When we think of weighing produce, the image of picking a few apples or potatoes and placing them on the scale in the grocery store comes to mind. However, long before that produce reached your grocer’s, it was weighed in mass quantities at the distribution center. A wide variety of industrial scales are available for weighing produce in commercial applications.

Bench Scales

Bench scales include a platform that is separated from the weight display with a cord 5 feet or more in length. The weighing capacities can range from 6 lb to 2000 lbs. Some models feature a stainless steel platform, while others have a waterproof surface that enables the user to wash them down after each use. The platforms typically have a low-profile height, which makes it easy to load and unload large containers from the scale.

For automatic filling operations, many types of bench scales can be programmed for specific target weights. The scale operator can input the desired weight of the filled container on the scale’s front panel. A filling device such as a valve, solenoid, screw augur, or vibrating system is then activated to begin the filling operation. When the target weight is reached, the scale will switch off the electronic signal to the fill component.

Because bench scales are used to weigh many types of produce in containers of varying sizes at different times, a useful feature is the ability to store a variety of different target weight values and trickle feed or intermediate values for more than one filling task. Many bench scales enable the scale operator to label each set of target weights with their associated product. When he or she moves on to another product, they can use a menu option to search for it by name or product number. When the next filling operation begins, the target weights can then be automatically implemented.

Platform Scales

Another type of scale that is used to weigh produce in commercial applications is a platform scale. These high-capacity scales are characterized by a large heavy-duty weighing plate, typically made of stainless steel. This ensures the scale will be durable and stable during all types of weighing operations. The display of the platform scale is typically mounted on a pole attached to the platform and many displays are enclosed in a rubber gasket for water resistance. Some platform scales, however, have a display similar to that of a bench scale, with the display being at ground level and separated from the weighing plate via a cord.

Many platform scale models have specialized features such as a stand to elevate the display device, piece counting, water resistance or water proofing, and calibration with internal weights.

Most of the features found in bench scales mentioned above are also found in platform scales—programmable target weights for automatic filling operations as well as the ability to store target weight and trickle feed or intermediate values.

Additionally, the ability to transfer the weight data to a computer is found in both bench and platform scales. Many communication methods are used, from the long-standing, industry standard RS-232 to USB or Ethernet. The data can be stored in the computer in database or spreadsheet format. Reports can be created using this data for later analysis, or for entry into inventory control or accounting systems.