Freight scales that are accurate, tough, and support digital connectivity are becoming more important than ever before as logistics move ahead toward a possible gridlock situation due to expected increases in freight volume. The US Department of Energy has predicted that this gridlock will become problematic by 2020.
The Series 5200 Floor Scales that Arlyn Scales produces in our New York based factory are up to the task of improving your freight logistics for the 21st century. These scales use stainless steel load cells that yield very accurate weight data and greatly extend the service lives of the scales. We weld our scales together, which also increases their durability, and we mount our load cells in a manner that lowers the scale profiles and protects the load cell. In addition to our scales serving as integral parts of automated freight systems, they fit nicely into present systems for shipping/receiving, tank and cylinder monitoring, and filling.
Series 5200 Floor Scales Capacities, Resolutions, and Sizes
Our Series 5200 Floor Scales have capacities of 2,500 pounds; 5,000 pounds; 10,000 pounds; or 20,000 pounds. If you need higher capacities, we will be happy to build custom scales for you. The 2,500-pound capacity scales have a 0.5-pound resolution. The 5,000-pound capacity scales have a 1.0-pound resolution. The 10,000-pound capacity scales have a 2.0-pound resolution, and the 20,000-pound capacity scales have a 5.0-pound resolution. Scale sizes range from 3 feet by 3 feet to 7 feet by 9 feet.
Floor Scale Materials
Our standard models of floor scales can be ordered in either steel or stainless steel. We also build scales made of aluminum, to be used where light weight and portability are important. Stainless steel gives much greater corrosion resistance than steel, but our standard scale finish is also very strong. For steel models, it is a three-part epoxy material that includes a zinc component that resists oxidation, even if the finish is scratched deeply. We also offer an optional finish on our stainless steel models that has a garnet component for resisting scuffing.
Load Cell Accuracy
We achieve very high accuracy in our load cells by making them all out of a special stainless steel alloy and using the very finest of electronics to measure the loads. Our floor scales use strain gauge technology, which depends on a resilient load cell with finely tuned electronics to yield fine weight resolutions. Competing load cells are often made of aluminum because it is easier to tool and far less expensive. However, aluminum load cells are vulnerable to damage, especially at such high load capacities, which is why we use stainless steel construction.
Load Cell Placement
We also further protect our load cells by placing them in machined pockets within the scale’s frame. One is placed in each corner of the scale, which helps keep the platform stable and lowers the scale’s profile significantly. The four load cells are matched for electronic characteristics in each scale. Besides giving better performance, this practice eliminates the need for the summation boards, which are the leading cause of failure in scales, that other scale manufacturers require. Our unique design also eliminates lateral forces that cause false weight readings and contribute to early load cell failure.
Series 5200 Floor Scale Digital Connectivity Options
Freight movement systems require high-quality scales with digital connectivity options for different situations. The simplest option for our Series 5200 Floor Scales is a USB port. This port allows you to connect directly to your PC where you can import your data. You can also choose to collect weight data on a flash memory device and later upload the data to a computer. In a partially automated warehouse environment, this may be all that you need.
However, most modern shipping/receiving departments are more highly automated than this. An Ethernet port allows wired connection to computer networks and the Wi-Fi option allows for a wireless connection to computer networks. For direct computer connection for data acquisition and scale control, the RS-232 option is appropriate. Should an automated freight system need to network our scales together, we offer the RS-485 option that supports up to 10 networked scales.
The Importance of Low Profiles
The profiles of the 2,500-pound and 5,000-pound floor scales are 2.88 inches. For the 10,000-pound and 20,000-pound scales, the profiles are 4.0 inches. As mentioned, we can do this because we mount our load cells directly into the frames of our scales. The low profiles make loading and unloading the scales easier, but this also benefits the designs of automated freight handling systems in which freight moving equipment and conveyors do not have to expend more energy while operating and do not need to allow for deep structures to hold the scales. If needed, you can order specially constructed ramps to make the loading/unloading tasks easier. Our ramps take up far less space on the workroom floor thanks to our scales low profiles.
Custom Solutions
If none of our scale models quite fit the automated system you have in place, we can manufacture custom scales to your specifications and make it easy to incorporate them into your existing set up. Be sure to contact us for details and ask about our set point controller for automated batching and filling.
Prepare Now for the Future of Freight
Our knowledgeable representatives are standing by to answer your questions and help guide you to the scale that best meets your logistic needs. To learn more about our floor scales or to discuss a custom solution, contact us today. We can be reached through the form on our Contact Us page or call us at (800) 645-4301 or by phone at (800) 645-4301. Let us help you find the scale you need at a price you can afford.
