The Evolution of Industrial Weighing Scales

The weighing scale has been around since the early years. There have been pieces of evidence found from when ancient people used industrial weighing scales to measure the mass of goods they sold or bartered. The weighing scale was born out of need. As trading goods developed in the early days, merchants needed a device to help them put the right value for their products that were impossible to count, such as the mass of a huge piece of gold. The first weighing scale used in ancient times dates back to a couple of thousand years ago. The weighing scale used back in the day is a far cry from the ones used by businesses and industries these days. The people did not have the technology back then that we have now.

Scale of Justice photo/DTR via wikimedia commons

First design

The first industrial weighing scales used a scale made of two plates placed on either side of a horizontal pole, which was balanced on a vertical pole. To get the right measurement of the object, a merchant would put it on one side and a pre-determined weight on the other, until both plates would sit balanced on the pole. This weighing system was accurate, but it was not without any discrepancies. People could easily cheat on the measurement if they chose to.

Start of technological improvements

It was not until the late 18th century when the first developments of the industrial weighing scale started. This was the era when they retired the use of weight-setting stones. The improvements in technology greatly helped in improving the way we use industrial scales. Digital weighing scales used to measure large objects are more accurate and precise than analog ones. High precision scales are useful in industries that require precision in their processes. Such sectors include pharmaceutical, paint and chemical industries.

Types of industrial scales

Throughout the years, manufacturers developed various types of weighing scales for use in different industries. One of these major innovations was industrial counting scales. You can use these scales to count the pieces that you are weighing, make it easier for businesses to know the exact count of the goods that they are weighing. Animal scales, as the name implies, weigh individual weights of livestock and other animals. A weighbridge measures the weight of vehicles, such as trucks, lorries and other heavy equipment. A forklift scale is a truck that lifts, moves and weighs huge loads in one single operation. A bench scale is a smaller scale that you place on a table top or bench, hence the name. It is applicable for weighing, counting and check weighing, among other tasks. Many businesses use this scale to help them count large amounts of small pieces of goods while weighing them at the same time.

More and more developments will come in the coming years in the industrial weighing scale manufacturing process, thanks to the rapid pace of technological enhancements that we enjoy today. Manufacturers will not stop improving their scales for the benefit of businesses and industries.

Author: Joana Green