Does your industrial processes involve counting thousands of product components every day? If so, you’ll know that even small mistakes could lead to waste, excessive costs, and inefficient production processes.
In the long term, it could even cause reputational damage, especially if your excess materials go straight to a landfill.
So, how can you ensure your production line runs efficiently whilst minimising waste? Obviously, counting product components by hand is a very slow labourious process and can often lead to unfortunate human errors.
How do counting scales work?
The first step in counting product components using industrial scales involves ascertaining the average weight of an individual component. To find this weight, you’ll need to weigh at least ten sample components and use your commercial bench scales to find the average weight. This figure will then be remembered by your digital counting scales to help you achieve accurate results when measuring hundreds of components at once.
Example: FC-i/FC-Si Series Time Saving Counting Scales with High Accuracy
The FC-i series time-saving, counting scale which features up to 500 ID memories with a standard RS232 interface is a top selling counting scale. Weighing capacity ranges from 500g to 50kg. The FC500Si and FC 5000Si scales have a count accuracy of 1 in 10,000,000.
Factors to consider when using an industrial bench scale
Investing in counting scales represents a smart choice for those who regularly need to count lots of product pieces. However, there are a few things to consider before you start using the digital weighing scales, including:
- Are the sample individual component parts you intend to measure representative of the pieces you need to count? It’s a good idea to find the average weight of each piece in every new batch, even if the products look the same. Even minor machine setting changes or differences in raw materials could alter the outcome of the batch.
- Is your bench scale configured using the appropriate counting resolution? If your pieces are very small, you will need to set the counting resolution higher to ensure accuracy. Failure to select an appropriate counting resolution could affect the accuracy of your results.
- Have you measured enough sample pieces? The more sample pieces you measure, the more accurate your average weight measurement will be. If the parts you are counting have a high standard deviation (i.e. their individual weights vary widely), you will need to conduct a number of sample measurements to improve the accurate weighing for precise results.
What are the benefits of a bench weighing scale?
There are plenty of compelling reasons to invest in a bench digital scale, including:
1. They can enhance workflow
Bench counting scales are usually placed at an accessible bench height and can help improve ergonomic processes at various points in a given cycle. From measuring productivity to ensuring outgoing goods are correct weight and supplied in full, counting scales are much more efficient and reliable than manual processes.
2. They can be used in numerous sectors
From waste disposal companies, postal, retail to furniture manufacturers, industrial scales can be applied across a broad range of sectors.
3. They can help with quality control
Maintaining excellent quality control standards is vital if you want to keep customers on-side and help your business to grow. With a weighing scale, you can ensure that consumers have the confidence that the goods are accurately counted and supplied in full first-time.
HC-i Series Counting Scales: Faster and accurate counting. Fantastic value counting scale featuring 1 in 750,000 count accuracy, easy operation, 99 ID memories, rechargeable battery, detachable display and audible weighing assist (AWA). The HC-I counting scale has weighing capacities of 3kg, 6kg, 15kg and 30kg.
Furthermore, you can ensure that quality standards remain high over several months or years. By collecting and storing accurate weight data for your products, you’ll be able to pick-up if a certain component type starts to get smaller or irregular due to machine faults or problems with raw materials.
4. They can help you stick to regulations
Most industry sectors are governed by a host of strict laws, including road weight limits for transporting goods and quality-control regulations. If you breach one of these laws, you could be hit with a fine. So ensuring correct weight and control is essential.
5. Maintain a “just-in-time” workflow
Minimising the number of components you need at any one time, will help to reduce inventory levels, minimise waste, and reduce overheads. With an accurate counting scale, you can ensure you don’t over-order for the manufacturing process.
Best practices when using industrial counting scales
If you’re planning to start using bench scales, we’ve put together a few best practices to follow, including:
- Remember to calibrate and test your scales: Although most industrial scales are designed to withstand tough environments, you should test their functionality regularly to ensure accurate measurement results. You should also calibrate your scales regularly with a reputable recalibration service provider.
- Try to minimise vibrations in the manufacturing environment: Strong vibrations can reduce the accuracy of your counting measurements. As such, it’s a good idea to keep your industrial scales as far away as possible from air conditioning systems, fans, and machines. It is also beneficial to move scales away from direct sunlight, as temperature fluctuations could also impact result accuracy.
- Select your scales according to your accuracy requirements: Some businesses require more accurate scales than others, particularly if their products are small or intricate. Remember to discuss your needs with your scales provider before making an investment.
- Train your staff to use the scales: Failing to teach your team how to use a set of industrial platform scales could lead to significant accuracy issues and production disruption. It is a good idea to train new starters and offer regular refresher courses if necessary.
Need a set of accurate counting scales? Look no further than A&D Weighing
If you’re on the hunt for a set of high-quality commercial counting scales, A&D Weighing has got you covered. Our affordable weighing equipment includes the following outstanding features:
- A detachable display unit
- Automatic power-off functionality to preserve battery life
- One-year warranty
- Crystal-clear digital display
- Automatic Counting Accuracy Improvement (ACAI) software to enhance your industrial workflows
- In-built comparator – great for clients who want to count pre-packaged goods
- A range of capacities, depending on the types of pieces you need to weigh
- Power sources, including a rechargeable battery pack
Get in touch today to find out more and chat with one of our friendly team members.