When it comes to making big measurements, there are few industries that compare to the metal industry. Jobs in this industry are often charged with creating the metal parts and components that lend themselves to vehicles, large pieces of equipment, and even the construction of buildings themselves. At the same time, these same operations often produce very small parts that can be hard to weigh, count, and keep track of. In both cases, it’s clear that the unique extremes of the metal industry require a certain kind of scale that can boost productivity, drive higher accuracy, and result in an overall great savings on both time and labor on a daily basis.
Luckily for workers in the metal industry, just such a scale is no longer very hard to find. Companies like us have dedicated themselves to creating scales that can make daily work with metal products more efficient, a bit less stressful, and more profitable for business owners whose bottom line rests on an accurate measurement and a perfect product — every time.
Generally speaking, the metal industry is treated to three types of innovative scales. These scales span the gamut from large measurements to more incremental readouts, and they can even assist with counting products in some cases.
For Heavy Duty Efficiency, Crane Scales for the Metal Industry are a Great Option
One of the most common sights in any warehouse or production facility is the crane scale. Even its name sounds heavy duty, and this scale can perform a wide variety of functions that will really serve to benefit metalworking companies and those who produce larger, heavier products on a daily basis. The crane scale functions exactly how its name implies: It’s able to lift heavy products and move them, while weighing them at the same time. They almost always require a skilled operator, and they easily serve as an essential part of the production process.
The maximum load capacity for crane scales used in the metal industry typically maxes out around 10,000 pounds, though much smaller crane scales are available to weigh smaller parts. This makes them perfect for truly large productions, including heavy equipment and the metal parts needed to construct vehicles and even buildings. Their ability to weigh as they lift a metal product makes them highly efficient, increasing productivity as they reduce the amount of time between when a product is loaded and when its weight is finally produced by the scale itself.
In addition to their rather industrial functions, crane scales in the 21st century are often equipped with USB ports and digital readouts that can interface directly with the company’s computers. This, too, helps bolster productivity levels while ensuring an accurate measurement. Every measurement produced by the crane scale can be sent to a computer via the scale’s USB port, and that information can then be placed directly into the company’s documents or databases. This helps eliminate accidental loss or misreported measurements, further enhancing revenue and reducing the margin for error on a daily basis.
Taking a More Traditional Approach with Heavy Duty Floor Scales
There are plenty of floor scales out there, but only a handful can call themselves “heavy duty.” In the metal industry, scales must be heavy duty if they have any hope of withstanding the high loads, potential shock, and frequent use that these businesses and operations will require. Heavy duty floor scales for the metal industry, produced by companies like Arlyn Scales, put the functionality and rated capacity of crane scales to shame in most cases.
While the typical crane scale won’t come with a capacity higher than 10,000 pounds, except in the rarest of cases, floor scales routinely offer far higher capacities. The average floor scale can measure loads in excess of 30,000 pounds, making it perfect for metal equipment that has already been produced, assembled, and is ready for shipment. These scales also work by utilizing four sensors, each located in a corner of the scale, placed underneath the platform. Those in the metal industry should consider such an approach a way of increasing the redundancy of the scale’s measurement capacity itself. This helps produce far more accurate readings each time the platform is used.
Modern iterations of heavy duty floor scales for the metal industry are just as digitally-enabled as their cane scale counterparts. The analog displays of years gone by are replaced with a digital readout, and many floor scales are capable of storing their measurements either on internal storage or on removable options like SD cards and USB flash drives. And, like many crane scales currently on the market, most heavy duty floor scales can be connected to a company’s computer systems via a built-in USB port for easy transmission of measurements into company records and databases.
These heavy duty scales can come in a number of varieties, as well, meeting the needs of diverse metal production companies. While lighter models will often be somewhat elevated from the floor, those intended to measure the heaviest loads will be placed extremely low to the ground. They can optionally be purchased with ramps and other guards that will make it far easier to guide extremely heavy loads onto the platform for measurement. That’s the kind of foresight that most metal companies require when they’re selecting a new scale, and it’s something that Arlyn Scales prides itself in providing.
Thinking a Bit Smaller: Parts Counting Scales for the Metal Industry
While the metal industry’s image is one of big parts, heavy loads, and high measurements, that’s not always the case. Indeed, many companies dedicate themselves to producing much smaller metal parts that are essential to making machinery, vehicles, and other equipment, function every day. These parts are often rather light, especially when considered against the backdrop of floor scales that can measure in excess of 30,000 pounds. They can also be a bit hard to count and keep track of on a daily basis, with a minor distraction causing the process to reset. That can lead to valuable lost time.
This is where a parts counting scale counting scale comes in. These scales can actually be told how much a given part weighs; then, as multiple parts are placed onto the scale, it will count those parts based on their weight. If the scale is told that a given metal part weighs 10 pounds, and the scale’s weight increases to 40 pounds, it will then note that four parts are placed onto the weighing platform. That’s a great way to combine two of the most important tasks that any metal company faces, aiding both in the measurement of weight and the tracking of inventory. Because these two tasks can essentially be done at the same time, productivity levels will climb as the business is able to focus more of its energies on production.
As with the scales mentioned earlier, parts counting scales for the metal industry often feature the ability to interface with a company’s computer systems through a USB port. These scales also come with digital displays for both the number of parts a scale is counting, as well as the total weight of those parts. Because of their ability to merge tasks, and ensure accurate inventory, these scales are often considered an essential element of any metal company’s operation.
Keeping Capacity in Mind: How to Choose Scales for the Metal Industry
Metal products are notoriously heavy, and choosing a scale to meet their needs is often a tall order for most companies. Perhaps the single most important aspect of choosing any scale is to ensure that its capacity works for both today’s typical loads and tomorrow’s expected measurements. Oftentimes, that means that businesses must select a scale with a higher capacity than they actually require at the present time.
While many lighter industries prefer to follow the “120 percent rule,” and pick a scale rated at 120 percent of their maximum load, metal industries should be a bit more cautious. Generally speaking, that means metalworking companies should choose a scale that offers between 150 percent and 160 percent of their normal load. That will ensure that the scale can grow with the company over a long period of time. And, if the scale is appropriately durable, it’s a great way to make sure that it can withstand the heavy and frequent shocks it will experience on the production floor.
For Great Scales, Metal Industry Professionals Look to Arlyn Scales
When it comes to producing scales that offer excellent capacity, high durability, and long-term performance, there is no company quite like us. Metal industry professionals will enjoy the company’s patented technology, affordable prices, and perfect combination of practicality and technology. And, because we have a number of innovative new measurement techniques, including surface acoustic wave technology surface acoustic wave technology, those in the metal industry can rest assured that they’re getting the most accurate bang for their buck. If the time has come to replace an aging scale with an accurate, durable, and digital model, then it’s time you to contact our experts for surface acoustic wave technology today!