Industrial floor scales are an essential part of the manufacturing and distribution industries. They have a virtually limitless amount of weighing uses— from guaranteeing quality control of large batches of product to pallet weights that help with logistics and shipping.
You may know the specific dimensions of the floor scale you need in theory, but there are probably other questions running around in your head, such as:
- How on earth is it going to be loaded?
- Is there going to be a forklift that’s readily available to set a pallet on the scale?
- Should the scale be mobile?
- Do we have enough space/how much space do we have to accommodate a scale?
- How accurate do we need the scale to be?
And for the final question… what specific floor scale do you buy? There are several out there, and all that serve differing purposes. So, let us answer some of these questions that have surely been keeping you up at night.
Here are 4 different types of floor scales:
Basic Floor Scales
The basic floor scale is very likely the initial scale that came to your mind in your scale-buying-journey.
So these guys are simple and usually square— they range from the standard 3’x3’-5’x5’ and can withhold up to 20,000 lbs, depending on the one you get.
You’ll have the option of choosing whether your scale is in mild steel or stainless steel, smooth plate, standard plate, or tread plate— among several other options.
If you don’t have a driver or a forklift that is readily there to place your product on the scale, you’ll probably want some ramps for your pallet jacks.
Or, you can construct a pit to place your scale in, which might be a slight nuisance since you’ll need to construct a pit now, which makes your project a little more expensive.
Low-Profile Floor Scales
These are very similar to the basic scales, with the exception that they are much lower on the ground— giving it easier access to a pallet jack.
The platform for weighing on these scales is somewhere 1-2 inches off of the ground— but you still may want to get some ramps. The shortest recommended ramp for a basic scale is 36”, whereas you’ll only need 12” for these low-profile ones.
Lift Scales
Lift scales are great for those who aren’t necessarily weighing things in a warehouse or other manufacturing location.
If you’re weighing things like chemicals or food ingredients, you’ll need a more hygienic option. Lift scales are made to have the top of their deck lift up, which allows for the easy cleaning of their undercarriage. These can either be gas-assisted and manual lift or be controlled remotely by a specific button on a control panel.
Because these scales are specifically designed for the purpose of hygiene, they do usually come in stainless steel for heavy-duty washdown applications.
Portable Industrial Floor Scales
This is basically the portable version of a low-profile model floor scale.
These scales have side rails as part of their design, with the added feature of swivel-and-locking casters in the corners— which allow them to be wherever you need them.
Portable floor scales are handy for times when you need to stow away your scale, especially for applications that don’t technically have a designated area for weighing.
These models are awesome because you don’t have to worry about getting them any ramps— the standard portable floor scale comes with a ramp either on one or both sides of it. They’re split in the middle, so when you lift them up on their hinges while in their portable position, it makes it easier to move the scale around.