A high-quality weighing solution is critical to maintaining a high-quality food product. Having highly accurate scales can help food manufacturers stay productive, profitable and competitive. However, all weighing equipment will suffer different levels of deterioration depending on the environment in which they are used. It's important to ensure your equipment is both suitable for the site it's located in and also that the correct washdown and maintenance procedures are carried out. Some of these steps include:

Calibration

To eliminate inaccuracies and false weighing results, your scales need to be properly weight checked and calibrated at the appropriate intervals. When choosing a new scale for your factory, it's also important to understand the calibration process, some manufacturers make the calibration process more difficult than others, but a professional weighing service company will be able to advise and provide maintenance and calibrate service for nearly all types and models of weighing scales.

How often should your scale calibration be checked? 

Thorough cleaning

Every factory has a different manufacturing process, handles different food and carries out a different washdown procedure. No matter the environment or foods you're handling, ensuring a thorough washdown procedure is carried out will help the longevity of your weighing scales. If they're not properly cleaned and maintained, parts of the weighing system are likely to be compromised. 

Understanding the environment

Once installed and operational, you'll need to take the required steps to maintain your weighing system. To reduce the risk of breakages such as rust, cracks and loadcell malfunction, you should take into account environmental factors such as draft, temperature and moisture.

Depending on the type of food you're manufacturing, factors such as temperature and moisture levels will vary, understanding how these factors will affect your weighing system is important. When choosing your weighing solution, you need to ensure the products are suitable for your factory, for instance, the correct IP rating needs to be selected and the construction needs to consist of the correct materials such as high grade stainless steel.