Industrial weighing scales and WMS integration

Having an industrial weighing scale in the warehouse simplifies inventory management for items with variable weights. Plus, these scales are compatible with top warehouse management systems.

What is an industrial weighing scale?

Industrial weighing scales are measurement tools used in warehouses, laboratories and industrial applications. They facilitate various processes related to production, storage, packaging and transport. By accurately determining the weight of products, these tools enable thorough inventory control, especially in coordination with a warehouse management system (WMS). They are designed to weigh large volumes and heavy materials (e.g. boxes, pallets and containers) beyond the capacity of standard scales.

Verifying unit weights is essential for calculating transport and shipping costs. Likewise, weighing ensures that received quantities match purchase orders and that inventory can be safely stored in a racking system designed for it.

Difference between an industrial scale and a balance

The terms industrial scale and industrial balance are often used interchangeably due to their weighing capabilities. However, they operate differently.

Industrial scales determine an object’s mass using gravity. Typically, a load cell measures mass by detecting the force exerted by an item on a platform or the ground.
Industrial balances use a lever mechanism to compare the mass of two objects. Equipped with a graduated scale and a platform, balances provide weight readings based on the relationship between the measured item and a counterweight.

Industrial weighing scales can be electronic, mechanical or electromechanical

Types of warehouse weighing scales

Depending on their design, scales can be electronic, mechanical or electromechanical (hybrid). These are the most common industrial weighing scales:

Warehouse pallet scale or weighing pallet truck: features an integrated weighing system that measures the load’s weight in real time during transport.
Platform or industrial floor scale: widely used for weighing during receiving, storage and shipping processes. It can include ramps and accessories to streamline operations.
Weighing bars: consist of two separate bars that can be adjusted to different distances to accommodate various load sizes and calculate their weight.
Crane scale: records the weight of large suspended loads.
Forklift scale: hanging scale outfitted on a forklift to weigh loads.

Similarly, truck scales play a crucial role in transport and logistics in checking whether a vehicle exceeds legal weight limits or can travel safely.

How much can an industrial scale weigh?

Industrial scales can measure objects of various sizes depending on their precision and durability. For example, scales with a capacity of 600 kg are commonly used in small and large industries. They’re also a staple in many warehouses, as they’re suitable for logistics, order processing and manufacturing. Other models can weigh materials or objects with a maximum weight of 3,000 kg, making them more appropriate for larger items.

Additionally, there are platforms designed for weighing larger objects, such as light vehicles, containers and oversized loads. Some platform scales measuring 5 to 6 metres long can weigh up to 10 tonnes.

Which type of industrial weight scale is most accurate?

Precision scales or balances have a resolution of less than one gram. They’re critical for ensuring accurate measurements in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

When selecting an industrial weighing scale, it’s important to consider the following factors to choose the right one for each application:

Capacity and weighing range
Size
Precision and calibration
Durability and strength

Industrial weighing scales can be integrated with a WMS

Scales and their coordination with a WMS

Heavy-duty weighing scales and balances can be linked to the data recorded by a WMS through system customisations. For example, Easy WMS’s batch management capability enables tracking products sold by weight. This means that an item that originally arrives at a facility as a single unit will be recorded based on its variable weight, which is particularly useful when handling fresh food.

Scales integrated with WMS software also facilitate order fulfilment operations. They can verify whether an order has been correctly completed based on its weight.

Advantages of integrating scales with a WMS

Implementing a warehouse management system together with industrial weighing scales offers multiple benefits:

Quality control. Weighing products continuously and automatically ensures greater safety than random sampling.
Centralised data. Storing weight information within the WMS simplifies report generation and statistical analysis.
Regulatory compliance. Industries like pharmaceuticals and food require precise verification of net product weight.
Less material handling. Certain scales reduce the number of manual handling operations needed.
Fewer errors. Detecting filling discrepancies early helps prevent returns and enhances customer satisfaction.

Improve your inventory accuracy with Mecalux

The Mecalux Group developed Easy WMS to help you organise your operations more efficiently, with total visibility. If you’re looking to gain comprehensive control over your facilities and inventory, linking your scales with Easy WMS is the way to go. Contact us to maximise the performance of your logistics operations. With over 55 years of experience in intralogistics, more clients are satisfied with our services every day.