Scales used in food manufacturing plants and delis need to be sanitized throughout the day. If they aren’t regularly disinfected, contamination can occur, even if you don’t put items directly on the scale. Packaging or selling contaminated food can cause consumers to get sick, erode the trust of customers and cause you to run afoul of food inspectors. Here are the six steps to take in order to disinfect your food scale.

• Disassemble the scale

Turn off the scale and separate removeable parts such as the weigh pan, drip tray and draft shield panels. However, don’t disassemble any of the main components of the scale, as this can damage the scale and will void the warranty.

 

• Wash removable parts

The weigh pan, drip tray, draft shield panels and any other non-electronic, waterproof removable parts can be washed in a dishwasher or by hand with mild detergent. After, they should be sanitized and rinsed.

• Wipe down the scale

Wipe the base of the scale and all non-removable parts with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris. Wipe away from the hole at the centre of the scale so that no dirt, debris or moisture comes into contact with the internal parts. Never turn the scale upside down or shake it to remove dirt and debris, as this can damage the device.

• Disinfect the scale

Sanitize the base of the scale using a cloth or paper towel that has been saturated in a disinfecting product. Choose a disinfectant that is non-toxic, capable of eliminating all germs and and won’t damage the scale. Don’t spray the disinfectant directly on the scale, as this could damage the electronic components.

• Sanitize the surrounding surface

Sanitize the surface on which the scale sits and any other nearby surfaces that could have been contaminated by food products or anything else in the environment.

• Reassemble the scale

Put the scale back together, then turn it on and test it to ensure that it’s working.

As a final tip, be sure to have a quality scale that’s designed for weighing food products. In particular, use a scale that’s easy to clean and designed to prevent bacterial growth.

A scale provider in Alberta

At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., we offer a range of scales for use in food processing plants, at deli counters and for various other applications. We can provide retail scales, bench scales and precision scales. We’re also authorized to perform scale certifications. Contact us today to find the right scale or to schedule a scale inspection for your business in Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton or Swift Current.

Similar to a house or vehicle, an outdoor truck scale requires regular maintenance in the spring to ensure it continues to function optimally. Here are a few tips to help you keep yours in perfect shape.

Why spring maintenance matters

Truck scales tend to get used a lot more between the spring and fall than during the winter. Plus, the snow, ice and cold temperatures of a typical winter in Western Canada can leave your scale a little worse for wear. This is why seasonal scale maintenance is crucial.

One of the biggest problems you’re likely to encounter are cracks in the load cells caused by continual freezing and thawing. Harsh winter weather can also cause bumper bolts to rust, and rodents are known to chew on cabling.

Note that spring maintenance is essential for all types of industrial scales, including warehouse floor scales and crane scales.

Your maintenance checklist

Here are the main components of your scale that require regular maintenance and what types of issues you should be on the lookout for in the spring.

Bumper bolts. Check that the bumper bolts aren’t too tight since steel expands in warm temperatures. If the bolts are already snug in the spring, they’ll likely press against the walls of the abutment and cause the scale to weigh light once the summer weather sets in.

Cabling. Cold weather, de-icing salt, rocks and rodents can damage the scale’s cables. Look for signs of cracks or decay, and make the necessary repairs. Otherwise, the scale’s weights could drift.

Load cells. Continual freezing and thawing during the winter can cause pavement and concrete to break apart. Inspect the load cells for any debris caught inside. To test that your scale is working properly, drive over it with a loader or forklift in both directions. Make sure the tires roll over each set of load cells. Then, compare the weight recorded by each cell to make sure your scale is measuring accurately. You can also use a pickup truck, but this test works better with heavier equipment.

Industrial scale experts in Alberta

Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. offers repair and maintenance services to help you keep your outdoor truck scale in optimal condition. Since we’re accredited by Measurement Canada as scale inspectors, we can also calibrate your scales and certify them as legal-for-trade. Based in Calgary, we’re proud to serve clients throughout Western Canada. For more information, contact us today.

For many industries, a scale is a vital piece of equipment. It’s also easily susceptible to damage and malfunction if used incorrectly. The following tips will help ensure your scale functions optimally for a long time. Here are 10 things not to do with your scale.

Load it unevenly.

If you don’t centre objects on your scale, the readings will likely be inaccurate. This can also damage the load cells over time, which will require repairs and recalibration.

Overload it.

This is the most common cause of a scale malfunction. Whether you’re using a floor scale or an outdoor truck scale, overloading it will almost certainly result in irreparable damage.

Expose it to water.

Unless your scale is designed to be used in humid environments, any exposure to water or moisture could damage the electronic components. Use it carelessly.

Even if the object weighs less than the scale’s maximum capacity, dropping a heavy load on your scale rather than placing it carefully can cause significant damage.

Leave it out in the cold.

Unless your scale is designed to be used in low temperatures, it likely won’t react well to constant exposure to cold weather.Weigh excessively large objects.

If an object is too big for the weighing plate, it won’t be weighed accurately. In addition, the uneven load could damage the load cells.

Weigh awkward objects improperly.

To reduce the risk of inaccurate readings and damage, try to hold unstable objects in place when they’re on the scale.

Skip on maintenance.

Scale maintenance isn’t optional. In fact, failing to have your scale regularly inspected and calibrated can turn a small problem into a serious issue down the line.

Fail to stabilize it.

All scales need to be placed on a level, stable surface to ensure they function properly. Additionally, if a scale is placed on an uneven surface, there’s a higher risk of a heavy load warping the scale or causing other serious damage.

Use an unreliable power source.

Faulty power adapters can cause a scale to give inaccurate readings. This can have serious consequences, especially if you use your scale to weigh products, measure dosages and bill clients.

Scale experts in Alberta

Whether you operate a warehouse or a laboratory, you can count on Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. We provide a full range of services, from sales to repairs. We’re also certified by Measurement Canada to calibrate your scale. We serve customers all over Alberta, including Swift Current and Red Deer. For more information on our services and the models we carry, contact us today.

Whatever the season, regular maintenance of your truck scales is a must. However, Winter weather tend to take the biggest toll on outdoor weighing systems. That’s why it’s crucial to stay on top of maintenance during the winter. Here are some tips for keeping your truck scales in good shape over winter.

Keep your truck scales clean

Ice, snow, water, dirt and debris can find their way into cracks and build up around the load cells. This can compromise the accuracy of the scale and cause components to degrade. Notably, the copper wires in the load cell cables can corrode when exposed to moisture. Moreover, load cells and their suspended components need to be able to move freely in order to work properly. A buildup of dirt, debris, ice or snow will impair their functioning.

Check the foundation

Even the best quality scale won’t function properly on a poor foundation. Cracks or chipped edges on the concrete foundation supporting your scale will end up causing calibration issues. Concrete foundations are particularly vulnerable to cracking in winter due to freezing temperatures, high levels of moisture and the freeze-thaw cycle. So it’s important to check your foundation regularly to spot developing cracks. By detecting and repairing small cracks early, you prevent them from becoming large and affecting the functioning of your scale.

Get your scale professionally inspected

Truck scales should be professionally inspected at least every six months. Winter inspections are especially important, since your truck scale is more vulnerable to problems in this season. Calibration by a professional will ensure that your scale is accurate and, crucially, will reveal potential issues. Moreover, a scale technician will inspect the foundation, weighbridge, load cells, junction boxes, wiring and terminal, all of which are at risk of incurring damage as a result of winter weather.

For greater convenience, be sure to work with a scale technician who is able to inspect, recalibrate and repair your scale, so that these tasks can be performed in the same appointment.

Truck scale installation and inspection services in Alberta.

Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta, offers a range of superior quality fixed and portable truck scales. In addition, our Measurement Canada-certified technicians offer inspection, calibration and repair services for a wide array of weighing systems. For a free quote on a truck scale, or to learn more about our products and services, contact us today.n for cracks

Even the highest quality scale won’t give accurate readings forever. Many factors affect the scale’s accuracy over time, causing readings to “drift.” That’s why it’s important to calibrate them regularly. In many cases doing so is mandatory, for example if your scales are used to price products and need to be legal for trade. Here’s how to do it.

Calibrating a digital scale that isn’t legal for trade

If you have a digital scale that doesn’t need to be accurate down to the decimal, you may choose to calibrate it yourself. The first step is always to test your scale to see whether calibration is required.

If you don’t require a high degree of accuracy, you can use an object with a known weight, such as a dumbbell, to test the scale. If you need fairly exact readings, you should use calibrated weights. These may have been included with your scale.

If you’re using calibrated weights, a good way to ensure correct calibration is to use three weights that have a ratio of 1 to 2 to 4 and a cumulative weight that represents a substantial part of the scale’s capacity. Place the calibrated weights on the scale in different combinations to see if the sum adds up to their combined weight.

If the reading isn’t accurate, recalibrate the scale. Most digital scales have an easy-to-use calibration function. The process typically involves inputting the weight of the test object, putting the item on the scale, then allowing the scale to electronically recalibrate. For precise instructions, refer to your owner’s manual.

Having your scale calibrated by a professional

Any legal-for-trade scale needs to be certified by a scale inspector accredited by Measurement Canada. This requires precise calibration.

Calibrating scales so that they’re accurate and legal for trade requires professional expertise. Calibrations performed by the user using the scale’s built-in feature don’t guarantee sufficient accuracy.

Even if your scale doesn’t need to be legal for trade, you may still need a high level of accuracy that only a professional calibration can guarantee, for example if the scale is used in a laboratory setting.

Scale inspection and calibration in Alberta

Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. is accredited by Measurement Canada as authorized scale inspectors. Our highly skilled technicians can inspect and calibrate your scales to ensure that they adhere to strict industry regulations. For more information about our scale certifications in Calgary, Red Deer, Swift Current and across Alberta, contact us today.

Also called platform or pallet scales, floor scales weigh items at the ground level. They’re one of the most versatile and efficient weighing systems for warehouses and other industrial contexts. Because they’re so low to the ground, they’re ideal for weighing large and heavy items.

Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. carries and installs a wide range of high-quality floor scales. In this article, we tell you why this type of scale is worth considering for your business.

• They’re versatile: They come in an array of sizes and have an equally wide range of weight capacities. The platform scales we offer at Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. have platters as compact as 12” by 12”. Used to measure smaller items with a precision as fine as within 0.002 kg, scales this size have capacities ranging from 6 kg to 30 kg. Our floor scales, on the other hand, are as large as 5’ by 5’ and have capacities as high as 10,000 lbs.

• They’re convenient: Generally, floor scales are equipped with on-and-off ramps for easy loading and unloading. They’re designed to accommodate pallet jacks, forklifts and other material handling equipment. Large models can also accommodate pallets themselves.

In addition, because of their low height, floor scales are easy to store, with some even being stackable. This allows you to free up more floor space in your facility. Certain models also include wheels, allowing for easy transport.

• They’re heavy-duty: Floors scales are designed with harsh industrial environments in mind. Made with robust, corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and equipped with heavy-duty load cells, they’re able to withstand constant use, transport and repeated contact with heavy machinery.

• They’re accurate: When you purchase a floor scale with Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., its size and hardiness is never at the expense of its accuracy. Our state-of-the-art scales provide consistently accurate readings. In addition, our experienced, Measurement Canada-certified technicians are available to perform general maintenance as well as to inspect, calibrate and certify your scale. This ensures that your equipment remains perfectly accurate, compliant and in optimal condition.

Quality floor scales for your Calgary or swift current business Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. can provide your Alberta business with custom-built floor scales and a quick, professional service. We can handle all your inspection, calibration, maintenance and repair needs. For a quote on a floor scale or to have your equipment serviced by one of our highly trained technicians, contact us today.