Forklift scales, also known as in-motion weighing systems, are an essential tool for any business that handles heavy loads. These scales are attached to a forklift and used to weigh materials as they are being moved, providing an accurate and convenient way to measure weight. Maintaining the integrity of your forklift scale is paramount to ensuring that your forklift scale gives accurate measurements.
Proper maintenance is essential for keeping your forklift scale in good working order. Regular maintenance not only helps to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the scale, but it can also extend its lifespan and prevent costly repairs. This article will go over why maintenance is important and what the different services that you can perform to ensure the integrity of your forklift scale. Also be sure to check out our learning hub for more articles on forklift scales and more.
Calibration
One of the most important aspects of forklift scale maintenance is regular calibration. Forklift scales should be calibrated at least once a year, or more frequently if they are used heavily. Calibration involves adjusting the scale to ensure that it is providing accurate weight measurements. This is typically done by a professional technician using specialized equipment.
There should be a routine calibration schedule for your forklift scale in place. The schedule will depend on how often your scale is being used. Generally you want to calibrate your scale at the least semi annually, but depending on the frequency of use, you may want calibrate it either quarterly or even monthly. Consult your local scale company about preventative maintenance packages. This can help eliminate some of the leg work with ensuring your scale is calibrated.
House Keeping
In addition to regular calibration, there are a few other key maintenance tasks that should be performed on a forklift scale. These include cleaning the scale and its surrounding area, checking the condition of the load cells and other components, and tightening any loose bolts or other hardware.
If you use the forklift scale often, then a good practice would be to perform daily, weekly and monthly checks to ensure everything on the scale is working as it should and that it is also void of any dirt or debris.
Recording the service
It's also important to keep a maintenance log for your forklift scale. This log should include details about when the scale was last calibrated, any repairs or maintenance that were performed, and any other relevant information. This can help you keep track of your scale's maintenance schedule and ensure that it is always in good working order.
There are different ways you can keep maintenance records. One of the ways you can keep track is by keeping an electronic log. Usually an excel sheet or or a notebook dedicated to that particular scale
Closing Words
Overall, regular maintenance is essential for keeping your forklift scale in good working order. By performing regular calibration and other maintenance tasks, you can ensure that your scale is providing accurate and reliable weight measurements, and prolong its lifespan.
At American Scale we strive to bring you informed and useful content on all things scale related. Be sure to check out our truck scale articles about truck scale foundation or how much do truck scales cost. We even have a guide to warranties. To learn more about bench scales, it would be good to check out our other articles such as “Bench Scale Basics'' and “How Much Does A Bench Scale Cost?”. These articles will help with the basics of bench scale ownership. Also, take a look at our “Common Problems With Bench Scales'', which can help give insight to what issues could arise while owning a bench scale.