Accurate measurements improve customer confidence, reduce stress on your fleet and ensure your business complies with transportation and trade regulations. Here are some ways to ensure the scale you’re using is properly calibrated.

Why calibration is necessary

Calibration is necessary due to scale drift. Like any machine or piece of equipment, your scales will wear down with constant and frequent use. Scale drift is a term used to describe deviations in performance and inaccurate results based on temperature fluctuations, worn parts, humidity, dust and dirt. Even the force of gravity can cause instabilities that affect scales, depending on your location. Regular calibration of your scales can prevent scale drift and wrong readings.

Calibration preparation

Before calibrating a scale, take the following steps:

• Test the scale at the exact location you wish to use it

• Allow proper stabilization and let the scale’s electronics warm for at least 30 minutes before testing

• Perform the tests on a level surface, or level the scale using the unit’s level bubble

Call a professional scale technician if you’re having problems with or are unsure about scale calibration.

How to know if your scale is calibrated

Check a scale every time you move it to a new location, after a repair or adjustment, after heavy use or if you notice a reading that seems off.

The simplest and most common method of checking your scale is to compare its readings against a known entity. Commercial scales often come with standard test weights, which can help you determine if your scale is accurate. Here’s how to use them:

• Carefully clean the scale and remove and clean the pan. At the same time, check for defects like broken parts and ensure the batteries are charged and in place.

• Zero the scale.

• Place a standard test weight on the scale that’s 80 per cent of the scale’s capacity. For example, if you have a scale with a capacity of 10 kilograms, use an eight-kilogram test weight.

• Check the reading of the scale. Using our example above, if the scale reads above or below eight kilograms, your scale requires an adjustment.

• Adjust the scale. Scales have internal or external adjustment features. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions.

Having your scales professionally calibrated and maintained by a certified scale expert is the best way to keep your scales in check.

Scale calibration services in Alberta

At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., our certified weigh-scale technicians provide guaranteed scale calibration and maintenance services for commercial and industrial clients in Alberta. Measurement Canada authorizes us to certify your scales as legal for trade. Contact us today to book an appointment.

Crane scales make weighing large, bulky objects safe and easy. They can be used in a variety of commercial industries, including construction and shipping. Here’s an overview of how crane scales work and five advantages of using one in your business.

How crane scales work Crane scales are attached to a crane’s hook via a steel shackle. The scale consists of a load cell housed in die-cast aluminum housing and an industrial-strength hook that hangs from the bottom. Despite their small size, they have impressive weighing capacities. Benefits of using a crane scale Here are some of the benefits of using a crane scale.

1. Save space. Crane scales are surprisingly small. For example, a single person can easily detach the scale and store it away. Their compact size makes them perfect for industrial job sites with limited storage space. In fact, floor and truck scales take up much more space than crane scales.

2. Save time. A crane scale can be taken to the item you need to weigh. Consequently, this can save valuable time loading, unloading and moving objects. Using a crane scale also improves efficiency because you can weigh an object while moving it around the job site.

3. Make weighing safer. Using crane scales to weigh large objects reduces the risk of injury and property damage. Additionally, crane scales have easy-to-read digital displays and remote controls, so users can take measurements from far away.

4. Weigh heavy items. Crane scales can weigh large items that other scales can’t. For example, they can weigh loads between 50,000 and 200,000 kilograms — that’s the weight of a locomotive! In addition, crane scales are highly accurate. For instance, some models boast 0.1 percent accuracy.

Easily weigh cumbersome objects. Thanks to their unique design, crane scales can weigh just about anything from a rhinoceros to a backhoe. All you need is a secure place to attach the hook. You can even weigh an object off the back of a truck. If you need help choosing the right crane scale for your commercial business, the team at Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. can help. Crane and hanging scale services in Calgary, Alberta At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., we carry a wide range of crane and hanging scales. Additionally, our scale certifications and inspection services are accredited by Measurement Canada. We also offer a variety of scale rentals for customers in Calgary and throughout Alberta. For more information or to request a free quote, contact us today.

Hanging scales accurately weigh large and heavy loads by suspending them rather than placing them on a platform. This makes them extremely useful for a variety of applications. Additionally, hanging scales are easy to transport and store. Here are eight uses for industrial hanging scales.

Weighing fish. Fishing vessels use hanging scales to measure their nets and weigh their hauls. Accurate measurements ensure their catches don’t exceed regulated limits.

Weighing fruits and vegetables. Grocery stores use hanging scales to measure the weight of fruits and vegetables. In fact, most grocers provide small hanging scales in their stores so customers can weigh their produce.

Weighing livestock and other animals. Hanging scales are useful in the agricultural industry for weighing livestock. Accurately weighing animals helps monitor their growth and allows farmers and veterinarians to detect unexpected weight changes. Using a hanging scale to weigh animals is easier and safer than getting unruly animals onto a floor or platform scale. Zoos use hanging scales for the same reason.

Weighing livestock feed. Farmers use hanging scales to weigh hay bales and feed to ensure animals get the correct amount of food. This is essential for animals on strict diets.

Weighing steel and other metals. Most metal is bought and sold by weight. Consequently, steel manufacturers use hanging scales to weigh rolls of metal before and after they’re cut. You can also find hanging scales at many scrap metal recycling yards.

Weighing mail. Postal services use hanging scales to weigh bags of mail. Weighing mailbags allow postal workers to pack mail appropriately and ensure each bag isn’t too heavy to lift.

Weighing luggage and cargo. The airline industry uses hanging scales to accurately weigh luggage to ensure items adhere to each airline’s weight guidelines.

Weighing shipping cargo. Shipyards typically use a hanging scale called a crane scale to measure containers and other large items before loading them onto ships. Shipping companies charge by weight, so accurately measuring large loads determines fair prices.

If you need a hanging scale for your operation, Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. is the place to go.

Hanging scale rental services in Calgary
At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., we understand the importance of investing in a precise weight scale, especially if you need to measure large, heavy loads. Fortunately, we have a wide variety of reliable hanging and crane scales for purchase or rent. We’re sure to have the right heavy-duty scale for your Alberta business. Contact us today at our Calgary location for a free quote.

Platform and floor scales are the most common in commercial and industrial businesses. While similar in many ways, platform and floor scales have critical differences to consider before you choose a new scale for your business. Here are some of their key features to help you determine what type of scale is best for you.

Floor scales

Floor scales are an asset for companies that need to weigh pallets, ingredients for manufacturing plants, loads for shipping and more. They’re best suited for weighing heavy loads and large objects, with a capacity of between 18,000 and 36,000 kilograms. They have a lower profile than other scales, which makes it easier to place items on the scale. Most models also come with ramps, making loading and unloading even more manageable.

The main advantages of floor scales include the following:

• High-capacity weighing

• Heavy-duty, highly durable construction ideal for manufacturing conditions

• Low profile for ease of use

• Versatility — floor scales can be combined with accessories such as cages for large animals or containers for cargo

Floor scales are popular for retailers, farms, zoos, shipyards, warehouses and factories. However, they’ll take up a lot of space on the factory floor. They can be as large as 2.5 by 3.5 metres.

Platform scales

Platform scales are perfect for warehouses and factories but can work in almost any industrial environment. However, their weighing capacity is lower than floor scales, and the platform sits much higher off the ground. They can weigh loads between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms and can also weigh large, awkwardly shaped objects.

Platform scales provide fast, accurate measurements, increased productivity and fewer shipping or overload errors. They’re easy to use and allow your business to operate more efficiently. For example, a forklift driver can set a loaded pallet on the platform, make a quick measurement and then pick it up again.

Another benefit of platform scales is that they take up less space than a floor scale. Moreover, most models have wheels, so you can move them around the factory floor and stow them away when not in use. Platform scales are affordable, effective and convenient.

Floor scale and platform scale sales and service in Alberta

Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd. offers a wide range of durable but precise floor scales and platform scales for your commercial or industrial property. We also provide floor and platform scale rental services, an affordable alternative if you need a scale only a few times a year. Contact us today at our facility in Calgary, Alberta, to learn more about our inventory and services.

Since cannabis was legalized in Alberta in 2018, retailers and dispensaries have been opening throughout the province. Weigh scales and precision balances are essential and legally required tools in marijuana production and sales. Here’s what you need to know about scales in Alberta’s cannabis industry.

Types of scales in the cannabis industry

Two common types of scales in the cannabis industry are weigh scales and precision balances. Scales traditionally measure weight, and balances measure mass. However, today’s technology has blurred the lines between the two.

Nevertheless, a precision balance is suited for measuring tiny amounts and is an excellent tool in a laboratory. You can use a balance to get precise readings on samples of cannabis flower, extracts and solvent concentrations.

Commercial scales have higher capacities for weighing large amounts of bulk flower and trim before drying and decarboxylation. Dispensaries and retailers also use price-computing weigh scales to measure products at the point of sale.

Capacity versus readability

When choosing a scale for your cannabis business, consider capacity and readability.

• Capacity is the maximum weight the scale can handle at once. You can damage the internal load cells if you exceed the scale’s capacity. Purchase a scale with a higher capacity than the maximum weight you’ll need to measure.

• Readability is the smallest change in weight or mass a scale can display. Higher readability means higher accuracy in measuring smaller amounts. A scale with higher capacity typically has lower readability.

Cannabis scale classification

Scales are designated a class number to indicate capacity and readability. The higher the class, the higher the capacity. However, scales with a higher class number have lower readability and are less accurate.

• Class I is high-precision weighing for testing cannabis samples in labs.

• Class II is also suited for lab and dispensary applications with high readability and low capacity.

• Class III is for commercial and industrial applications that require higher capacity.

• Class IV is used in highway weigh-stations to ensure transport vehicles travel within legal weight limits.

Legal for trade

Any business selling products to the public by weight must use a scale deemed legal for trade by Measurement Canada. This designation ensures the accuracy and integrity of trade measurement in Canada through inspections and calibrations. If your scale isn’t legal for trade, you risk losing your cannabis licence.

Precision scale sales and service in Calgary

At Accurate/Western Scale Co. Ltd., you can find a high-quality, dependable precision scale or balance for use in your cannabis business. We’re certified by Measurement Canada to offer legal-for-trade products and services to customers in Calgary and throughout Alberta. Contact us today to learn more about our commercial scales.