Weighing systems guide

Main tasks that can be solved by one of our weighing systems are (choose):

1. Weighing of vehicles with material or goods („legal for trade weighing“)

2. Weighing of vehicles to check legal loading („law-enforcement weighing“)

3. Weighing of special vehicles, bodyworks, vehicle inspection and testing

4. Onboard weighing (for wheel loaders, lift trucks, dumpers etc.)

5. Other weighing demands - for hoppers, belt conveyors, floor scales etc.

1. Weighing of vehicles with material or goods ("legal for trade weighing")

Our customers looking for road scales approved for trade can choose between two weighing concepts:

Non-automatic weighing instruments – NAWI (commonly known as “bridge scales“ or “truck scales”) weight the vehicle standing by all wheels on weighing platform with the highest accuracy. Our company offer truck scales in dimensions from 6 x 3 to 18 x 3 meters and with platforms made of steel or reinforced concrete. The appropriate platform dimensions depends on the length of the longest vehicle that has to be weighed. For example: for weighing of common five-axle truck is needed scale with 16m long platforms that weight several tons itself. Consider this when comparing the price of weighing technology as well as installation and maintenance costs. Our company recommends truck scales to customers with demand of highest weighing accuracy – in other words, when the value of weighed material is about thirty Euros per ton or more.

Automatic weighing instruments – AWI (commonly known as “axle scales”) are weighing in motion when the vehicle is driven steadily over the weighbridge. Their accuracy is usually lower because of external factors influencing the weighing process as vibrations of the vehicle and irregularities of weighing zone are. On the other hand, the weighing platform is relatively small, less expensive than big truck scale and there is no limitation in length and overall weight of the weighed vehicle. Small and lightweight weighbridge has also lower maintenance costs. For example, cleaning of weighbridge base can perform the customer itself without attendance of service personnel and no crane is needed to lift up the weighbridge from the base. Our axle scales for weighing in motion proved their advantages in difficult climatic and operational conditions in sandpits, in concrete production plants, on waste dumps etc.especially on locations, where the value of weighed material is under thirty Euros per ton. Also keep in mind that only the axle scale can measure all the legal load limits required by national law and prevent your vehicles to pay penalties for overloading.

Look through following animations for more information:

2. Weighing of vehicles to check legal loading (law-enforcement weighing)

Checking of legal vehicle loading according to national law can be performed in three modes of weighing:

Weighing of vehicles “at once” on a set of wheel scales (weighing pads). This weighing mode is usually the most precise, but seems to be also the most expensive and time-consuming – standard truck with 5 axles has to be weighed on 10 weighing pads. Our weighing system PW-10 is approved for this application. Check also the animation of this weighing mode here.
Weighing of vehicles in motion - WIM mode. This weighing mode offers very good accuracy combined with high vehicle throughput. Weigh in motion mode can be easily automated (operation without human operator). Robust automatic weighing system VM-2 was designed especially for weighing stations with uninterrupted operation. Its reliability is proved by many years of flawless operation on state border weighing stations. If the portability is crucial, you can use the PW-10 portable weighing system that also works in WIM mode. Check also the animation of this weighing mode here.
Sequential (static) weighing of vehicles “axle by axle” is the most problematic - this mode is extremely time consuming and with higher urcertainity of measuring because of weighing one vehicle in several weighing cycles. Although our PW-10 system can be used in this mode, we recommend weighing in motion or weighing on set of wheel scales to get more reliable results (see above). You can see the animation of “axle by axle” weighing mode here.

Truck scales mentioned under point 1. are not suitable for law-enforcement weighing because are limited to check the gross vehicle weight only.

3. Weighing of special vehicles, bodyworks, vehicle inspection and testing

Selection of proper weighing equipment depends on subject of weighing. For example, we succeeded to weigh 80 ton dumper „Belaz“ on a set of PW-10 weigh pads. The best solution for vehicle testing facilities are weighbridges VMP-2.

4. Onboard weighing - for wheel loaders, lift trucks, dumpers etc.

Onboard weighing is applicable on sites where road scales can't be installed. Weighing device Helper P5 is suitable for wheel loaders, fork-lift trucks, dumpers, excavators, diggers and other vehicles used for loading of material

5. Other weighing demands – for hoppers, belt conveyors, floor scales etc

Our experienced specialists are ready to help you with any types of scales or special weighing demands. You can rely on engineering company with more than 15 years of experience in development of weighing systems, electronics and software. If our standard portfolio of weighing systems does not meet your requirements, please contact us via e-mail or use this contact form.

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