 60″, 72″ x 72″ and more) and various capacities (2000 lb, 5000 lb, & 10,000 lb). We even have “U” shaped scales which can sometimes make adding a tank and removing a tank easier.

ibc tank scales

Some customers just put one of these IBC tote scales on their water truck and use a chemical pump. They zero the scale and you can get accurate weighing. You will want to make sure the scale is secure on the truck deck or bed and secure the tote on the scale.

Painted Steel scale platforms are typical with diamond tread plate.  Stainless steel is also available. Weight indicators are available with 4-20 mA analog output and/or optional setpoint relays. Other options might include battery power, stainless steel enclosure, LCD or LED displays etc…

We can also quote you for intrinsically safe options if needed for weighing chemicals such as ammonia, fluoride, phosphate, polymers, sodium aluminate, sodium bisulfate, sodium hydroxide, and other liquids.

Tote or container scale choices have to be well designed and rugged for frequent on and off loading. Most scale platforms we offer for this type of application would have four load cells and adjustable feet. In addition to selling the scale equipment, we also have a highly qualified, factory trained scale repair department who can troubleshoot and fix any scale error you may have.

This scale base is available in standard sizes ranging from 24″ x 24″ to 72″ x 72″ (many other sizes available). There are various digital weight indicators available as well. Some popular choices are the Pennsylvania 7600E, Rice Lake 682 Plus, and Rice Lake 480 Plus. For more info please contact us for a quote by completing our Request for Quote form.

How Do I Troubleshoot a Pallet Scale? (Floor Scale)

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YOUR TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE FOR INDUSTRIAL FLOOR SCALES

Pallet scales typically take a lot of wear and tear every single day. Some of it is expected and some of it goes overboard. Of course floor scale users are supposed to “place” or “set” pallets on the scale platform. However, in the real world “placing” is usually somewhere between outright dropping and slamming.

Also, in addition the the shock loading many floor scales often take everyday, the scales are often utilized in harsh environments such as outdoors, recycling centers, food processing centers, etc… In fact, floor scales are often subject to high pressure washdowns, corrosive materials, overloading, hazardous areas, and much more.

That’s why it’s important to have your platform scale checked periodically on a consistent schedule. We can help you with that! Ask us about our Service Agreements that we offer. 

However, even with the best scale maintenance program, weighing equipment can fail between scale inspections.

So, is there anything you can do to troubleshoot your floor scale? 

Actually, there are several steps you can take. Below is a list of floor scale troubleshooting tips to make sure your industrial floor scale is working correctly. Keep in mind, if you try the list below and your pallet scale still isn’t working, you will need to contact our scale repair department by calling (919) 776-7737

how do I troubleshoot my floor scale?

HOW DO I TROUBLESHOOT A FLOOR SCALE?

PROBLEM
Any floor scale related problem

POTENTIAL CULPRIT
Anything

SOLUTION
Unplug the power from the scale for a minute and then plug the power back in after a minute or so. It seems too simple, but you’d be surprised how often this works.

 

PROBLEM    
Floor scale not reading correctly

POTENTIAL CULPRIT
Could be something under the weighbridge, weighbridge shoved against a wall, bent foot, cut cable, etc..

SOLUTION
This may take a few minutes of your time but it might save a service call. Look for anything under the scale platform. Make sure the platform is not shoved against a wall or pit frame (learn more about floor scale with ramp vs in-ground scale). Make sure all four feet are in good shape and solidly on the ground. Make sure the homerun cable has no obvious cuts. If that doesn’t work, it’s best to call our service department.

 

PROBLEM
Pallet scale display either shows all “- – – -” or is constantly displaying different numbers

POTENTIAL CULPRIT
This could be a cut cable. This could also possibly be a bad load cell. 

SOLUTION
Examine the cable. If you see a cut, it might be a good idea to replace the cable. If you see nothing wrong with the cable, you might try disconnecting the load cells in the junction box, one by one and see if that calms the system down. If that works, you might have a bad load cell(s).  If that does nothing, you might have an indicator issue.  At this point, you probably need to contact the scale service department so that our factory trained scale technicians can get to work and have you back weighing again.

 

FLOOR SCALE TROUBLESHOOTING ADVICE

The good news is that we stock many of the replacement scale parts that are needed for floor scale repairs. We have replacement shear beam load cells in many of the capacities you may need like 2.5k or 5k.  We have summing boards that are used to connect all the load cell wires. We have digital weight indicators and we have load cell cables that run from the digital weight display down to the platform scale.  Call our service department (919) 776-7737 to get booked on our schedule. 

Finding the Right Balance Between Value & Accuracy

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One of the things that we try really hard to do is provide our customers with as much value as possible. How do we do that? We do this in many ways through things like factory training, sales training, and product research. One other thing we do quite often is constantly strive to find quality products that are affordable for customers.

However, one of the really challenging things we have to deal with is striking the balance between quality and accurate products. Or, unfortunately, in some instances, good products versus junk. 

Unfortunately, the line between a good product and a not-so-good product is getting finer and finer…

count small parts easier with an electronic counting scale

I was reminded of this challenge over the past couple of weeks. Recently, I had a line of imported scales from China presented to me that seemed to have a lot of promise.  The price was attractive and the visual look of the scales was appealing.  However, once I evaluated these items, it quickly became apparent, that although these scales would please everybody’s demand for a low price… they would not meet our standards for accuracy or the demands of our customers. 

If you’re an end user, then you face a similar challenge. Perhaps you’re in the market for a counting scale. With minimal internet research, you can find prices on parts counting scales from $100 and up!  Of course, the hundred dollar scale is 99% plastic and 1% aluminum and certainly not what we would recommend for anyone looking for a durable and relatively long lasting scale.

The same thing can be said for many types of scales…

Farmers or Market Sellers searching for price computing scales are often easily fooled by the $60 produce scales they may see on popular auction sites only to find out later, (when their state inspector shuts them down), that what they really needed is what’s called a NTEP Legal for Trade certified price computing scale, which is more expensive.

Perhaps it’s a floor scale that you need to weigh pallets each day. Although many floor scales look similar in pictures online, these “pallet scales” feature various components, such as digital indicators & strain gauge load cells, which can vary greatly in quality. The product construction and durability can also vary quite a bit depending on who actually manufacturers the scale platform and how much engineering truly went into constructing it.   

So how do you find a weighing scale that meets your budget and is built to last? 

These days it’s easier than ever to just buy everything you need without the help of anyone. Just point and click. But many times when you do that, you could be missing out. How does the old saying go?  You don’t know what you don’t know… 

I recommend contacting your local scale company or a scale company that you have done business with and trust. (Hopefully, we’re included in that choice!)  It really does make the process of buying scales much easier when you have a good working relationship with your scale company.

As you work with your scale company representative, they will become a trusted partner in your business.  Your scale sales person knows what you’re weighing and the weighing needs of your business. All you need to do is mention what you’re looking to do and what type of weighing device you think that you’ll need.

Pricing and Quotes

Over the years I have seen some really nice scales and I have seen some really bad scales too! I suggest working together with your trusted scale supplier to find products that will meet your requirements while staying within your budget.

The product and sourcing experience that your scale dealer has is invaluable. Don’t forget, in addition to working with you, we also work with hundreds of other customers helping them to find the perfect weighing equipment for their needs.  So that product experience and knowledge that we gain can then be applied to your scale search as well.

I also recommend working with a scale company who’s willing to offer various brands of scales as opposed to a dealer who just pushes one brand of scales for everything… 

It’s very common for us to recommend different brands for various types of scales. For example, we might suggest CAS retail scales, B-Tek floor scales, Avery Weigh-Tronix counting scales and Cardinal truck scales. 

In other words, we base our product recommendations largely off past success and not because we’re trying reach some kind of sales quota. 

 

Final Thoughts

We realize that customers want to find a great deal on whatever it is that they need to purchase. It can be anything from scales to copy paper… everyone wants to find a cheaper alternative that is just as good as what you’ve been using. 

Unfortunately, as many of us have found out, often a product is cheaper for certain reasons. We see this all the time whether you’re talking about a portable pallet jack scale or a stationary 4×4 pallet scale. Quality and durability are often lacking with cheap scales.

Let us help you make intelligent scale purchases for your business. We can help you save money while still buying quality scales and weighing equipment. We’re just a phone call away (919) 776-7737.  If you prefer, you can also email us or complete our Request a Quote form and someone from our staff will get back to you in a timely manner. 

Why use Digital Scales when Brewing Beer?

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There are many reasons to use digital scales when brewing beer.

It can be for a microbrewery or an international brand. Consistency is first and foremost.

If you created a beer with a special taste, you want to make sure you can recreate that taste in every bottle. If ingredients are not measured properly, the taste can be unpleasant, and the alcohol content (typically referred to as alcohol by volume or ABV) can change.

Specific quantities can allow even new employees who are not familiar with a recipe to recreate the product with ease. A formula can also be tweaked more easily. Weight quantities also make recording easier. Recipes should always be written down with the exact amounts used during brewing. That helps ensure good batches get reproduced, and it can also allow brewers to find out why a recipe did not work.

Measuring ingredients can also help minimize waste by ensuring the right amount of ingredients are used in correct proportions. For home and microbreweries, it can be particularly tricky to scale the right amount of yeast for a first batch, so precision is very important. Even small batches can be ruined by imprecise recipes, which spills all the ingredients, time, money and effort down the drain.

Scales can also help during the carbonation process, depending on your method of choice. Carbonation can be added to beer in two ways: natural carbonation or forced carbonation. Natural carbonation results during the fermentation process of beer; when yeast digests sugar, alcohol and CO2 are the byproducts. This means brewers must carefully measure the sugar and yeast in order to create the proper amount of carbonation.

Forced carbonation is putting beer (post fermentation) in a container and pumping it with CO2 directly. Nowadays, this is the preferred method, particularly for large quantities.

It takes less time to carbonate a batch and forced carbonation allows beer to sit longer, but naturally carbonated beer is smoother and is considered more flavorful. In the end, it comes down to personal preference and equipment availability.

Scales are also used during bottling and to fill cans or kegs. Before fermentation, wort (unfermented beer) is made by boiling the ingredients together. Because some of the water can boil away, it’s important to add more water as need during the fermentation process. Monitoring a keg’s weight can help brewers ensure there is always enough water, and that the beer is not losing carbonation.

The weight of bottles (and their thickness) can also help ensure that carbonation, when combined with temperature and agitation, does not create too much pressure, which could break the glass bottles.

Why measure by weight and not by volume?

Using volume might seem more intuitive since beer is liquid. However, measuring by volume is not as accurate as measuring by mass. The shape of ingredients can dictate how much fits in a cup, while density and temperature can affect a liquid’s volume. Beer goes through numerous processes that can affect volume, including boiling, fermentation, and carbonation. Mass does not have to take these factors into account. That additional precision can improve the beer’s taste and help brewers tweak their recipe to perfection.

Even small balances can also measure a wider range. Take your usual measuring cups and spoons, where you often need multiple items to measure various ingredients. With a scale, you can simply put the ingredients in a container (tared, of course) and fill it until you have the right weight.

What kind of scale do you need for brewing?

You must establish your level of production, and the weight range you will need. If a brewery focuses on seasonal flavors or taste experiments, they will weigh smaller quantities than a brewery focusing on a single product.

Depending on the size of your operation, you’re most likely going to need more than one scale. Usually, micro or home breweries use a compact or precision balance to measure ingredients such as hops, spices, yeast and other fine items, and a stationary pallet scale or a portable pallet jack scale for batches, kegs, mass production and bottling.

Some breweries also have scales to check grain deliveries and yeast brinks. Larger breweries often have platform scales for larger batches and shipping and can buy more expensive balances that include more features that can save them time.

For large amounts of shipping and receiving, pallet truck scales or pallet weighing beams offer maneuverability and heavy-duty weighing capacities.

For more information on choosing the right digital scales for your brewery call us at (919) 776-7737

Using Scales to Weigh Industrial Hemp

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Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago, according to Wikipedia

Below are a few popular questions and answers regarding industrial hemp. You can see the complete question and answer article by viewing the state website.

What kind of plant is industrial hemp?
Industrial hemp is a small seeded, dicot, dioecious, photoperiodic plant. This means that it is a broadleaf and not a grass. There are male and female plants. The plants flower based on a day length trigger.

These plant characteristics will present production and cultivation challenges for North Carolina. The small seed is very sensitive to planting depth, and establishing an acceptable stand will require close attention to a shallow planting depth, firm seedbed and avoiding flooding conditions. The seedling is also small and not very competitive with weeds until the crop is established and canopy closure occurs. There are no labeled pesticides for use on industrial hemp at this time.

How is industrial hemp cultivated?
Industrial hemp is generally grown for; seed, fiber, or floral materials. Each is produced is in a slightly different way. For seed production, plants would generally be seeded at a high plant population similar to a small grain crop. Reported seeding rates are 25 to 40 pounds of seed per acre planted with a grain drill. For fiber, high seeding rates are generally recommended. The reason for high seeding rates and plant population is to limit lateral branching and facilitate harvest. Production of floral materials varies widely from greenhouse production to wider row spacings, which would resemble tobacco or horticultural crop production. Floral buds are harvested, so production systems that promote lateral branching and more numerous flowers per plant would be desirable. Harvesting methods vary.

What are the market opportunities for industrial hemp?
Similar to the limited research for production, little information exists at this time for the market opportunities to potential North Carolina growers. Growers are urged to proceed with caution and closely examine potential market opportunities.

What is hemp used for?
Hemp fibers have been used to manufacture hundreds of products that include fiber for injected/molded composite materials, twine, paper, construction materials, carpeting, clothing, and animal bedding.

Seeds have been used in making industrial oils, cosmetics and other personal care products, and medicines. Hemp seed or oil can be found in cooking oil, salad dressings, pasta, and snack products. 

Can I grow hemp in my backyard?
No. Under state and federal laws, industrial hemp growers must be issued a license to participate in the industrial hemp pilot program. The Industrial Hemp Commission is responsible for developing rules and regulations for participating in the program.

What is the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana?
Marijuana and industrial hemp are different varieties of the same plant species, Cannabis sativa L. Marijuana typically contains 3 to 15 percent THC on a dry-weight basis, while industrial hemp contains less than 1 percent (Blade, 1998; Vantreese, 1998). Most developed countries that permit hemp cultivation require use of varieties with less than 0.3 percent THC. 

Industrial hemp can be grown as a fiber and/or seed crop. Grown for fiber, it is planted in dense stands to maximize stalk production. Grown for seed or for seed and fiber, plants are spaced farther apart to encourage branching and seed production. Marijuana varieties are grown for their leaves and flower buds, and therefore are grown under low-density conditions to maximize branching. 

Authorized research purposes
As part of the industrial hemp research program directly managed by a State land grant
university, a licensed grower may engage in any of the following research activities:

(1) Studying and investigating marketplace opportunities for hemp products to
increase the job base in the State by means of employment related to the
production of industrial hemp.

(2) Studying and investigating methods of industrial hemp cultivation that are best
suited to soil conservation and restoration.

(3) Overseeing and analyzing the growth of industrial hemp by licensed growers
for agronomy research and analysis of required soils, growing conditions, and
harvest methods relating to the production of various varieties of industrial
hemp that may be suitable for various commercial hemp products.

(4) Conducting seed research on various types of industrial hemp that are best
suited to be grown in North Carolina, including seed availability, creation of
North Carolina hybrid types, and in-the-ground variety trials and seed
production. The Commission may establish a program to recognize certain
industrial hemp seeds as being North Carolina varieties of hemp seed.

(5) Studying the economic feasibility of developing an industrial hemp market in
various types of industrial hemp that can be grown in the State, including by
commercial marketing and sale of industrial hemp.

(6) Reporting on the estimated value-added benefits, including environmental
benefits, to North Carolina businesses of an industrial hemp market of North
Carolina-grown industrial hemp varieties.

(7) Studying the agronomy research being conducted worldwide relating to
industrial hemp varieties, production, and use.

(8) Researching and promoting on the world market industrial hemp and hemp seed
that can be grown in the State.

(9) Promoting research into the development of industrial hemp and commercial
markets for North Carolina industrial hemp and hemp products.

(10) Studying the feasibility of attracting federal or private funding for the North
Carolina industrial hemp research program.

(11) Studying the use of industrial hemp in new energy technologies, including
electricity generation, biofuels, or other forms of energy resources; the growth
of industrial hemp on reclaimed mine sites; the use of hemp seed oil in the
production of fuels; and the production costs, environmental issues, and costs
and benefits involved with the use of industrial hemp for energy.

ntep legal for trade platform scales

So you may be asking, what interest does CCS have in this product? Turns out, we have had numerous farmers contact us looking for weight scales used in the harvesting of industrial hemp in central North Carolina. Contact us today (919) 776-7737 and let us help you be more efficient and accurate in your processing. 

Top Choices for Weighing Heavy Dense Coils of Steel in Industrial Environment

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It’s one thing to be in the market for an industrial floor scale… It’s actually quite a bit different to be in the market for an industrial platform scale designed to weigh large coils of steel. Below we offer two different brands of scales to consider. Both scales are manufactured by very good suppliers, Rice Lake and B-Tek. Let’s take a look at each below.

The Rice Lake Weighing Systems RoughDeck CS coil floor scale is a reinforced version of the standard Roughdeck model which we have mentioned numerous times over the years. These scales are uniquely suited to meet the demanding process of weighing dense coils of steel. The world’s toughest weighing jobs demand a scale like no other. Rice Lake’s RoughDeck CS was born for the unique task of weighing dense industrial materials to Legal for Trade accuracy. For steel coils, castings, cable spools or more, see why RoughDeck CS is the first and only scale investment you’ll ever make.

• Off the shelf, or made to order
• Custom sizes and capacities
• Rail and track versions custom built to your specifications
• Above ground or pit mounting
• Specialty coil cradles and fixtures

Steel handling is the ultimate test for industrial equipment. The RoughDeck CS’s tightly spaced steel I-beams, half-inch thick top plate, and the patented G-force™ self-checking mounting system make it the most solidly constructed scale on the market.

And when it comes to extreme conditions, the RoughDeck CS takes a punch and comes back for more, delivering accurate results, day after day. Rice Lake’s RoughDeck CS is Legal for Trade in capacities up to 100,000 pounds. Choose a standard platform size or we can design a RoughDeck CS to your custom specifications.

b-tek steel coil weighing scale

Another choice to consider when weighing steel coils is the B-Tek manufactured platform scale. The High Impact Coil Scale offers a rugged structural steel weighbridge and the reliability of double-ended shear beam load cells to provide legal for trade accuracy in extreme industrial applications. Industrial weighing operations require heavy-duty, reliable scales that function 24 hours continuously.

B-TEK offers a complete line of High Impact scales to satisfy these demanding applications. The High Impact series scales can be utilized in a number of applications, including: coil, pipe, and steel processing. Also, The High Impact scale can be used for coil transfer car weighing and coil processing lines.

So as you can see, both the above choices would make an outstanding choice for your steel weighing needs. If you need additional information or a quote, please contact the Central Carolina Scale sales department by phone at (919) 776-7737 or you can complete the Request a Quote form on our website.

Select Avery Weigh-Tronix Floor Scales now come with a 5 Year Warranty!

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Avery Weigh-Tronix is pleased to announce the addition of a 5-year warranty across its family of floor scale products. Another strong statement for the reliability and robust performance of these Weigh Bar® enabled products. You can rely on these industrial floor scales for all your warehouse weighing needs. Please see the summary of model numbers that are included in this new policy.

prodec floor scale

Models with 5-year Warranty

DS & DSFS
DSL & DSLS
FCQH
MaxDec™
LP/LPFS
DW/DWS

 

Models that are exempt and retain their 2-year warranty

Pancake Cargo Scale
DRS Cargo Scale
SCS Cargo Scale
PFS and PT800

Effective June 1, 2018, any qualifying floor scale order or shipment will be registered under the new warranty policy. Thank you for your business and continued support. You can obtain a quote for these products by calling our Central Carolina Scale customer service line at (919) 776-7737 or clicking the Request for Quote button on our website.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and Digital Scales

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Food safety is extremely important to all of us. In today’s ultra competitive and fast paced world, it’s imperative that we have laws in place to ensure that the food we eat is as safe as possible.

We hope the article below helps you better understand information about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Ultimately we think this information will highlight the ability of Rice Lake’s washdown products to meet your requirements of commercial processing industries. The FSMA info below not only informs producers about how to meet compliance laws, but demonstrates how Rice Lake scales can help prevent food contamination by the integrity of their construction and design.

For all producers, from the farm to the table, purchasing equipment that meets Sanitary Design Principles (SDP) is considered a mandatory preventative measure by the FDA. Our product offerings that are microbiologically cleanable, hermetically sealed and compatible with hostile environments can greatly assist you in adhering to these strict guidelines.

On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law. The FSMA brought a much-needed focus of food safety laws into the food processing industry as well as to consumers, and the general public as a whole.

The signing of the FSMA was arguably the largest reform to food safety in the previous 70 years. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the FSMA “aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it.” The key focus being prevention versus reaction in regards to food safety, from all aspects and stages of food—from the farm to the table.

The FSMA was spurred into action from an increase in foodborne illnesses in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report almost 1 in 6 Americans fall ill to food borne diseases each year. Foodborne illness became an issue of public health in the early 2000s, enabling the FDA to set higher preventative standards for food safety and elicit enforcement agencies to hold companies to these standards and contain any potential problems before they become a widespread risk of foodborne illness. To do this, the FDA under the FSMA can order companies to recall when needed.

The primary role of the FSMA is prevention. As noted by the FDA, “for the first time, FDA will have a legislative mandate to require comprehensive, science-based preventative controls across the food supply.” This legislative power ensures all U.S. companies that contribute to the food supply, no matter their size, are subject to the authority of the FDA and their preventative and responding agency.

Under the Prevention section of the FSMA, controls are given to the FDA for the following:

• Mandatory preventive controls for food facilities
• Mandatory produce safety standards
• Authority to prevent intentional contamination

These measures need to be qualified by scientific justifications by the FDA and are enforced by legislation. Under the mandatory preventative controls for food facilities is the addition of a preventative control plan that includes the following:

1 ) Evaluating the hazards that could affect food safety
2 ) Specifying what preventive steps, or controls, will be put in place to significantly minimize or prevent the hazards
3 ) Specifying how the facility will monitor these controls to ensure they are working
4 ) Maintaining routine records of the monitoring
5 ) Specifying what actions the facility will take to correct problems that arise.

Purchasing and using equipment that meets the Sanitary Design Principles (SDP) falls under these mandatory preventative measures as a control to prevent or minimize the possibility of foodborne contamination and disease. Continue reading →

I Want To Buy A Scale That Is Made In The United States of America.

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The title of this blog post sounds simple enough, right? Many customers are interested in purchasing lots of different items that are made in America versus buying items made in China and other countries. But, I would like to ask you a question…

What exactly do you consider “Made in America”?

The reason I bring this up is that it’s really difficult to find certain types of scales that meet a certain definition.

According to the FTC, for most products there is no law requiring manufacturers and marketers to make a “Made in USA” claim. But if a business chooses to make the claim, the FTC’s Made in USA standard applies. Made in USA means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. Products should not contain any – or should contain only negligible – foreign content. The FTC’s Enforcement Policy Statement and its business guide, Complying with the Made in USA Standard, spell out the details, with examples of situations when domestic origin claims would be accurate and when they would be inappropriate.

For simplicity, let’s look at an industrial floor scale as an example.

Ok so you’re looking to buy an American Made floor scale. Did you know that almost every floor scale that is built in the USA utilizes (4) load cells that were made in China? With that being the case, let’s say your floor scale was built in Rice Lake, Wisconsin but uses load cells from China.  Do you still consider this scale an American Made item?

industrial floor scale

Did you also know that many of the junction boxes and summing boards are made overseas? Finally, did you know that the home run cable, the fifteen foot long cable that connects the scale to your digital weight indicator is probably constructed overseas? And, what about the steel used in the floor scale? Was it purchased domestically?

Sticking with the floor scale example, next area to consider is the digital weight indicator. Is it one hundred percent made in the USA? Were all the boards and components made in America? How about the display board? The plastic or stainless steel enclosure? Was the AC adapter made in the USA?

These are some interesting things to consider. I know of many people who can justify buying a scale that was constructed and calibrated in the USA but does utilize some Chinese components. However, there are some who absolutely want their products to be 100 % made in America.  Are there any scales that can one hundred percent meet that?

From our standpoint as a distributor it can be quite tricky since we are not involved in the actual manufacturing process. We have had numerous scale manufacturers tell us over the years that they build Made in the USA weighing equipment and then over time they slowly start substituting Chinese parts or in some cases, send all the manufacturing over to China. Unless the scale manufacturer tells us, sometimes we are not even aware that anything has changed in the manufacturing process.

So if buying a Made in the USA scale is important to you, contact us and we can help you. Just be sure to specify to us up front how flexible you wish to be when it comes to things like Chinese components such as load cells being a part of the final product.

In our experiences, many customers may originally start a transaction as a “Made in the USA” fanatic but once they discover certain prices and lead times for domestic components, they become a fanatic of “Made in U.S. from Imported Parts” or “Assembled in U.S.A.”.