Finding the Right Truck Scale at the Right Price
When purchasing a truck scale, one of the most important factors is pricing. Depending on materials and design, truck scale prices can vary. More expensive models are typically designed to last longer through features that prevent downtime and component failure, which saves on repair costs. Overtime, this can lead to a lower cost of ownership than maintaining or replacing truck scale models that seemed like bargains.
Quality Truck Scale Designs Save Long-term
Quality scales can outlast other designs by decades. Truck scales can function for 25 years or more, and finding a scale that lasts with minimum maintenance is more cost-effective over its lifespan. Ask your scale distributor for information about manufacturers and their procedures. Try to learn as much as possible about the design and engineering process to understand manufacturers’ strengths and weaknesses.
Protective Features Save on Maintenance
Manufacturers may incorporate features into their truck scales to prolong life, such as:
Open-bottom
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Integrated
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Diagnostic
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Self-checking
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An open-bottom design offers multiple benefits, including corrosion resistance and thorough inspections. When moisture or standing water seeps into the weighbridge, it causes rust in scales with a top and bottom deck plate, often leading to accelerated corrosion and failure. An open-bottom design reduces internal corrosion by allowing moisture to escape.
Component housing must be designed carefully, too. Load cell pockets are designed differently depending on the scale. Some designs, such as integrated load cell pockets, provide a better framework to support the load cell, reducing structural fatigue and simplifying maintenance.
Diagnostic junction boxes can also assist in prolonging scale life. By monitoring the output of load cells, diagnostic junction boxes can identify irregularities in calculations which may signal load cells need maintenance or replacement.
Self-checking mounts reduce maintenance by minimizing strain from scale movement. Many scales rely on check rods or bumper bolts, but these put more strain on the scale, resulting in higher maintenance costs. Self-checking mounts remove the need for check rods or bumper bolts while still centering the scale.
Truck scale design is just one factor that can influence the lifespan of a system. Consider what protective features different manufacturers offer to find the best fit.
