A Guide to Checkweighing

What is Checkweighing?

Checkweighing is an important part of many processing and production lines for quality assurance. It is the process that ensures a product is within the limits of two pre-determined weights.

In this guide, we will highlight the benefits that checkweighing can offer in quality control processes.

How Do I Carry Out Checkweighing?

Checkweighing scales (checkweighers) allow you to quickly check the weight of product on a production line.  Any product which falls either side the limits may be adjusted or corrected to meets the specification.

Specific features of the checkweigher will vary with model, but most will have a clear indicator on the balance screen. Additionally, checkweighing scales may also have an audio and/or visual signal to increase efficiency, which in turn saves money since they can reduce the amount of time spent on repetitive weighing tasks.

Where are Checkweighers Used?

Checkweighers are commonly used in production facilities, packing facilities and product dispatch to ensure goods meet the required specifications. Industries that employ checkweighing include: pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive, cosmetic & personal care, transport and chemical. Typically, checkweighers are be used to:

• identify if a product is over or under weight
• reduce waste, by preventing product giveaway
• check for missing items in a pack (such as leaflet)
• ensure regulatory compliance (e.g. net content in pre-packed goods)
• meet reporting standards (e.g. OIML, FPVO, FDA)

What are the Benefits of Checkweighing?

There are several advantages that having checkweighing in your quality control procedures offers, including:

• Consistent production – important for meeting regulatory guidance
• Reduced waste – parts are not wasted if there has been excess accidently used in production
• Improved safety and quality checks – if anything is missing from a product it will be quickly noticed

Manufacturers will often employ a ‘100% product inspection’ as part of quality control specifications depending on industry regulations or standards, and checkweighing balances are the quickest way to perform such tasks.

Not only does checkweighing improve your customer satisfaction by providing uniform products, it can save manufacturers money by preventing excess parts being used or replacing items that do not meet standards.

Industries that Employ Checkweighing

In the automotive industry checkweighing is used to count small components before being assembled into other parts. After sub-assembly is complete, the product will be weighed to check that there are no parts missing. This enables engineers to highlight defects before they pass the product to the next part of the manufacturing process.

Checkweighing is also used in the food industry. Such balances and scales need to be trade approved if the product is to be sold with a price directly linked to weight.

Checkweighing Balances from Precisa

The Precisa 520 Series features a checkweighing application as standard on both the PT and PB models, and both are OIML certified as trade approved scales. The balance emits an alarm (which may be disabled) and displays a symbol with each measurement. The ‘–‘ symbol indicates that the measurement is less than the specified lower limit. The ‘+’ symbol indicates that the measurement is above the upper limit. The ‘→II←’ symbol indicates that the measurement is within the limits.

An additional signal light (indicator with 3 lamps, green/red/yellow) and horn accessory for better visual and audio aids are

available and are suitable for checkweighing.

The Precisa 520 Series analytical and precision balances are trade approved. The Series 520 balances contain the innovative PHASTbloc™ (Precisa Hybrid Advanced Sensor Technology). This advanced weighing technology is the culmination of over 40 years of knowledge and experience and unites the benefits of a conventional weighing cell and monolithic design. This enables the efficient maintenance and repair of a weighing cell instead of replacing it – sustainability in practice. Advanced materials, Swiss engineering and unique manufacturing methods lift quality and performance to new heights.

To find out more about how our trade approved balances that feature the checkweighing application can be used in your facilities, please contact our team today.