Pallet Scales

Large-sized, bulky and heavy products are often stored on pallets for shipping and internal transport. Any scales which, due to the design, size and functionality, are suitable for weighing such goods including the pallet can be called the pallet scales. Usually, the load-carrying unit of the pallet scales is placed on the floor and the display connected via cable is mounted as the display and control unit at eye level of the user on the work table, on the wall or on a tripod.

Depending on whether the pallet scales are to be used in only one location or in different locations at the enterprise, how the pallets are placed on the weighing platform and whether the pallets to be weighed vary in dimensions, some designs are more suitable than others.

Platform scales as pallet scales
If the operating procedures are organized in such a way that all the weighing operations are carried out at a place permanently reserved for this purpose, the pallet scales can also be installed in the floor as platform scales. The floor-level installation of the weighing platform is more laborious because of the necessary floor recess and the support frame, but for that the floor-mounted scales are very easy to drive on. In the case of a suitable weighing range and sufficient resolution, it is also possible to weigh with a pallet truck or other transport vehicle without having to set the pallets down and then lift them up again.

If the floor-level installation is not possible, the platform scales placed on the floor can also be used as pallet scales for fixed weighing locations.

Flat versions are already available with an installation height of 75mm. Additional ramps can be added for driving on. Large-area platform scales suitable for weighing pallets are usually designed to be particularly robust and have a high degree of IP protection. The following platform sizes are available as standard (the own weight of the pallet scales is given in brackets):

- 1200 x 1200 x100 (85 kg)
- 1250 x 1250 x 85 (140 kg)
- 1260 x 1500 x 75 (250 kg)
- 1500 x 1500 x 112 (210 kg)
- 1500 x 2000 x 112 (300 kg)

U-shaped pallet scales
For changing weighing locations and standard pallets, the U-shaped pallet scales which can be transported easily and without auxiliary tools, is recommended. The U-shaped load carrying unit is equipped with a handle on the middle part and with the rollers at the ends of the two legs. It can easily be lifted by the handle and pulled to the new location. The dimensions of the U-shaped frame are optimized for the Euro pallets (800 mm x 1200 mm). The forks of the forklift trucks or pallet trucks can be moved into the U-shape, which facilitates the precise lowering of the load.

Beam scales as pallet scales
Today, the name beam scales is also referred to the scales on which the load is placed evenly on two load-bearing beams. Two load cells are installed in each of the weighing beams. The evaluation of the measured data from the four load cells is carried out via the display connected to the load-carrying beams. The two weighing beams, which are usually 1,250 millimeters long, are set up in parallel at a distance of up to 4 meters and can therefore weigh even very long pallets accurately. This type of the pallet scales can also be adapted very quickly to different pallet lengths by changing the distance between the weighing beams.

Hand pallet scales as pallet scales
Hand pallet truck with the integrated scales is particularly suitable as pallet scales for applications where:
- the goods from different storage locations are to be weighed and then transported further to an intermediate storage or loading location, or
- the goods are moved and stored on the levels with the limited load-bearing capacity – for example, on upper floors or on storage platforms.
The hand pallet scales displays the weight of the full pallet and the user can immediately check whether this load can be stored at the intended location or loaded onto the intended vehicle. Otherwise, either the weight of the loaded pallet must be either reduced or the storage location or the transport vehicle must be changed.

Lift table scales as pallet scales
As a very special form of the pallet scales, lifting table scales with a sufficiently large working surface can also be used. The scissor lift table, which is screwed to the weighing beam anchored in the floor, allows continuous height adjustment of the loaded area. When compiling the orders on the lift-table scales, the order picker can minimize the lifting operations by adjusting the height of the weighing surface and the means of the transport. Even if the packages are weighed close to the floor and then transferred directly to the higher lying surface of another means of transport – whether vehicle, conveyor belt or elevator – the lift table scales facilitates the transfer of the goods to be weighed.

Pallet scale in stainless steel design
For the applications where the increased hygiene requirements exist or where the pallet scales are exposed to the increased humidity or corrosive media, there are the platform scales, beam scales and U-shaped scales available in stainless steel design. To protect the internal components against contact and water, the housings are usually designed in protection class IP 65, IP 67 or IP 68. The load carrying unit of the pallet scales often has a higher IP protection class than the display and can be submerged under water for up to 30 minutes with IP 67 and for an indefinite period with IP 68.

Verified pallet scales
The use of the verified scales is mandatory for certain applications. With the exception of the lift table scales, all the listed designs can also be supplied as verified pallet scales. For verification, the geographical location of the scales must already be known. The size of the spatial area, to which the verification of the pallet scales applies, depends on the accuracy class and the number of divisions. The pallet scales belong to the commercial scales with the accuracy class 3. In the case of up to 3,000 divisions, i.e. 3,000 possible display values, which corresponds to a resolution of 0.5 kilograms at a maximum load of 1,500 kilograms, the verification valid for country of the installation location applies. This means that the pallet scale verified for the installation in Germany cannot be used as the verified scales in France, but would have to be readjusted and verified. If the pallet scales has more than 3,000 divisions, the verification is not valid for the entire country, but only for a certain region or even specifically for a location.

For certain applications, the use of verified scales is mandatory. This applies in particular to the applications where prices for goods or services are determined on the basis of weight. The verification of the measuring instruments serves to protect the consumer. It is a sovereign task, regulated by laws and ordinances and supervised by the authorities. Violations of the verification regulations can result in fines. With the exception of the lifting table scales, for all the designs listed here also the verified versions, or respectively the conformity-assessed pallet scales that are approved for subsequent verification in accordance with the verification law, can be offered.

For the adjustment of the scales that are to be used in the legal-for-trade area, the geographical location of the scales must already be known. Therefore, when the verified pallet scales are ordered, the name of the town and the postcode of the place of installation should be stated. The place of installation has an influence on the weighing result because of the gravitational force prevailing there. If the pallet scales are not adjusted to the later place of use, it cannot display a correct result there. This is another reason why the regional verification office is always responsible for the monitoring of the calibrated scales. Incidentally, the obligations of the user of the calibrated scales include registration with the local verification authority and regular presentation for the repeated verification every two or three years.

How large the spatial range is for which the verification of the scales is valid depends on the accuracy class and the number of divisions. The pallet scales generally belong to the commercial scales with the accuracy class 3 according to the verification law. This accuracy class 3 of the verification is often indicated with the abbreviation M III in the description of the scales. If the pallet scales have up to 3,000 divisions, which corresponds to a resolution of 0.5 kilograms with a maximum load of 1,500 kilograms, the verification in Germany is valid for the whole country. The calibrated pallet scales approved for the installation throughout Germany is set to the gravitational value of 9.810 m/s². This means that it may not be used as the verified scales in Austria or Italy just like that, but would have to be readjusted for this and then verified again and provided with a new verification mark. If the pallet scales have more than 3,000 division values, the gravitational value has a greater effect on the individual value. The verification is then no longer valid for the whole country, but only for a specific region. Attention must also be paid to the regional validity of the verification, for example, if the already calibrated pallet scales are to be used at a different location than originally planned.