Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about System Scale, our services, and the scale and metrology industry. If you can’t find the answer below, contact us or call (833) 832-6772.Scheduling, Hours, & Contact Information
We make it easy to schedule service.
- Call us: Contact your local office directly, or call our main service line at 833-832-6772.
- Schedule online: Use our Schedule Service page to complete a short form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also find the page anytime in the navigation bar.
While individual office hours may vary slightly to best serve the needs of local customers, our standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Our top priority is keeping your equipment running at peak performance, all the time. We are always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. After-hours, weekend, and holiday service is available. Prescheduled service outside normal business hours may also be available on request.
We recommend paying your invoices online through CalVault, our online asset management program.
You may also pay by clicking ‘Pay My Bill’ on any digital invoice.
If you prefer to pay by check, checks may be mailed to:
System Scale Corporation
P.O. Box 733482
Dallas, TX 75373-3482
At each of our locations, you’ll find a Sales Engineer, Operations Manager, and Office Manager, in addition to other support and service staff.
To find your local employee-owner team, visit our Office Locator and choose your location.
Calibration
If it measures, chances are we can calibrate it.
We’re proud to offer calibration services for scale, electronic, dimensional, force, pressure, and temperature and humidity measurement instruments, with accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards and NIST-traceable.
We also sell pre-calibrated equipment to help shorten your wait time.
For a more in-depth look at our calibration services, check out our Laboratory Services page.
We recommend using CalVault, our online asset management platform, for calibration certificate printing needs. All historical certs are retained here and can be printed on-demand as needed.
Calibration is critical to the performance of your measuring equipment. The goal of calibration is to minimize measurement errors and uncertainty.
Over time, instruments can drift outside of acceptable tolerances and report inaccurate results.
Calibration guarantees an instrument will measure accurately and reliably, every time.
To learn more about calibration, visit our Services page.
There’s no set schedule for calibration, so the best place to start is either the user’s manual for your instrument or the instrument’s manufacturer. As you begin using your instrument, note how your process impacts calibration and call for service as needed. If you’re looking for more information on setting up calibration procedures, check out our article on How to Decide which Equipment needs Calibration.
Products
We sell a variety of scales, including:
- Precision Balances
- Truck Scales
- Floor Scales
- Bench Scales
- Rail Scales
- Inventory & Counting Scales
- Lab Instrumentation , and more.
We’re also proud to offer washdown and hazardous area equipment plus a wide variety of terminals and indicators for your needs.
Our Systems and Data Collection Solutions help configure, integrate, and transfer data so your operation has access to the right information.
For a full listing of our products, please visit our Products page.
We’re confident we have the expertise, service, and products to make your project a success, no matter the industry. However, we most often work with companies in the industries listed below.
Without regular service and calibration, scales can be incorrect or operate outside of regulation requirements. Scheduling routine preventative scale maintenance can reduce costs, ensure your equipment operates at peak performance, and give you peace of mind.
Remember, many scales have warranty requirements that you should take into account for preventative maintenance schedules.
The answer varies quite a bit from process to process. In general, five factors impact the final true cost of downtime: Lost Revenue, Lost Productivity, Defective Product, Recovery Costs, and other Intangible Costs.
We created our Inaccurate Scale Cost Calculator to help you better understand the financial cost associated with inaccurate scales.
If you need more help, reach out to us.
About System Scale
System Scale is a one-stop quality partner for companies that need scale sales, service, and repair, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services, and comprehensive measurement support. We offer one of the most extensive calibration scopes in the industry, covering mass, dimensional, electrical, temperature, pressure, torque, and more. Our proprietary customer portal, CalVault, gives partners 24/7 access to certificates, invoices, equipment records, and service history at no additional charge.
What makes System Scale different is the combination of technical expertise and an owner’s perspective. As a 100% employee-owned company, we think beyond the immediate service call and focus on long-term value for our customers. That means respecting your time, helping you avoid repeat problems, being proactive about equipment needs, and making quality easier to manage through a single relationship for scale service, calibration, and metrology needs.
Our approach is shaped by employee ownership, local responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to thinking ahead for our customers. We help companies stay prepared, confident, and audit-ready. Learn more on our About page.
Most System Scale offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Some offices maintain slightly different hours to best support their local customers. For urgent situations, System Scale also offers 24/7/365 on-call emergency service, and prescheduled night and weekend service is available upon request.
Visit our office locator to find exact hours and contact information for the team closest to you.
Yes. System Scale has been a 100% employee-owned ESOP company since 1995. Employee ownership fosters an owner’s perspective, long-term thinking, accountability, and a focus on creating lasting value for customers, employees, and partners. To learn more about what that means in practice, visit our ESOP page.
One-stop quality partner means System Scale helps customers manage many quality-related needs end to end through a single relationship. That includes scale service and repair, new weighing equipment, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration, precision hand tool calibration, and CalVault certificate and asset management. Fewer vendors, cleaner documentation, and one partner accountable for the outcome.
No. Scales are a major part of our business, but System Scale also supports many types of measurement and test equipment. If it weighs, measures, or serves as a measurement standard, System Scale can likely help service, calibrate, repair, or replace it. Our calibration scope spans mass, dimensional, electrical, temperature, pressure, torque, force, hardness, sound, and more. View our full calibration scope.
System Scale serves manufacturers, logistics operations, food and beverage plants, chemical facilities, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, aggregate producers, agricultural businesses, transportation companies, warehouses, laboratories, and quality departments.
A simple way to think about it: if something is transported, packaged, or made, it is probably weighed or measured somewhere along the way. As one of the largest quality service providers in the country, System Scale helps make sure that equipment is safe, accurate, and held to the appropriate quality standards.
System Scale sells, installs, services, repairs, and calibrates weighing equipment. We support new equipment selection, replacement units, parts, service agreements, preventive maintenance, truck scale projects, and a wide range of industrial weighing applications. Browse our equipment catalog.
Service Area
System Scale provides on-site service through offices and satellite locations across the Midwest and Gulf States. Field service generally supports customers within approximately two hours of a local office or satellite location, depending on the equipment, scope of work, and technician availability.
Use our office locator to find the System Scale team nearest to you.
System Scale has local offices and satellite locations in or near: Augusta, Baton Rouge, Cartersville, Columbus, Evansville, Indianapolis, Jackson (MS), Little Rock, Louisville, Macon, Memphis, Mobile, Nashville, Norcross, Tulsa, Van Buren, Bowling Green, Chattanooga, Chipley, Greenwood, Jackson (TN), Jonesboro, Springdale, and West Monroe.
Visit our office locator for addresses, phone numbers, and hours for each location.
System Scale’s on-site field service is built around its office and satellite network in the Midwest and Gulf States. However, some services can reach farther. Nationwide mail-in calibration is available for precision hand tools, and product sales and shipping availability depend on authorization, service type, and customer needs. Contact your nearest office to discuss your specific situation.
Yes. System Scale provides nationwide mail-in calibration for precision hand tools including calipers, micrometers, indicators, torque tools, and more. This is ideal for customers outside a standard on-site service radius, or those who prefer to send tools directly to a lab location. Learn more about our calibration services.
System Scale is authorized to conduct business and ship product in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Service outside authorized areas requires internal approval. Contact us to confirm availability for your location.
System Scale generally supports on-site service within approximately two hours of its offices and satellite locations. The exact answer depends on the type of service, equipment involved, urgency, and local team availability. Contact the nearest System Scale office for confirmation.
Yes. Thanks to System Scale’s multi-state reach we are able to support multi-location customers through local service teams, regional coverage, centralized account coordination, and CalVault records access. Quality, finance, and plant teams can manage equipment records, certificates, invoices, and service history across multiple facilities in one place.
Scale Service & Repair
System Scale services a broad range of industrial weighing devices, including bench scales, floor scales, counting scales, truck scales, rail scales, hopper and tank scales, checkweighers, balances, weigh modules, indicators, load cells, agricultural scales, hazardous-area scales, and specialty weighing systems.
View our full range of scale service capabilities or browse our equipment catalog.
Common signs include unstable readings, incorrect weight, failure to return to zero, drifting values, corner errors, damaged cables, loose components, display errors, physical damage, or repeated failed calibrations. Environmental factors such as debris, moisture, vibration, and temperature changes can also affect performance. If you notice any of these, contact your local System Scale office for a service evaluation.
Yes. System Scale can troubleshoot and support scale components including load cells, indicators, terminals, junction boxes, cables, connectors, and related weighing system parts. Depending on the issue, service may involve adjustment, component replacement, wiring work, or recalibration after repair.
Yes. System Scale offers preventive maintenance programs for weighing equipment. Scheduled maintenance helps reduce unexpected downtime, identify worn or damaged components, maintain calibration readiness, support warranty requirements where applicable, and keep scales operating reliably between calibrations.
Yes. System Scale provides responsive service support for customers with urgent scale issues. Our team focuses on quick communication, troubleshooting, and dispatch coordination through local offices. Response timing depends on location, technician availability, equipment type, and the nature of the issue. Contact your nearest office for immediate assistance.
Yes. System Scale technicians support many major scale brands and configurations, not only equipment sold by System Scale. If a device weighs or measures, there is a good chance we can help service it, calibrate it, repair it, or recommend a replacement. View our equipment brands.
System Scale is a METTLER TOLEDO Premier Distributor and also works with leading brands such as Rice Lake, Cardinal, and Emery Winslow. We can support many other weighing equipment brands depending on the application, parts availability, and service need. Explore our product offerings.
Yes. System Scale offers rental scale options for customers who need temporary weighing capacity, project support, replacement equipment during repair, or short-term production flexibility. Rental availability depends on the equipment type, capacity, location, and timing. Contact your local office to discuss options.
Calibration Services
Calibration is the process of comparing an instrument’s readings to known measurement standards and documenting the results. Calibration confirms accuracy, supports compliance, reduces quality risk, and identifies equipment that may need adjustment or repair.
Calibration is the first step in measurement assurance. A verification follows, determining whether the measured value is within an acceptable tolerance range (typically documented as PASS or FAIL). An adjustment is the third step, returning a device’s readings to within acceptable limits when calibration reveals a deviation.
Yes. System Scale is accredited by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) to ISO/IEC 17025 for calibration services within our accredited scope. The scope covers multiple measurement disciplines and locations.
Customers should confirm that their specific equipment and requested service are covered under the applicable accredited scope. Learn more about our accreditation.
System Scale’s accredited scope includes equipment across mass, scales and balances, dimensional measurement, electrical and low-frequency, chemical quantities, temperature, pressure, torque, force, hardness, sound, and time and frequency measurement categories. Availability depends on scope, specific location, and equipment type.
View our full calibration services page or contact us to confirm your specific equipment.
Traceability means calibration results can be connected through an unbroken chain of comparisons to recognized national or international measurement standards. In the United States, traceability is typically maintained through NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Traceability is important for audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and confirming that measurements are grounded in accepted reference standards.
Calibration frequency depends on equipment use, operating environment, risk level, customer requirements, quality system standards, manufacturer recommendations, and any applicable regulatory requirements. Many companies use an annual calibration cycle, but critical or heavily used scales may require more frequent checks.
System Scale can help you think through an appropriate calibration schedule. Contact us to discuss your program.
If equipment fails calibration, it may require adjustment, repair, replacement, or further evaluation. Customers should also assess how the out-of-tolerance condition may have affected prior measurements, production decisions, quality records, or shipments during the affected period.
System Scale’s CalVault portal makes it easy to review failed calibration records, supporting faster root cause analysis and corrective action documentation.
Yes. System Scale provides calibration certificates for completed calibration work. Certificates are accessible through CalVault, our secure customer portal, where you can review, print, download, and manage calibration records for audit preparation and ongoing quality program management.
Truck Scales
System Scale offers truck scale solutions including steel-deck scales, concrete-deck scales, portable truck scales, multi-axle weighing systems, in-motion weighing, CAT scale support, and related vehicle weighing configurations. The right truck scale depends on traffic volume, site conditions, required capacity, budget, and long-term service needs.
Learn more on our truck scales page.
Yes. System Scale supports full truck scale projects including equipment selection, design consultation, site review, foundation construction coordination, installation, accessories, calibration, and long-term service. Project scope is tailored to the site, scale type, and customer requirements.
Learn more about our heavy-capacity services.
Common truck scale problems include lightning damage, water intrusion in junction boxes, debris buildup under the scale deck, damaged cables, load cell failures, foundation movement, approach ramp issues, indicator problems, and environmental wear. Preventive maintenance catches many of these problems early and helps reduce costly downtime.
POWERCELL PDX is a networked vehicle scale load cell system used in certain METTLER TOLEDO truck scales. It provides predictive diagnostics and alerts for weighing errors, environmental conditions, network health, load cell performance, overloading events, and enclosure integrity. This intelligence helps operators address issues proactively rather than after a failure occurs.
StrikeShield is built-in lightning protection used with POWERCELL PDX technology in certain METTLER TOLEDO truck scales. It incorporates surge protection and grounding to help shield the scale system from lightning-related damage, reducing downtime risk for outdoor vehicle scale applications.
Yes. System Scale provides truck scale preventive maintenance that includes inspection, cleaning, testing, and early identification of issues before they become costly failures. Scheduled maintenance supports accuracy, legal-for-trade compliance, warranty requirements, and maximum uptime.
Yes. System Scale can evaluate truck scale upgrade options including indicators, load cells, software platforms, accessories, traffic controls, remote displays, unattended kiosk systems, and foundation improvements. The best upgrade path depends on your current scale’s condition and your operational goals. Contact us for a consultation.
A well-selected, properly installed, and consistently maintained truck scale can last many years. Service history, traffic volume, foundation condition, component quality, and the consistency of preventive maintenance all significantly affect long-term performance and total cost of ownership. Learn about our maintenance programs.
Lab & Precision Tools
Precision hand tool calibration verifies tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, dial indicators, and torque tools against appropriate measurement standards. This process confirms that tools used for production inspection, quality control, and maintenance are accurate and properly documented.
System Scale provides precision tool calibration through both on-site service and nationwide mail-in programs. Learn more about our calibration services.
Yes. System Scale can calibrate dimensional tools including calipers and micrometers within its applicable accredited scope. These tools are commonly used in manufacturing, inspection, machining, maintenance, and quality control environments where documented dimensional accuracy is required. Learn about our lab services.
Yes. System Scale can calibrate torque tools within its applicable accredited capabilities. Torque calibration verifies that tools used for assembly, maintenance, and quality-critical fastening applications are applying the expected force or torque value, which is especially important in automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing environments.
Yes. System Scale can calibrate pressure gauges within its applicable accredited capabilities. Pressure gauge calibration confirms that gauges used in process control, maintenance, safety systems, and quality applications are reading correctly. View our calibration capabilities.
Yes. System Scale can calibrate certain temperature devices within its applicable accredited capabilities, including temperature probes, infrared devices, and related instruments. Temperature calibration is important for quality programs, process control, food safety, laboratory environments, and regulated industries. Learn more.
Yes. System Scale’s accredited scope includes electrical and low-frequency calibration capabilities that may include meters, sources, resistance, voltage, current, capacitance, thermocouple simulation, RTD simulation, and related electrical measurement equipment, depending on scope and location. Contact us to confirm your equipment.
When sending tools for mail-in calibration, include: your company name, contact information, and return shipping address; a purchase order number if required by your organization; a complete list of tools and any serial numbers; the requested calibration type (accredited or standard); your required return date; and any special documentation, quality, or tolerance requirements.
Pack tools securely to prevent damage in transit. Contact System Scale before shipping to confirm requirements and turnaround time.
CalVault
CalVault is System Scale’s proprietary cloud-based asset management and certificate retrieval platform. It brings equipment records, invoices, calibration results, work orders, certificates, and service history together in one secure customer portal, accessible 24/7 at no additional charge.
Learn more at the CalVault page.
CalVault gives customers access to calibration certificates, equipment records, service history, work orders, invoice history, calibration due dates, asset details, calibration results, out-of-tolerance information, failed calibration reports, and multi-location equipment records, depending on account setup.
Visit the CalVault page to learn more or set up access.
CalVault is designed for quality managers, plant managers, maintenance teams, finance teams, and corporate operations groups that need convenient access to calibration records, service documentation, asset details, and invoice information across one or multiple locations. It reduces audit preparation time and keeps teams informed about upcoming calibration due dates.
CalVault streamlines audit preparation by organizing calibration certificates, equipment records, calibration results, due dates, and service history in one accessible location. Instead of searching through emails or paper files, customers can quickly find, download, print, or share records on demand.
This is especially valuable for quality systems requiring documented calibration traceability such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compatible programs, and similar frameworks. Learn more about CalVault.
Yes. CalVault allows customers to monitor equipment across multiple organizational locations, including supplier information, model details, capacity, calibration status, expiration dates, and associated records. This is particularly valuable for multi-site quality programs, corporate operations teams, and organizations that undergo regular third-party audits.
Visit the CalVault page to learn more.
Yes. CalVault includes invoice history and payment tools. Finance teams can review and print invoice records, receive payment alerts, and pay multiple invoices securely when those features are enabled for the customer account. Learn more about CalVault.
Industry Terms
A load cell is a transducer (sensor) that converts mechanical force or weight into an electrical signal that a scale indicator can interpret and display as a weight value. Load cells are critical components in floor scales, truck scales, tank scales, hopper scales, and most industrial weighing systems.
Most modern load cells use a Wheatstone bridge circuit to detect and measure the applied force.
A scale indicator is the display and control device that receives signals from the weighing system and converts them into a readable weight value. Indicators may also connect to peripherals such as printers, ERP or WMS software platforms, PLCs, remote displays, and data collection tools.
The indicator is often the communication hub of the entire weighing system. Browse our equipment options or contact us for a recommendation based on your application.
A legal-for-trade scale is used in commercial transactions where weight determines billing, payment, or regulatory compliance. These scales must meet applicable legal metrology requirements, including testing per NIST Handbook 44 and state weights and measures regulations.
Measurement uncertainty is a documented estimate of the possible range of values around a calibration result. It helps customers understand the confidence level associated with a measurement and is especially important when equipment tolerances, compliance thresholds, or audit requirements are tight.
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for calibration and testing laboratory competence. Accredited calibration means the work is performed under a recognized quality management system with documented technical competence, measurement traceability, uncertainty analysis, and controlled procedures.
This level of calibration is frequently required by quality management systems such as ISO 9001, FDA-regulated environments, automotive, aerospace, food safety, and other industries with strict measurement requirements. Explore our accredited calibration services.
Handbook 44 testing refers to device evaluation based on NIST Handbook 44, the national standard for specifications, tolerances, and technical requirements for commercial weighing and measuring devices in the United States. For truck scales and other commercial devices, Handbook 44 testing confirms that the scale performs properly for legal-for-trade commercial use.
Crane Scales & Overhead Weighing
A crane scale is a specialized weighing device that measures the weight of a suspended load as it is lifted. It eliminates the need to set loads down for weighing, providing real-time weight data during lifting operations. Crane scales are widely used in manufacturing, construction, shipping, and logistics applications where floor scales are impractical.
Browse crane scales and overhead weighing equipment or contact System Scale for a recommendation.
All crane scales are dynamometers, but not all dynamometers are crane scales. A dynamometer measures tensile force between two points and can be used to measure cable tension, pull force, or other directional forces regardless of orientation. A crane scale is a purpose-built dynamometer specifically designed to measure the vertical force of a suspended load, typically with a shackle, rugged housing, and onboard indicator.
If you need to weigh suspended loads efficiently, a crane scale is the right tool. If you need to measure cable tension or perform a one-off load test, a dynamometer may be the better fit. Contact System Scale for guidance on the right overhead weighing solution.
Key features to evaluate in a crane scale include: weight capacity and accuracy for your application, wireless connectivity for remote monitoring, durable construction rated for your environment, overload protection, a clear LED or LCD display, and compatibility with your data collection systems. For outdoor or washdown environments, look for weatherproof-rated models.
System Scale offers crane scales from leading brands including METTLER TOLEDO and Rice Lake. Contact us to match the right model to your application.
Real-time crane scale monitoring provides instant weight data to operators as loads are lifted, preventing overloading before it occurs. Overloaded cranes are a leading cause of equipment damage and workplace injuries. Many modern crane scales also include wireless data transmission and built-in alarms that alert operators when a load approaches its safety limit, allowing immediate corrective action without halting operations.
Yes. System Scale can calibrate crane scales through both load testing and, for smaller units, in-lab calibration within our metrology facilities. Calibration confirms that the scale is providing accurate readings and documents performance against traceable standards. Regular calibration is required to maintain compliance, reduce safety risk, and support quality records.
Learn more about our calibration services or contact your local office.
Hazardous Area Weighing
Hazardous area weighing refers to the use of specialized scales and weighing equipment in environments where flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust are present. Standard electrical equipment can produce sparks or thermal energy sufficient to ignite these materials, making purpose-built intrinsically safe or explosion-proof equipment necessary. Hazardous area weighing solutions are engineered to meet rigorous safety certifications while maintaining full weighing accuracy.
Contact System Scale to discuss hazardous area weighing options for your facility.
In the United States, hazardous locations are classified under the National Electrical Code (NEC) using a three-part system. Classes define the type of hazard: Class I covers flammable gases and vapors, Class II covers combustible dusts, and Class III covers fibers and flyings. Divisions define how often the hazard is present: Division 1 means the hazard exists under normal operating conditions, Division 2 means it only appears under abnormal conditions. Groups further specify the substance, ranging from acetylene (Group A) to flour dust and plastics (Group G).
Equipment must be certified for the specific Class, Division, and Group of your environment. Contact System Scale for guidance on selecting properly rated equipment.
Intrinsically safe (IS) equipment is designed so that it cannot produce electrical or thermal energy sufficient to ignite a hazardous atmosphere, even under fault conditions. Unlike explosion-proof enclosures, IS equipment achieves safety through circuit design rather than containment. In the United States, IS equipment is approved by FM or UL, and each component in the system — including the scale, indicator, and all connections — must carry the appropriate IS certification for the environment.
System Scale works with METTLER TOLEDO to provide a full range of intrinsically safe weighing solutions. Contact us to discuss your application.
Industries that commonly require hazardous area weighing equipment include chemical processing, oil and gas, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint and coatings production, grain and agricultural processing, mining, and food processing facilities where combustible dust is present. Any environment where flammable substances are handled, stored, or processed during weighing operations should be evaluated for hazardous area classification.
Load Cells
The key difference is how the weight signal is processed. An analog load cell outputs a small electrical voltage — typically around 0.03 volts — that travels to the indicator for interpretation. This low-voltage signal is susceptible to interference from radio frequencies, electromagnetic sources, temperature, and long cable runs.
A digital load cell converts the strain gauge signal to a digital binary data stream inside the load cell itself, using a much stronger signal range of 2–6 volts. Digital signals are significantly more resistant to interference, resulting in more stable and accurate weight readings, especially in demanding industrial environments.
METTLER TOLEDO’s POWERCELL PDX is one of the most advanced digital load cell systems available, offering predictive diagnostics, network health monitoring, and built-in lightning protection. Contact System Scale to learn more.
Load cells themselves are not calibrated in isolation — the calibration actually occurs at the indicator level. During calibration, an operator applies known test weights to the scale and enters those values into the indicator, which establishes the mathematical relationship between the load cell’s voltage change and the corresponding weight. A minimum of three test points, applied in increasing then decreasing order, are used to establish this baseline.
Digital load cells like METTLER TOLEDO’s POWERCELL PDX store calibration data within the cell itself, which simplifies replacement and recalibration. Learn more about System Scale calibration services.
Load cell drift occurs because the metal components that flex under load are subject to fatigue over time. Repeated loading and unloading gradually weakens the material at the flex point, meaning it takes progressively less force to produce the same amount of deflection. Environmental factors such as moisture, temperature extremes, corrosion, and debris buildup can accelerate drift. This is why load cells should be rated for at least 125% of the maximum expected load, and why regular calibration is essential to detect and correct drift before it affects measurement accuracy or product quality.
A weigh module is a complete load cell mounting assembly designed to be integrated directly into tanks, hoppers, conveyors, or other structures to enable in-place weighing without a separate scale platform. They are used when the vessel or structure itself serves as the weighing platform.
Common types include compression modules (loads applied from above, used in tanks and silos), tension modules (used in crane and hanging applications), shear beam modules (floor scales and hoppers), and single-point modules (bench scales and small equipment). Selection depends on load direction, capacity, accuracy requirements, and environmental conditions. Contact System Scale for a weigh module consultation.
Truck Scale Costs & Errors
The financial impact of even small truck scale errors compounds quickly. Consider a scale that is consistently off by just 20 lbs on a product priced at $0.75 per pound, with 25 trucks per day, five days a week. That single 20-lb error translates to approximately $97,500 in annual revenue loss.
Legal-for-trade tolerances under NIST Handbook 44 define the minimum acceptable accuracy for regulatory compliance — not the accuracy standard for a profitable operation. Regular calibration and maintenance keep your scale performing well above that floor. Contact System Scale to assess your truck scale’s current performance.
Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems capture axle, axle group, and gross vehicle weights as trucks move across the scale at low speeds — typically up to 5 mph — without requiring the driver to stop. Sensors embedded in the scale deck capture real-time load data that is automatically recorded and processed.
A single WIM installation can process the same throughput as multiple static scales, reducing wait times, improving site safety by keeping drivers in their vehicles, and eliminating manual data entry errors. Legal-for-trade WIM systems such as TruckPass SD-WIM achieve accuracy levels of 0.1%. Learn more about truck scale solutions.
A full truck scale consists of multiple connected modules long enough to weigh an entire vehicle at once. This configuration is required for legal-for-trade commercial transactions because regulations typically specify that the complete vehicle weight must be captured in a single weighing event.
A single-axle scale is a shorter, lower-cost platform that weighs one axle group at a time. Because the truck must be moved and re-weighed for each axle, the total weight is an estimate rather than a simultaneous measurement, making it unsuitable for legal-for-trade use. Single-axle scales are primarily used for vehicle compliance checks against highway weight limits.
Several maintenance tasks can be performed by facility staff between professional service visits: perform a daily visual inspection for obvious debris, damage, or approach issues; conduct a monthly cleanout washing around and under the scale deck to remove accumulated material; run a partial weight test every two months using a known reference and flag discrepancies immediately; and call for calibration any time the scale experiences a sudden impact or suspected overload.
Professional service from an accredited scale company — including full calibration, load cell inspection, and preventive maintenance — should occur one to four times per year depending on traffic volume. Learn about System Scale truck scale maintenance programs.
Calibration Certificates & Compliance
A complete calibration certificate includes five core elements: measurement uncertainty (the documented margin of doubt expressed as a +/- value); an accreditation or testing statement identifying the accrediting body and procedures followed; as-found and as-left results showing the equipment’s state before and after any adjustments; a statement of conformity (pass/fail or in-tolerance/out-of-tolerance); and traceability references linking the calibration results back to recognized national standards through an unbroken chain of comparisons.
Note: a certificate stating the lab is ISO/IEC 17025 compliant is not the same as stating the calibration itself is accredited. Look for an explicit accreditation statement and the accrediting body’s logo. All System Scale calibration certificates are accessible through CalVault.
Accredited means a recognized third-party body — such as ANAB — has audited the laboratory’s processes, equipment, personnel competency, and quality system against the full requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and formally approved them. The lab is subject to ongoing surveillance audits to maintain that standing.
Compliant is a self-declaration. The lab claims to follow the standard’s principles, but no independent body has verified it. For regulated industries, quality management systems, and customer contracts that specify accredited calibration, a compliant certificate does not satisfy the requirement. System Scale’s calibrations are accredited — not just compliant.
A calibration interval is the maximum time allowed between calibrations for a given piece of equipment. The interval is set by the equipment owner, not the calibration provider, based on factors including frequency of use, environmental conditions, acceptable risk level, past calibration history, quality system requirements, and any applicable regulatory mandates.
Manufacturer recommendations are a starting point only. Equipment used heavily in harsh environments may require more frequent calibration than the manufacturer’s default interval. System Scale can help customers analyze past calibration data and establish intervals appropriate for their specific processes. Contact us to discuss your calibration program.
When equipment is found out of tolerance, three things need to happen. First, the equipment should be taken out of service or restricted until it is adjusted, repaired, or replaced. Second, an impact analysis should be conducted to determine what measurements were made with the out-of-tolerance device, what products or decisions those measurements affected, and whether corrective action is required. Third, the root cause should be investigated to prevent recurrence.
CalVault makes it easier to pull historical calibration records quickly for impact analysis. Contact your System Scale office for support with out-of-tolerance findings.
Legal-for-trade scales in the United States are governed by NIST Handbook 44, which defines specifications, tolerances, and technical requirements for commercial weighing and measuring devices. Most state weights and measures programs enforce HB44 through inspection and certification programs administered by agencies affiliated with the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). Scales used in commercial transactions where weight determines price must be tested and approved under these standards. System Scale performs legal-for-trade calibrations and certifications. Contact your local office for legal-for-trade service.
Equipment Selection & Total Cost of Ownership
The repair-versus-replace decision should weigh four factors: the cost of repair relative to replacement cost; parts availability (generic or offshore equipment frequently has no serviceable parts, forcing full replacement anyway); downtime history and the cost of future failures; and whether the equipment still meets your accuracy and compliance requirements. A scale that repeatedly fails calibration or requires frequent repair is often more expensive to keep than to replace with a quality unit backed by readily available parts and manufacturer support.
System Scale can perform an equipment evaluation to help you make an informed decision. Contact your local office or browse equipment options.
The upfront savings of low-cost generic scales are typically offset by higher long-term costs across four areas. First, cheap equipment has higher failure rates and shorter service life due to lower-quality construction and components. Second, replacement parts are often unavailable, meaning a full unit replacement is required when a single component fails. Third, inconsistent accuracy leads to bad measurements, product waste, billing errors, and potential compliance exposure. Fourth, inconsistent user interfaces across generic brands require retraining every time a unit is replaced, adding hidden labor cost.
Quality brands like METTLER TOLEDO and Rice Lake are designed for easy maintenance, have readily available parts, and deliver consistent interfaces across product lines.
Good Weighing Practice (GWP) is a global guideline for the lifecycle management of weighing instruments, published by METTLER TOLEDO. It follows five steps: Define your process requirements and accuracy needs; Select equipment with measurement uncertainty smaller than your application demands; Install and configure the equipment correctly; Calibrate to maintain accuracy over time; and Optimize your testing and maintenance schedules to the best cost-to-risk ratio.
Following GWP reduces total cost of ownership, extends equipment life, and minimizes the risk of measurement error. System Scale can help you apply GWP principles at your facility. Contact us to learn more.
A floor scale is a low-profile platform scale designed to be placed on the floor for weighing larger items, pallets, drums, or other heavy objects — often loaded with a forklift or pallet jack. Floor scales are available in a wide range of capacities and platform sizes, including pit-mounted configurations for flush-floor installation.
A bench scale is a smaller-capacity scale designed for countertop or workstation use, used for weighing components, ingredients, parts, or packages where precision and speed matter. Bench scales are common in food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratory environments, and quality control applications.
Browse System Scale’s equipment catalog or contact us for a product recommendation.
Preventive maintenance is a scheduled, proactive approach to equipment upkeep — inspecting, cleaning, adjusting, and calibrating equipment on a defined schedule to catch problems before they cause failures. Reactive maintenance waits for equipment to fail before taking action. Studies show that planned preventive maintenance is up to five times cheaper than unplanned reactive repairs, when you factor in emergency service rates, production downtime, product loss, and impact analysis costs.
System Scale offers Preventive Maintenance Agreements (PMAs) customized to each customer’s equipment, environment, and calibration requirements.
Industry Applications
Accurate weighing is fundamental to food and beverage production at every stage. Ingredient weighing ensures recipe consistency and nutritional accuracy. Batching and blending systems depend on precise measurement to maintain consistent flavor, texture, and formulation across production runs. Checkweighers verify that finished packages meet fill weight requirements, reducing waste from overfilling and compliance risk from underfilling. Tank scales and weigh modules monitor fermentation vessel volumes and storage levels in real time.
System Scale provides ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration and weighing equipment specifically suited for food and beverage environments, including washdown-rated and stainless steel options. Contact us to discuss your production environment.
In pharmaceutical production, measurement accuracy is a regulatory and safety requirement. Analytical balances and precision bench scales are used to weigh active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients, where even minor deviations can affect drug potency or patient safety. Quality control weighing verifies that finished dosage forms meet specifications across production batches. Traceability and documentation requirements from the FDA, EMA, and WHO mandate calibrated, documented measurement data throughout the manufacturing process.
System Scale’s ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services support pharmaceutical customers’ compliance with GMP requirements and quality management systems. Contact us to discuss your calibration program.
Aggregate and mining operations rely on truck scales for inventory management, customer billing, load compliance, and payload optimization. In-motion weighing systems allow high-volume operations to process trucks without stopping, maximizing throughput. Hazardous area weighing equipment may be required in certain mining environments. Preventive maintenance and regular calibration are especially critical in these applications due to heavy debris exposure, vibration, and outdoor conditions that accelerate wear.
Learn about System Scale truck scale and heavy capacity services.
A checkweigher is an automated in-line scale that verifies the weight of products as they move through a production or packaging line. Items that fall outside the defined weight tolerance are flagged or rejected automatically, without stopping the line. Checkweighers are used to enforce portion control, prevent overfilling, ensure package completeness, meet net content labeling regulations, and reduce giveaway — the product lost to overfilling that directly impacts profitability.
They are common in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and industrial manufacturing environments. Contact System Scale to discuss checkweigher options for your line.
System Scale supports rail and transportation customers with static weighbridges, in-motion weighing systems, and onboard weighing solutions for freight and logistics applications. Weight measurement in rail transport is critical for safety (preventing overloaded cars that can cause derailments), regulatory compliance with highway and rail weight limits, and load optimization to reduce equipment wear. Legal-for-trade certified weighing systems ensure weight data is accurate and legally recognized for billing and compliance purposes. Contact System Scale to discuss rail and transportation weighing needs.