Why Calibrating Your Scale Matters

Why calibrate your scale? If you’re in an industry that uses weight as a regular measurement, your scales need to be as accurate as possible. Whether it’s losing money on products, not accurately keeping tabs on livestock health or subjecting your company to fines for overloaded vehicles, scale calibration is key. Read on to discover the importance of scale calibration.

Why do you need calibration?

Even the most accurate scale can lose accuracy over time. This can be due to a number of factors, including wear and tear, age and electronic malfunction. For example, industrial truck scales are often subject to intense vibrations, extreme weather conditions, dust and plenty of debris. Over time, those factors make it harder for the scale to measure accurately.

Scale calibration “resets” the scale, using a series of certified weights. Your scale is tested to measure its accuracy, then recalibrated so it weighs everything perfectly. Since the certified weights are a known weight, your calibration tech can use them to see whether the scale is over- or under-measuring quantities.

Importance of scale calibration

Why is it so important to calibrate your scale? Here’s a closer look at several of the key benefits:

• Get the most accurate measurements possible: If you sell items by weight, having a calibrated scale ensures you’ll get highly accurate measurements. Even if you lost 10 cents on every transaction, that can add up fast. The alternative is that you’re shorting clients and customers, which won’t make them very happy with you, either. Industries that use weights to measure for formulas—like the pharmaceutical industry—also can’t afford to have inaccurate scales. In some cases, it could actually be a matter of life and death.
• Avoid penalties and stay compliant: Industries that use truck shipping already know that the U.S. Department of Transportation is all too happy to levy hefty fines on overweight trucks—and other industries have their own regulatory agencies as well. You can ensure your company stays compliant with all applicable regulations, plus avoid penalties and the fees that come with them.
• Protect your business’s reputation: In many industries, word of mouth is everything—and if you’re regularly shorting your customers, word will get around. No one likes to feel like they’ve been cheated out of something they’re owed, even if it was by accident. Having your scales regularly calibrated ensures you’re doing business above board, and that your customers will keep coming back for more.

When to calibrate

Your scales should be calibrated at least once per year, depending on your industry standards and regulations. However, there are a few other times when it’s smart to have them recalibrated. For example, if your scales have recently undergone a big shock or damage, such as falling equipment or a massively overloaded truck. If you’ve recently made any modifications or repairs, it’s smart to have them calibrated afterwards.

Finally, you might want to have them calibrated right before you take any crucial measurements or start a major project.

When you need industrial, truck or livestock scales, call Rockwell Scales today. We also offer numerous scale services for your convenience!

Categorised in: Scale Calibration

This post was written by Writer