What does ‘legal for trade’ weighing mean, and how might it affect my business?

Many words are used to describe weighing equipment performance, but ‘legal for trade’ is one of the most important things to look out for, if you sell goods by weight

Abacus Weighing Services of Littleborough, the European Distributor and Dini Argeo Calibration specialist and equipment supplier, is very familiar with ‘legal for trade’ requirements, having specified weighing systems for use in different and demanding applications.

“It makes sense that, when selecting a scale to weigh your product or packages, that your equipment has been tested and approved by an independent third party, confirming that it’s fit for purpose and legally compliant,” said Abacus.  

Read more at Dini Argeo Calibration

Frequently asked questions about industrial weighing equipment

Is readability and accuracy the same thing?

No. Readability is about legibility – the smallest quantity that a reading will display. It’s accuracy that really counts. This is the maximum difference between the applied test weight, and the displayed weight. When you’re short-listing equipment, remember that no device is 100% accurate. Typically, in a stable environment, accuracy is approximately +/- (2 x division size) throughout the weighing range.

Is calibration important?

Very. A valid calibration certificate provides clear evidence that weighing equipment has been checked and has been found to be within agreed tolerances.  During calibration, weighing equipment is compared against calibrated test weights, so the final readings are wholly accurate. A calibration certificate provides documentary evidence of traceability to national standards.  But the most important thing is that it demonstrates that your scales will continue to provide accurate, meaningful and legal measurements.

Some equipment should be calibrated annually, even monthly but that doesn’t mean you should forfeit the need for scales involved in critical processes and operations, to be checked daily.

Do you need to buy legal for trade scales?

If your business is buying or selling by weight, then you do. There are different classes of approval, depending on your industry, so we suggest you check with your supplier which one is relevant for you.  Note that only certain scales can be trade approved.

Stainless v aluminium?

Scales are impacted by the environment they are used in, and that ultimately determines which material is right. Aluminium is light, durable and inexpensive, whereas stainless scales are more suited to environments where they are susceptible to moisture, corrosive or abusive contamination. Stainless scales are tough, robust and can deal with harsh environments.

Can environmental factors interfere with accuracy?

Absolutely. Things like dust, changes in temperature, drafts, even static electricity can alter your readings. That’s why it’s important to carry out maintenance and inspection on your equipment, and to have scales calibrated on a regular basis.

When to hire and when to purchase industrial scales

Hiring your scales: a quick fix

Any lack of production capacity due to vital equipment damage or failure can soon impact on your business, leading to customers being let down, profits reducing and employees becoming frustrated.

If you’re stocktaking, need a short-term solution while your existing scales are out for repair or being replaced, or have a batch of products that need weighing, then hiring scales is an option.

There is no shortage of businesses offering short-term weighing scales hire and scale hire services.

If this is something that you are currently investigating, then most leading scale specialists have a specialised hire division to help customers deal with these difficult periods.

Be sure to hire scales that perfectly match your requirements, to avoid unnecessary downtime.

Buying your own scales gives you surety

While scale hire is often a short-term solution, over a longer period, hiring doesn’t make good financial sense.

Purchasing equipment gives you the surety of access, fixed capital costs that you understand and can budget for, and for your staff, the reliability and consistency of working with equipment and processes that they know and are comfortable with.

Weight determination is crucial

The accurate measurement of weight plays a vital role in any industry.

Weight determination is crucial for a wide range of different reasons - including commercial, legislative and safety purposes.

Regular maintenance and calibration is essential to ensure weighing equipment continues to provide accurate and reliable readings, particularly if used in heavy-duty industrial conditions. While routine maintenance can often be done in-house, it may be necessary for your scale equipment to be removed, or even sent away for repair.

Hiring and Purchasing – what do you need?

Hiring and purchasing scale equipment both have their place, and together ensure that businesses continue to operate at optimal efficiency levels.

So whether you hire or purchase your scale equipment is down to your circumstances – it’s ensuring continuity that really counts.