Should You Have Your Weighing Scales Calibrated?

Weighing scales are an integral piece of equipment for a wide number of sectors. Marsden have been a leading supplier of weighing devices for over 95 years. During this vast period of time, we have supplied some of the world's largest companies such as the NHS, Rolls Royce, AstraZeneca and many more. As a company, we understand the importance of weighing and more specifically, an accurate weight. In this post, we will share with you what weighing scale calibration is, why your weighing devices should be calibrated and how you can get your scales calibrated.

What is weighing scale calibration?

Weighing scale calibration is often confused with a calibration check. A calibration check is a process which a trained engineer carries out in order to see if a weighing device is still working within the recommended tolerance of the device. For example, the service engineer will apply certified weights to the scale and the weight which shows on the display, should match the load which has been applied to the weighing device. If the weighing device is no longer weighing within tolerance, the device should be recalibrated.

Why is weighing scale calibration needed?

Weighing calibration is needed to ensure that internal processes are being carried out efficiently. Whether you are a Senior Sister on a hospital ward needing an accurate weight for your patients, or a factory manager wanting to monitor stock, accurate weights are imperative. Over the lifespan of a weighing device, several incidents may occur which may cause the weighing scale to drift out of tolerance. A simple calibration procedure can bring this back into line.

What are the benefits of a calibrated weighing scale?

There are two main benefits to calibrating your weighing device. The first benefit is that a calibrated weighing device is guaranteed to give a correct reading. This means that an accurate weight is always obtained. The second benefit of a calibrated weighing scale is cost. It is often significantly cheaper to have a scale accuracy checked and recalibrated than buy a new scale. This obviously depends on the device and our internal team would provide guidance.

What are the implications if your weighing scale is not calibrated?

If a weighing device drifts out of recommended tolerance, it can cause a number of issues, regardless of which sector you work in. For example, within the medical industry, an inaccurate weighing scale can be the difference between a patient receiving the correct medication or nutritional requirements. Within heavy industry, it can cause issues with stock taking, logistics, invoices, etc.

How can I get my weighing scale calibrated?

Here at Marsden, we have a dedicated service department, who are trained in accordance to UK Weighing Federation guidelines. Our nationwide team is able to accuracy check and calibrate all weighing devices. Should the weighing scale be a Class III Approved device, following calibration the device will then need to be reverified. Marsden are able to reverify a large number of manufacturer devices, however if it is not an approved brand, we would recommend sending it to the manufacturer or Trading Standards for reverification.

Accurate weighing scales can benefit a range of different sectors. Within the medical industry, an accurate weight can help to ensure accurate medication dosages are being administered. For industry, an accurate weight can increase yield and decrease spend. For more information on the Marsden service package, speak to a member of our team today. Alternatively, the blog posts below may provide further insight into our service and maintenance options.