The Cost of Extras.
Industrial scale accessories can greatly help with the overall efficiency and productivity of your operation. One of the main questions that is usually asked is “how much will it cost?” which is usually the main factor that determines if one will purchase any sort of product. In this article we will dive into the cost of different accessories for your industrial scale as well as offer our recommendations for accessories in each category. If you have not read our article about Industrial scale accessories, then it would be a good idea to read that as well.
Indicators
An indicator is a device that turns electrical signals (that are caused by distortions in the base’s load cells) into something that can be read by users. The signals are converted to legible results on the display integrated into the indicator. Indicators include various applications to add functionalities (like counting or checkweighing) to platforms, offer data communication capabilities and buttons to navigate through menus or for sample entry. Essentially scale indicators are an integral part of any industrial scale operation, and because of the vast array of options available, it can prove to be quickly overwhelming to someone just starting their search.
Types of indicators
Like scales and balances, there are many kinds of indicators. This list includes the most commonly used indicators and their main features are counting, Checkweighing indicators and washdown are the common indicators that you will encounter. Depending on the indicator type will determine the overall cost of the indicator. This section will give a quick overview of the indicators listed as well as the price you will expect to pay.
Counting: Counting scale indicators You might have noticed most indicators include a counting function. So what makes a counting indicator different? It’s the inclusion of a full numeric keypad. A full numeric keypad allows users to enter sample numbers, unit weight and more quickly and easily. It’s especially useful when dealing with unwieldy numbers (for example, a unit weight of 15.78 grams) and for large inventories. Prices for these types of indicators can range anywhere from $550 to upwards of $2,000.
Checkweighing: a dedicated checkweighing indicator is designed to speed up checkweighing tasks. LED indicators or even the whole display will change color to indicate if a sample is over, under or within preset limits. They also often include an audible alarm that sounds when a limit is reached, so users don’t even have to look at the indicator while they work. Checkweighing indicators will range around $450- $1,500.
Washdown: These indicators are built to withstand dust, humidity and wet or harsh conditions. Their sturdy housings are rated a minimum of IP67 and often made of easy-to-clean stainless steel. They’re well-suited for weighing tasks in docks, ships, agricultural settings, food processing plants or demanding industrial environments. Combine them with a stainless steel platform for a rugged scale with high performance.
Remote Displays
Remote displays are not an essential part of your weighing operation, but can prove to be beneficial, especially if you are tight on space and need to free up space by mounting it to a wall. When it comes to remote displays, it is entirely up to you to determine if it is something you need. A good way to determine this is by evaluating the environment that you will be weighing the most and then look at if a remote display is necessary. When choosing a remote display, you can choose among a few options. There are single display and multi display options which allow you to view more than just one measurement. The differences are really broken down into the size of the display and also the viewing range of the display, which typically will start at around 150 feet on up. The cost of purchasing a remote display will start around $850 for a standard entry level display, and can reach up to $3,000 for a quad display.
Printers
Including a printer in your operation is a good way to tie everything together and also have a way to print out measurements when needed. The most common printer used is the thermal printer. Dot Matrix is still used in some places, but is a lot bigger and heavier than a thermal printer, so for the sake of consistency we will just focus on thermal printers. Just like other accessories, it really comes down to preference. Depending on what you want to do, you are able to program the printer to print certain values or a report for the measurements recorded. When looking for a printer to add to your operation, expect to spend anywhere from $530-$1,230 for a 2”-4” thermal printer.
Closing Words
Industrial scale accessories can definitely tie your weight operation together and ensure that it runs in an efficient manner. Equipping your operation with a good digital display, printer and indicator will essentially remove extra steps when going through your entire process. To get a good grasp on what accessories can do for you, then check out our article on industrial scale accessories. Also be sure to check out our scale accessories page. There you can place orders and check prices on all that we carry.