Joe Grell, VP Heavy Capacity Products, Rice Lake Weighing Systems

1. How do plants know which truck scales they should purchase for their application?

The biggest differentiator in the truck scale industry is longevity. A durable truck scale should be selected to meet the plant’s specific needs based on the number of daily transactions and axle configurations of the vehicle.

2. What is included in the truck scale engineering process?

There are many facets and people involved in the total engineering process. Expert engineers should be involved in every stage of truck scale manufacturing, from design conception to the final coat of paint and quality check. Material quality, craftsmanship and design expertise are all factors to ensure a superior product.

3. What factors are considered during the engineering process?

The truck scale’s environment, the type of material being weighed, the maximum number of trucks being weighed in a day, the maximum weight of a single truckload and individual axle loads are all considerations when engineering a truck scale.

4. What are new trends in truck scale production that lead to longer life in the field?

It is all about perfecting the production process. For example, by cleaning all raw steel before fabrication and again before painting, you will see an improved product at the end of the line. Manufacturers are also investing in high-quality employees as well as robotics.

5. How can plants justify the cost of a custom engineered truck scale?

The total cost of ownership for a high-quality truck scale is actually lower than a cheaper, low-quality scale when the length of time the scale will provide reliable service is considered. If a plant really wants a truck scale to last more than 20 years, investing in a custom engineered truck scale is worth the relatively modest difference in price.