At Arlyn Scales, our weighing solutions for chemicals and petrochemicals cover the 4 major segments of the chemical industry:

Base or Commodity Chemicals: polymers, petrochemicals, bulk and intermediates, other derivatives and basic industrials and fertilizers.

Specialty or Fine Chemicals: electronic chemicals, industrial gases, adhesives/sealants, coatings, industrial/institutional cleaning chemicals, and catalysts.

Organic Chemicals: paints, dyes, pigments, and inks.

Life Science Chemicals: differentiated chemical and biological substances, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, animal health products, and agricultural pesticides.

Some of our most popular chemical and petrochemical scales:

We understand that chemical manufacturing needs often focus on 5 key issues:

  1.  Demanding throughput
  2.  Cost targets
  3.  Quality specifications of both intermediate materials and final products
  4.  Safe handling of potentially flammable or explosive materials
  5.  Continuous versus batch production processes

Arlyn Scales helps you respond to these trends and challenges by improving throughput and yield; efficiently meet cost, quality, flexibility, and regulatory challenges through precision weighing; maintain a safe environment in both normal and hazardous environments.

We offer scales that perform one or more of the key process weighing functions from measuring, monitoring, controlling, reporting, to sorting that is required in each application.

Working with corrosive chemicals requires equipment that can withstand the abuse. If you’ve been experiencing issues with worn out and corroded weigh scales or use too much of your budget to repair and replace them, it may be time to invest in a higher quality scale.

Arlyn Scales has been manufacturing quality weighing devices since 1978. In this time, we’ve developed several ways to increase the durability and reliability of our scales in even the most corrosive environments.

Durable, High-Quality Chemical and Petrochemical Weighing Scales

Stainless Steel

In an oxidizing environment, stainless steel will develop a thin, protective surface film that reduces the rate of corrosion to an almost negligible level. Our corrosion resistant scales are manufactured with a full stainless steel body that enables them to operate even when corrosive liquids and liquefied gases are present. It also means they’re able to withstand the heavy use that’s a natural part of the industrial environment. From accidental hits to shock and overloading, our scales can handle it all and provide you with years of trouble-free use.

The interior components of your scale are just as important as the exterior, and none is as important as the load cell. This is the device responsible for the accuracy of your measurements. And yet many manufacturers will cut costs here and use aluminum or nickel plated designs.

Since we do all of our own manufacturing and adopt a factory-direct business model, we’re able to cut enough costs so we can use stainless steel for our load cells as well. We even coat the electronic components bonded to the load cell in a thin layer of silicone as an added defense. Caustic fumes and accident spills will not affect the integrity of our load cells or the accuracy of your measurements. This design also increases the accuracy and durability of our scales while further protecting them from abuse.

Expoxy Platform Coating

While the majority of manufacturers will use a simple enamel-based paint to “protect” their scales, this coating really does not protect the scale in any way. It’s easily scraped away, which leaves the platform beneath just as exposed as if it had never been there.

Our polyamine epoxies are resistant to even the most extreme caustics, organic and inorganic acids. They will protect the scale from most solvents as well as petrochemicals, alcohol, water, and brine.

Infused with mica and garnet particles, this coating also prevents abrasion that can damage the scale and make it vulnerable. And while other coatings can be affected by sunlight that strips their protective properties, our epoxies are not as severely affected, even after years of exposure.

You may notice some discoloration of the surface and loss of surface gloss or even some chalking or powdering of the surface, but the epoxy will still remain intact and continue to protect your scale.

Explosion Proof Scales

With chemicals, you work with flammable or possibly explosive substances. This is classified as a hazardous location based on OSHA standards. This means you need special equipment that has been approved for use in your specific environment, including scales.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) developed the National Electric Code (NEC), which provides a classification system that is based on how certain hazardous materials are handled in a variety of environments. The NEC also sets the guidelines for the proper installation of electrical wiring and equipment in manufacturing facilities.  If a location is to be deemed a hazardous one, all employees and manufacturers must abide by these regulations.

There are 3 different specifications used in this classification system:

  • Type – Identifies the type of hazardous materials that are being used.
  • Condition – Identifies any circumstances where this material may become a hazard.
  • Nature – Defines the flammable characteristics of a certain material.

Our line of Arlyn Guard Explosion Proof Scales features bench, platform, floor and cylinder scale designs that have been tested and approved as intrinsically safe for an impressive range of classified locations. These scales can be used in Class I, II and III environments for both Divisions and all groups from A to G.

Types of Hazardous Locations According to the NEC

Class I Locations

In these locations, flammable gases or vapors exist in the atmosphere in such quantities to realistically have the potential for an explosion, if a source of ignition were to be present.

Typically, locations that fall under this category include:

  • Aircraft hangers
  • Spray finishing areas
  • Utility gas plants
  • Petroleum refineries
  • Gasoline dispensing and storage areas
  • Any manufacturing facility that handles or stores liquefied petroleum or natural gases

Class II Locations

A Class II hazardous location encompasses areas where combustible dust is present.  Combustible dust can often be suspended in air, and if ignited, can cause a powerful explosion.

Common Class II locations include:

  • Feed or flour mills
  • Grain elevators
  • Starch or candy producers
  • Plastics, medication or fireworks manufacturers
  • Sugar and cocoa production facilities
  • Any manufacturing plants that store, use or manufacture magnesium or aluminum powders

Class III Locations

Hazardous locations that are considered Class III encompass any areas where fibers or flyings may be present during the storage, handling or processing of certain materials.  While these materials may not be present in the air, they will often collect around equipment or light fixtures where heat or a spark can cause them to ignite.

Common Class III locations include:

  • Plants that process flax
  • Cottonseed mills
  • Cotton gins
  • Textile factories
  • Plants that cut, pulverize or shape wood and create sawdust, which can become flammable

Hazardous Location Considerations

The National Electric Code also defines the way a certain material exists in the location types that were mentioned above.  A Class I, II or III type can be designated as Division I or II. 

Division I – Normal

In this environment, the hazard could exist in the normal operations of a facility or during frequent repair and maintenance.

Division II – Abnormal

In this type of environment, the hazard is confined to closed containers and systems, and should only be present during an accidental equipment malfunction or unintended breakage.  For example, closed drums with flammable materials may be placed in a room where the hazardous vapors cannot escape into the air but can become a source of ignition if the drums were to leak.

Nature of Hazardous Substances

The final segment of the NEC classification system takes the properties of each individual substance and places them in different groups.  Each group refers to the classes mentioned above.

Groups A-D

These groups only relate to Class I locations and are namely concerned with the ignition temperature of the hazardous substance, its explosion temperature, and any other relevant flammable characteristic.

The only hazardous substance found in Group A is acetylene, which is a type of gas with high explosion temperatures.  This material is rare in the industry, which is why there is very little equipment available for this location type.

Group B also covers a small segment of Class I areas.  This grouping includes hydrogen and other similar materials.  In some instances, these materials may fall under Groups C or D based on certain NEC restrictions.

Groups C and D are the most common materials used in Class I groups and in turn, make up the largest segment of Class I hazardous locations. Group C includes ether and similar materials, while Group D encompasses other common substances such as natural gas, butane, propane, and gasoline.

Groups E-G

For Class II locations, each group is based on the ignition temperature and conductivity of the hazardous material. Conductivity is especially important if metal dust is present.

Group E covers all metal dust. This includes aluminum and magnesium dust and others with similar chemical natures. This dust can be both conductive and explosive.

Group F covers areas that contain coal dust, carbon black, charcoal dust and other similar materials. While some of these materials can be conductive, they’re all explosive.

Group G covers materials such as starch, grain dust, flour, and cocoa. These materials are explosive, not conductive.

Arlyn’s Intrinsically Safe Scales

As a US-based factory-direct manufacturer of industrial scales and subassemblies, at Arlyn Scales, we’re uniquely positioned to provide extremely specialized equipment for our customers.  Our ArlynGuard B, C, F, and P Scales have one or more components that have been tested and approved to be intrinsically safe for use in an impressive range of hazardous locations including:

  • Intrinsically safe for use in Class I, II, III; Division I; Groups A through G
  • Non-incendive for use in Class I; Division II; Groups A through D
  • Suitable for use in Class II; Division II; Groups F & G
  • Suitable for use in Class III; Division II

Each ArlynGuard scale is equipped with one or more of the following:

  • Model MKE-5-IS(-C) Digital Weight Indicator System
  • Load Cell Models 620-300-IS, 620-100-IS, 620-50-IS, 620-25-IS, 620-10-IS, 520-10000L-IS, 520-5000L-IS, 520-5000IS, 520-2500-IS, 520-1250-IS, 320-500-IS and 320-250-IS which are Approved components as per Approval Standard 3600, 3610, 3611 and 3810.

We offer several series of Intrinsically Safe Industrial Scales, which are outlined below:

ArlynGuard B Scales

These industrial bench scales are ideal for applications with a capacity between 5-150 pounds and have a resolution of 0.001 – 0.05 pounds.

ArlynGuard C Scales

Our Guard C cylinder scales are perfect for use with drums and/or cylinders containing hazardous materials. These scales have capacities of 60-400 pounds with a resolution of .02 – 0.1 pounds.

ArlynGuard P Scales

When it’s necessary to weigh larger materials, our Guard P platform scales feature capacities of 500-1000 pounds and a resolution of 0.1 or 0.2 pounds, depending on the model you choose.

ArlynGuard F Scales

If your capacities fall between 2,500-25,000 pounds, our Guard F floor scales should work perfectly.  These scales feature a resolution of 0.5 – 5 pounds.

Factory Direct Prices

As a factory direct manufacturer, we’re able to offer lower prices on higher quality scales. Use this guide to browse our category pages of weighing solutions with a keen eye for your specific needs. If you need help choosing a scale that will meet your needs for years to come, contact us today.

Learn more about Weighing Chemicals and Petrochemicals

Weighing Chemicals and Petrochemicals Application Notes