Accurate weighing processes are essential for the food and beverage industry. This is because the quality of foods produced will depend on how well ingredients are measured.

If your application demands high precision, Weighing by Difference is the best method. However, if speed and convenience are more important, Direct Weighing is a more suitable option.

Weighing Procedure

Regardless of your industry or application, the right weighing method is vital to accurate measurements, quality control and compliance with regulations. Correct weighing procedures ensure you get the most out of your scales and systems, from warehouse operations to shipping and billing.

The most common methods of weighing are static and dynamic weighing. Each has its own benefits and application depending on your precise needs.

Static weighing involves measuring the weight of an object at rest, without movement. It’s often employed in logistics and warehousing operations, to determine the weight of packages and pallets for accurate inventory management.

If you’re using an analytical balance, it is important to know that chemical substances ought to be transferred to the tared container (such as a weighing bottle, trough or flask) and never directly onto the pan or weighing paper. This prevents contaminating the analytical balance and is essential to achieving repeatable results. The container you are transferring to should also be dry as even slight temperature variations can produce erroneous readings.

Pre-Weighing

In some manufacturing applications, such as mixing or blending materials, precise batch-to-batch consistency is paramount. Achieving these results requires accurate weighing of ingredients, avoiding the potential for human error that can impact overall quality.

Most often, a standard laboratory balance is used for this stage, as it offers high readability and expansive weighting ranges. However, the environment in which the balance is utilized can significantly affect its performance. The temperature, moisture and ventilation current of the room must be stable to prevent the possibility of internal influences on the reading.

Once the balance has stabilized, place a sample material in the weighing boat and close the chamber door. After a few seconds, observe the display and record the value. This can be done using a barcode scanner or by directly entering the number into the computer system.

Balance Validation

A balance must be checked on a regular basis. This is often referred to as validation rather than calibration (although it could be both) and is especially important in industries where product quality and safety are paramount, such as pharmaceuticals and food.

If a laboratory uses a magnetic field for weighing, care should be taken to ensure the magnet is not attracted to ferromagnetic materials or objects in the vicinity of the balance pan, since such attraction will generate measurement errors. If possible, the weighing area should be shielded from magnetized material to prevent this from occurring.

All analytical and precision balances should be exercised before use by placing a load equal to the expected loads to be measured and obtaining readings. The results obtained from an unexercised balance will show larger variations than those obtained after the balance has been exercised. This is because the differences exhibited are due to internal factors, such as moisture absorption and thermal equilibration.

Automated Weighing

Automated weighing systems offer a systematic and tech-driven approach to measuring material or product weight. They rely on load cells to measure the weight of materials or objects, then convert those signals into readable digital data.

Digital systems logging this data enable traceability and help you comply with regulatory standards. In addition, real-time information about machine or process conditions can improve responsiveness and optimize energy use.

A conveyor belt scale is an example of a type of automated system that you can set up to check the weight of objects moving over it. The system recognizes a target range of acceptable weight for these items and sends a green light when they pass, while red to indicate that the item failed the quality control check.

Integrated into your production line or shipping processes, automated weighing can significantly speed up operations. This saves your business money on labor costs, avoids customer complaints & hefty fines from regulators, and reduces waste associated with inefficient manual weighing.