Weighing in favour

When businesses require weight data to maximise profits, increase efficiencies or meet legislative requirements, they need a continuous means of capturing that data. By providing access to real-time data, forklift scales can contribute to operational efficiency while minimising production downtime. A forklift scale can contribute to a safer, more efficient warehouse environment.

A forklift scale allows integration of weighing and data management—making it possible to lift, weigh, move and record a load in one operation, with no need to visit and unload onto a separate scale. This enables forklift drivers to take loads directly to storage upon delivery, while tracking the weight, origin and storage location during transport.

Forklift scales are also available with legal for trade approval, making them suitable for use in applications where product is sold by weight and enabling the data collected to be used for billing and inventory management. The ability to transport and weigh materials in one simple step results in tremendous time savings and a speedy return on investment.

In-cab instruments such as bar code scanners allow forklift operators to instantly capture all necessary freight data available, then transmit this information with weight data wirelessly via Bluetooth or radio to supervisory computer systems.

Health & safety
Using a forklift scale can dramatically improve health and safety. By removing the need to leave the forklift truck to perform weighing on a static scale, drivers are not exposed to unnecessary risks associated with busy plant floors.

Along with enhanced safety, forklift scales eliminate excess travel, which minimises vehicle wear and tear—reducing maintenance and replacement costs.

Forklift scales are also a compact and extremely robust weighing solution, making them suitable for the busy warehousing environment. Forklift scales consist of a scale unit bolted onto a forklift carriage, which uses electronic weight sensors to deliver reliable weighing—even if the forklift mast is tilted or the pallet load is off-centre on or even ground.

When installing the scale, the forks are removed, allowing hooks on the top of the scale to be placed onto the carriage while clamps secure the bottom of the scale. Once the forks are re-attached, a common piece of material handling equipment becomes a mobile weighing device.

The FLSC from Avery Weigh-Tronix, for example, features a robust design with two metal plates, coupled together with patented weight sensors. Not only does this mean no springs or flexures to break, but the system can be easily dismantled and moved to another truck in minutes, if needed.

Adding weight sensors to your forklift can help to maximise efficiency and profitability. With the ability to consolidate multiple production steps and perform complex data management, forklift scales increase production throughput and streamline operations.