Industrial Hanging Scales and Their Uses
Industrial hanging scales - or crane scales - are used to weigh items by suspending them from a fixed position rather than putting the load on a weighing platform. Unlike platform scales, hanging scales take up little space and can be easily stored when not in use.
Additionally, these scales can be used to ensure a crane is not overloaded, by providing an accurate weight reading that will allow the user to see how close the load is to the crane’s weight limit.
The safety hook on a hanging scale makes sure the item or load to be weighed is attached securely and helps to prevent accidents in the workplace.
What Are Hanging Scales Used for?
Hanging Scales are typically used in work and industrial environments such as factories, warehouses, mailrooms and farms.
Hanging scales are often used to weigh fruit and vegetables in a grocery store. Other uses include weighing fishing nets at harbours, weighing luggage at airports and weighing packages and bags of mail at post offices and sorting warehouses. Hanging scales and heavy duty crane scales can even be used on farms to weigh bails of hay and livestock, and have even been used by zoos before to weigh heavy animals.
What Is the Difference Between Hanging Scales & Crane Scales?
Hanging scales and Crane scales are essentially the same thing, although the minor differences are usually due to capacity, size and cost. In most cases, the two types of industrial scale are interchangeable, although hanging scales are often identified as smaller, with a lower capacity. Heavy duty crane scales are used to way larger loads in more demanding industries.
Hanging scales and crane scales can also be ideal for weighing awkwardly shaped items, rather than using industrial platform or pallet scales.
How Do They Work?
Hanging scales are simple to use, although how they work can depend on whether the hanging scale is to be held, suspended from the ceiling or suspended from a crane.
To achieve an accurate weight reading with a hanging scale, you should first ensure the item to be weighed can be safely attached to the hook at the base of the hanging scale. If you’re holding the scale, you should place the item on a level surface before weighing it.
Once you’re ready to weigh, switch on the hanging scale and securely hook the item to the bottom of the scale. For a handheld hanging scale, lift the scale so that the item is suspended above the level surface. The scale’s display will now show the weight of the item; use the Hold function, if applicable, to stop any fluctuation and achieve a stable and accurate reading.
Some of our Marsden crane scales boast remote control operation, so they can be used safely from a distance and overload warning systems to ensure health and safety in the workplace.
Hanging & Crane Scales From Marsden
When choosing a hanging scale or crane scale, make sure that the capacity exceeds the maximum weight you are likely to attach to the scale and that the graduations provide you with the accuracy you require.
The Marsden OCS-L Crane Scale is portable with 120 hours of continuous use, able to weigh up to 300kg and perfect for use at food production facilities, mailrooms and fresh produce markets. For safe and reliable heavy duty weighing, consider the Marsden OCS-Z Crane Scale with a capacity of up to 20 tonnes for weighing large, bulky items.
All of our crane scales come with a Proof of Load Test certificate. For more information regarding our range of Marsden hanging scales and crane scales, contact our expert team on 01709 364296 or email sales@marsdengroup.co.uk.
Further Reading
For more industrial weighing solutions from Marsden, take a look at our guide to Industrial Platform Scales.
Discover more on how to choose the right crane scale for weighing heavy goods and find out how to use Crane Scales effectively for an accurate weight reading.
Discover our Marsden range of Pallet Scales and why portability can improve your efficiency.