Regularly weighing livestock has become an integral part of modern animal farming. It provides farmers with useful data for a number of key management decisions. Here are five advantages you enjoy when you use a high-quality animal scale on your farm.

1. Close monitoring of your animals health

When an animal falls sick, it can be a long time before you notice any outward changes in its appearance or behaviour. Weighing an animal is one of the most effective methods for verifying its health. As soon as you notice a drop in an animal’s wait, you should have it looked at by a veterinarian. In the case of illness or disease, early treatment can cure the animal and help eliminate the risk of the illness spreading.

2. Smart breeding decisions

There are optimal weights for animals to breed at. By regularly weighing your animals, you’ll be able to have a more precise indication of when the right time to breed is.

3. Optimal feeding portions

Monitoring weight gain allows you to calculate feed conversation rates, which lets you know if you should increase or reduce feed. This information can also be used to determine when a change of diet would be beneficial.

4. Improved breeding strategy

Weighing livestock on a regular basis gives you a precise idea of which breeds gain weight the fastest. This allows you to make the most well-informed decisions when it comes to genetic selection (for instance, underperforming animals can be pulled out and the strongest performing animals can be cross-bred).

5. Optimal weaning time for calves

Regularly weighing calves allows you to identify the best moment to wean them. Weaning calves at the right time is important to ensuring that they are properly integrated into the herd. Moreover, this weight information can help you predict future growth of your calf.

By using an livestock scale, you’re sure to improve productivity on your farm. Just be sure that it’s a high-quality scale. If your weighing equipment doesn’t provide accurate information, it can do more harm than good. If you’re looking to obtain an animal scale in the Calgary area, Accurate/Western Scale can provide you with the very best. We offer a wide range of state-of-the-art multi and single animal scales.

When it comes to scale equipment, there’s no better source than Accurate/Western Scale. We supply and install a wide range of scale equipment, including hopper, tank, truck, rail, axle and livestock scales. We’re based in Calgary, Alberta, and our service area extends across Western Canada. For more information, give us a call.

If your hopper scale is malfunctioning, you can be confident that it’s an issue with the load cell. Load cells are extremely sturdy (some have weighing capacities of a million pounds or more), but there are four ways they can get damaged.

1. Damage caused by overloading

Not all load cells can handle seven-digit weights. Smaller portable ones, for instance, may have a capacity of only 1,000 pounds. When you buy a new hopper scale or have one custom assembled for you, you will be informed of the weighing capacity. If you overload the scale by surpassing this weight, you risk causing damage to the load cell.

2. Damage caused by moisture

The presence of moisture can negatively affect a load cell in two ways: it can come into contact with the electronic components, causing them to malfunction or it can lead to corrosion, which can harm the structural integrity of the load cell and cause a misreading. It’s important that you regularly check for moisture on your hopper scale. Especially if it’s an older one, for due to general wear and tear, it will be more susceptible to moisture infiltration.

3. Damage caused by chemicals

Contact with chemicals can damage a load cell and affect its electronic components or cause corrosion. The damage caused is likely to be extensive. Chemicals can heavily corrode a load cell and even destroy its components and structure.

4. Damage caused by electricity

Power surges and lightning strikes can cause significant damage to a load cell. This risk can be mitigated by grounding and shielding techniques and by ensuring that no outlets and circuits are overloaded.

What happens when my hopper scale’s load cell malfunctions?

The load cell can become defective in one or more of the following ways:

• The scale doesn’t calibrate
• The scale doesn’t reset
• Readings are inconsistent
• Readings don’t display
• Zero drift occurs

In some cases the hopper scale becomes entirely inoperable.

Hopper scales in Alberta

If you’re having issues with a hopper scale assembled by Accurate/Western Scale, don’t wait to reach out to us. All repair work is guaranteed on our weigh scale equipment. And due to the smart and simple design of our hoppers, replacing a load cell is never an issue.

For a hopper scale that is level, accurate, durable and made to your specifications, trust the experts at Accurate/Western Scale. We assemble hopper, tank, truck, rail and axle scales. And we can provide nearly any type of scale rental for individuals and businesses in Calgary, Alberta, and the wider region. Contact us today!

When you use scales as part of your business operations, they need to be certified as “legal for trade” to show that they meet the requirements for professional weighing equipment put in place by Measurement Canada. Authorized scale inspectors like Accurate/Western Scale can certify your scales for you and get your equipment up to standard so you can be sure that it gives accurate measurements. Keep reading to learn about the importance of certifying your scales.

Why do scales need to be certified?

Scale certification ensures that weighing equipment used in trade are properly calibrated and held to the same standards so as to put the businesses that use them on an equal playing field. Federal measurement regulations are essential for creating a marketplace that’s fair to producers, merchants and consumers alike. Measurement Canada is the government agency in charge of administering the regulations set out in the Weights and Measures Act, defining units of measurements, developing specifications for trade devices and conducting scale inspections.

Having certified scales is good for your business because it ensures that you’re getting accurate measurements and aren’t leaving money on the table by listing the wrong weights when selling your products. Overall, the process ensures that buyers and sellers are getting the fairest possible bargain when it comes to exchanging goods that are priced by weight.

If you don’t comply with the Measurement Canada regulations, not only will you risk losing income due to inaccurate measurements but you could also face steep fines and have your business shut down should your company be subject to a government inspection. Such a closure could have serious effects on your business’s revenue, productivity and reputation.

Who can certify your scales?

Your scales can be certified by a representative of Measurement Canada or by a company that the agency has designated an Authorized Service Provider, such as Accurate/Western Scale. As a Measurement Canada accredited company, we have the right to inspect equipment to make sure it adheres to federal regulations. We also service scales and will re-calibrate your device if its measurements are no longer sufficiently accurate. Don’t hesitate to call us if you suspect a problem with your weighing equipment.

Schedule an appointment with authorized scale inspectors

If you’re in need of an Authorized Service Provider to perform scale certifications, get in touch with Accurate/Western Scale. In addition to selling and renting scales, we certify all types of weighing equipment—including truck, hopper, cattle and batching scales—for businesses in Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and across Alberta. To learn more, contact us today.

Counting scales are used to weigh and count objects at the same time. These scales work by weighing a bunch of items together and then determining how many items are in the set by dividing the total weight by the weight of a single item. This allows manufacturers and retailers to check how many units are in a shipment or package without having to count them by hand. Counting scales are commonly used for taking inventory in retail warehouses, quality control centres and bulk food stores.

At Accurate/Western Scale, we offer counting scales that can be used for checking quantities, unit weight, total weight and accumulation data. Here are five factors to consider when choosing a counting scale for your business:

1. Weight capacity
Every counting scale has a weighing range that extends from the smallest weights the model can accurately detect to the largest weight it can safely accommodate. Choose a scale with a weighing range suitable for handling the average size of the loads you’ll be measuring.

2. Level of precision
When choosing your counting scale, think about the scale’s graduation, the size of the increments in which it reports measurements. The smaller the increments, the more precise the scale’s measurements will be. Smaller graduations are important if you’ll be weighing and counting smaller items. At Accurate/Western Scale, our counting scales range in graduation from one kilogram to 0.1 gram.

3. Platter size
You should also consider how big the area of the scale’s platform will need to be. Some counting scales have larger platters than others, so choose one that can accommodate the total number of items you’ll have on the scale at a time.

4. Measuring units
Don’t forget to think about what measuring units you’d like the weights to be reported in. With most of our counting scales, you can choose whether to have the weights reported in pounds or kilograms, depending on your industry’s preference.

5. Additional features
Counting scales are often equipped with extra features such as accumulation memory, remote scale capability and output to a computer or printer. Think about what features would be most likely to improve efficiency and productivity in your business.

Whether you oversee a stockroom, work in quality control or own a small business, Accurate/Western Scale has the right counting scale for you. We sell and rent a wide range of industrial scales— including truck, hopper and cattle scales—to businesses in Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and throughout Alberta. To learn more about our scales and request a quote, contact us today.

Are you in need of a truck scale system? At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., we provide customers with state-of-the-art weighing equipment, available for purchase or rental. One of our most popular rental options is axle scales (sometimes called axle pads, jump scales or wheel load scales).

What are axle scales?
Axles scales measure a vehicle’s axle weights, which are the standard metric for determining a truck’s overall weight. A high-quality axle scale can provide a weight that’s accurate to within 0.25%. Their low profile and compatibility with forklifts makes them easy to use and transport. They can be temporarily installed on level asphalt, concrete or compacted gravel.

Axle scales are popular in the farming, mining and trucking industries as well as among a wide range of other companies whose operations involve the transport of heavy materials.

What are axle scales used for?
Here are two of the most common reasons axle scales are used:

1. Avoid risks and fines associated with overweight vehicles One of the main reasons to use axle scales is to avoid overweight fines. Exceeding a vehicle’s maximum axle weight is a punishable offence. It’s also detrimental for several other reasons:

• It can damage the vehicle itself, particularly axles, drive shafts, tires and the steering and braking systems.

• It endangers everyone on the road by hindering a vehicle’s breaking capabilities, decreasing stability and increasing stopping distance.

• It can put undue stress on roads and cause serious and costly damage.

• It causes your vehicle to consume fuel less economically.

• It can void your insurance policy.

2. Increase the efficiency of agricultural operations
Farmers often use axle scales to check weigh inputs in trucks at seeding time or weigh products harvested from the fields before they go to market or the grain bin.

What types of axle weighing solutions are available?
At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., we offer the following types of axle scales:

• Loadmaster low profile axle scale
This portable scale system is a mere six inches tall and can be installed and made operational within hours. You have the option of using either a single platform to weigh one axle at a time or a multi-platform configuration to weigh entire trucks at once.

• Massload axle pad scale
Fully electronic with a large weigh surface, this scale system is low maintenance and easy to use. The pads are typically sold in pairs but can also be sold in multiples for weighing entire trucks. Its weight measurements are accurate to within 0.25%.

Buying or renting axle scales in Alberta
Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. offers superior quality truck scales to residents of Calgary and Swift Current and people all across Alberta. For further details or to request a quote, contact us today!

Hopper scales are mounted on load cells that measure the net weight or content of a product. They can help establish weight of everything from tankers to vessels to ball mills, dispensers, and more. They are perfect for continuous product flow and batches, especially in assembly lines, manufacturing, and grain operations.

The Benefits of Opting for Hopper Scales

Hopper scales are a significant upfront investment, but well worth the cost when you consider the benefits of using them over other weighing options. Some of the benefits include:

1. Indoor and Outdoor Use – You need a scale that can adapt to its environment, which is what makes hopper scales so unique. They can be used in the harshest of exterior and interior environments and take on everyday, hard usage with ease.

2. Easy to Use Interfaces – Today’s models are easier to use, and they have a user-friendly interface that allows you to program and calibrate effortlessly.

3. Increased Productivity – One of the most significant advantages of hopper scales is that you do not have an employee manually weigh out the item. Instead, you have an automated system, which increases productivity and allows you to generate more product in less time.

4. Improved Accuracy – What is the point of having a product if you cannot deliver consistent results? When you use hopper scales, you improve your product accuracy and quality, thus, offering your customers consistency that is typically rewarded by loyalty.

5. Multiple Materials Supported – Hopper scales can be used to handle everything from fresh and frozen products, to grain, and more.

6. Multiple Environments – You can use hoppers on land, sea, or even inside industrial warehouses.

7. Multiple Sizes – You can find hopper scales ranging from 1,000 to 500,000 pounds. They have maximum weighing accuracy and can be used for batching. Since hoppers are made from AISI 304 stainless steel, they will last your business for years. You can also find hoppers in alloy for particular applications.

Purchase Your Hopper Scales in Calgary Today

Now that you are convinced a hopper scale is the right choice for your business, come over to Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. to purchase your new scale. We offer a wide variety of hopper scales that have a maximum weight capacity of 500,000 pounds. All load cells supplied by our team are NTEP approved, which means you can rest assured your weights and measurements are accurate and compliant with local regulations.

When you work with our team, you not only get a new hopper scale, but also a team of experts who will install and calibrate your scales on a regular basis to ensure maximum accuracy.

Call us at 403-250-3232 to learn more about hopper scales for your Calgary operations. You can also complete an online contact form for information about scales available in your area of Alberta.