Troubleshooting Floor and Pallet Scales

Troubleshooting Guide: Floor Scales

Floor scales can be one of the most abused pieces of equipment. They are often in harsh environments like factory floors and warehouses where a lot of action surrounds them. Floor scales are subject to forklift loading, rough washdowns, corrosive materials, dust, debris, overloading, hazardous areas, and more. It is important to make sure your floor scale is still operating at its peak performance despite the hazards surrounding it. Below is a list of troubleshooting tips to ensure your floor scale(s) are operating effectively and efficiently. If you follows these easy steps below and your floor scale still isn’t operating properly it’s time to call your scale service company to assist.

Issue	Probable Cause	Solution
Inaccurate weight readings	Debris, obstructions	Clean the area around and under your scale. Look for any foreign objects wedged under scale
Inaccurate weight readings	Uneven surface, uneven heights	Place scale on clean flat surface. Make sure all corners are supported evenly and not tipping
Platform rigid and not oscillating	Obstruction, debris	Clean out around and under scale; make sure no foreign objects are wedged under scale
Platform rigid and not oscillating	Broken suspension parts	Call for service
Scale stays on zero with weight applied	Broken or cut cable	Check load cell for damage. If equipped with quick disconnect, make sure cable is fully plugged in
Indicator not returning to zero	Obstruction, debris	Clean out around and under scale; make sure no foreign objects are wedged under scale
Indicator not returning to zero	Defective load cell	Call for service
Indicator display is unstable	Defective load cell	Call for service
Indicator display is unstable	Broken or cut cable	Make sure load cell cable is undamaged, call for service

How Long Do Truck Scales Last?

What’s The LifeSpan of A Truck SCale

Just like any piece of equipment or machinery, truck scales will eventually hit their end of useful life and need replacement. Like most equipment a truck scale life span can vary greatly based on a number of key factors. That being said, most truck scales should have at least a 20 year lifespan on average. The key factors that will drive the lifespan of your truck scale up or down are below:

1) Did You Buy a Quality Truck Scale?

The first step to ensuring a long-lasting truck scale is to buy a quality one from the beginning. This means buying a brand named scale that is manufactured in the USA. Key factors to look for include the amount of steel in the scale, the type and quantity of loadcells, and the warranty. There are many top quality truck scale brands to choose from including B-Tek, Rice Lake, Emery Winslow, Fairbanks, and Cardinal. Starting with a truck scale from one of these manufacturers will ensure you have a high quality scale from the start. To learn more about the cost of a quality truck scale, checkout our blog post.

2) What Type Environment Is The Truck Scale In

Another key factor to truck scale lifecycle is the environment the scale is located in. This can be both the climate of where your scale is located or the materials that might be contacting the scale. In terms of climate, truck scales in the Northeast US will have issues with salt and corrosion from snow & ice, while truck scales in the southeast will have more issues with flooding and lightning strikes. The main issues the environment causes include rusting of the steel components whether the deck, base plates, or the i-beams. Beyond the local climate, the material that may contact the scale can also cause shorter life cycles. Truck scales that have contact with animal waste, chemicals, or any other acidic material will not last as long. These materials will slowly eat away at the metal components of the scale and cause deterioration. Bottom-line, the local climate and specific material contacting the scale will have a large impact on your truck scale’s length of service.

3) Did You Properly Maintain The Truck Scale?

Like any piece of machinery if you don't conduct preventive maintenance on it your truck scale will not last as long. Key preventative maintenance includes calibration, washing or cleaning the scale, adjusting any checking, and consistent inspections to look for potential emerging issues. Your scale service company is really your go-to group to make sure this is completed correctly. This is why we recommend a minimum of twice per year calibrations & inspections. Not only will it ensure your scale is weighing accurately, but any issues can be corrected before they become severe. Checkout our blog post on the main reasons to have your truck scale frequently calibrated & serviced.

4) Number of vehicles Using The Truck Scale?

The final key factor is how heavily is the truck scale being used. The more trucks crossing the scale daily the quicker the scale will wear out. Luckily, high quality truck scales today can still last 20+ years weighing hundreds of trucks per day. Also to consider is the speed at which the trucks enter and exit the scale. Trucks entering fast onto the scale or "dropping their clutch'' when on the scale place undue stress on the truck scale and shorten its life.

To learn about the truck scales American Scale offers, checkout our truck scales page.

How Long are Truck Scale Warranties?

Truck Scale Warranty Length

This is often one of the first questions you may ask yourself when preparing to purchase a truck scale. However, the length of a truck scale warranty is only part of the story. In order for you to truly understand a truck scale warranty you will need to consider the following factors:

1) Length of Warranty:

This is often the metric scale manufacturers will market heavily. You will see truck scale warranties ranging from a lifetime warranty to just 1 year, along with everything in between. Key to the length is what is included equipment is included in the warranty period (see point #2 below). Also be on the lookout for a declining warranty, meaning overtime it declines. For example, years 1-5 100% warranty, but then years 5-10 only offer 50% warranty.

2) Equipment Included In Warranty:

The warranty for many truck scales is different depending on what component of the scale is involved. For example, the load cells, indicator, and weigh bridges may all have different length warranties. This often times becomes very confusing and complex. You should look for truck scale manufacturers offering "endwall to endwall" or "bumper to bumper" warranties. This means everything is included and simplifies the warranty.

3) Labor Included In Warranty

Key to any warranty is whether labor or service is also included in the warranty. For example, a load cell goes out on a new truck scale which is still under warranty. The scale service company comes on-site, replaces the loadcell and the scale is repaired. However, in this example the scale warranty does NOT include labor/service. So although the loadcell was covered, you may be stuck with a labor/service bill that is way more than even the cost of a load cell. Bottom-line, many truck scale manufacturers offer long warranties on their equipment but limited or no warranty for the labor. Make sure the warranty includes labor and service.

4) Other Requirements:

Like many other things in life, there is often fine print involved with truck scale warranties. The fine print can require things like a calibration contract, only licensed scale dealers for that brand working on the scale, etc. Make sure you both understand these requirements upfront but also follow them. Also to note is whether regular wear & tear is included in the truck scale warranty or only defects in workmanship. Understanding these requirements is important to ensure you will receive the full value of your warranty over the years.

In the end, make sure you compare truck scale warranties before buying. Your scale service company should be able to provide all the details along with real-world experiences using the warranties. Partnering with your scale service company is key to ensuring you receive the best truck scale warranty that meets your needs.

Why Choose An ISO Certified Scale Company?

Learn more about ISO certification

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on 23 February 1947, the organization develops and publishes worldwide technical, industrial, and commercial standards. The purpose of achieving ISO certification is to ensure the safety and quality of the product that is certified, and to promote global compatibility of the product or service in question.

What Does it Mean for a Scale Company to Be ISO Certified?

The ISO certification for scale companies is called ISO/IEC 17025. In order to achieve ISO 17025 certification, a scale company must undergo a rigorous accreditation process from a certified third-party organization. A scale company that has ISO 17025 certification demonstrates their ability for producing precise testing and calibration results. This allows for adherence to an established quality management system. ISO certification also allows for international recognition of calibration and test reports. Being an ISO 17025 certified scale company is an advantage versus not being ISO 17025 certified; this recognition of standardization ensures that the scale company’s management focuses on quality, safety, and results.

Clients of scale companies that require ISO calibration service to be performed on their scales, as specified by their internal quality manual, can only have this service performed by an ISO 17025 certified scale company.

Note: Scale companies are not required to have ISO 17025 accreditation, but it lends strong credibility to the scale company. Having an ISO 17025 certificate of calibration displays superior quality control and excellence in calibration, as opposed to getting a non-ISO 17025 certified calibration of your scale. An ISO certified calibration looks good for potential auditors and other quality assurance groups, as the calibration comes with a certificate of calibration that displays proof of excellence and standardization.

Accrediting Organizations for ISO 17025 Certification

ISO sets standards for scale companies and then third-party accreditation bodies validate the calibration competency. If the scale company is found to meet all the ISO requirements, the third-party recommends the scale company for accreditation. Some of the external organizations that provide this certification to scale companies are the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), and the Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation (PJLA). Scale companies that are ISO certified work to maintain their relationship with these accrediting organizations in order to keep their ISO certification. The process of becoming ISO certified is very involved, therefore a strong relationship and compliance with an accrediting body is essential to ISO certification renewal. If your scale company is ISO certified, they should have their certificate of accreditation posted somewhere on their website.

What Can an ISO 17025 Certified Scale Company do?

An ISO 17025 certified scale company is permitted to calibrate and service scales as outlined in the scope of accreditation provided by the third party accrediting organization. This accreditation can range anywhere from Lab Balances to Heavy Capacity scales. Each scale type will have its own subset of considerations and weight tolerances. The scope of accreditation varies by scale company. If your scale requires calibration in accordance with ISO 17025, you should check with your scale company to make sure they are accredited to calibrate your type of scale. American Scale is accredited by PJLA to calibrate Analytical Balances, Top Loading Balances, Bench Scales, Floor Scales, Hopper Scales, Truck Scales, and as of recent, Portable Mining Scales as well.

Becoming an Industry Leader

A scale company that is willing to go through the process of becoming ISO certified shows that they are proactive, rather than reactive. In today’s day and age, safety and satisfaction is paramount to a company’s value proposition. Taking the initiative to maintain and renew ISO certification shows that the scale company wants to be an industry leader. This in turn will increase a scale company’s productivity and ultimately increase their bottom line. ISO certification is an important competitive advantage that will foster expansion and operational excellence within a scale company.

An ISO certified scale company follows world class standards in the scale industry and ensures accurate testing and calibration of scales will be conducted. This is critical going forward in the industrial landscape, as this industry leading quality will allow for growth and evolution of the scale company. As the demand for precision weighing and calibration is not slowing down any time soon, being an ISO certified scale company will ultimately give a scale company a leg up. American Scale Company is proud to be ISO certified for nearly two decades, and laboratory management will continue to uphold this standard.

Closing Words

At American Scale we strive to bring you informed and useful content on all things scale related. Be sure to check out our legal for trade truck scale system articles about truck scale foundation or how much do truck scales cost. We even have a guide to warranties. We also have articles on scale accessories, common problems to prolong your scales lifespan, weighing applications as well as what scale indicator works best with your junction box. To learn more about bench scales, it would be good to check out our other articles such as “Bench Scale Basics'' and “How Much Does A Bench Scale Cost?”. These articles will help with the basics of bench scale ownership.