Scales play a crucial role in the efficiency and integrity of logistics processes. However, choosing cheap scales - whether imported from low-cost countries or manufactured with the aim of the lowest price - can hide pitfalls and underestimated risks that can seriously affect the beneficiary/buyer.

An illusion of the economy

Cheap scales may give the illusion of initial economy, but the low price often reflects inferior quality of components and manufacturing technology. This often translates into a negative impact on the efficiency of logistics operations.

Limited lifespan / Unexpected risks

Inferior quality materials and poor manufacturing processes can lead to a shorter lifespan for cheap scales. In the demanding environment of constant transportation and handling, this can become a major source of problems and unforeseen costs.

Hidden maintenance costs - an overwhelming disadvantage

Even though the initial cost may be low, cheap scales can incur significant maintenance costs in the long run. Weak components and frequent repairs can lead to unexpected expenses, overshadowing the initial savings.
Even more seriously, major damage to the scale structure (example: truck scales) in the event of premature fatigue/physical wear of the material (see arrow* of the platform under maximum load) may necessitate the total replacement and purchase of a new scale.
Note *Platform Arrow – see glossary at end of article
In light of these risks, the initial investment in higher quality scales may seem wiser.
Purchasing after a thorough and well-documented study, focused on durability and performance, the experience, capacity and quality of the manufacturer's production, the quality of the electronic components, can ensure the integrity and reliability of the weighing process in the long term and the efficiency of logistics operations.
Careful evaluation of long-term costs and benefits is essential to avoid the hidden pitfalls of cheap scales!

Case study / Example scale with “WEIGHT”

The high weight (mass) of a road scale is much more of an advantage than a disadvantage!
The high deadweight of a road scale can bring several advantages, especially in terms of its performance and durability. Here are some of these advantages:

• Increased durability: Road scales with a higher tare weight are often more robust and wear-resistant. This gives them a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance over time.
• Improved stability: The high weight of the road scale helps stabilize it on the ground. This stability is crucial for accurate and consistent measurements, especially with large vehicles and heavy loads.
• Vibration reduction: Additional dead weight can absorb and reduce vibrations caused by road traffic or other environmental disturbances. This contributes to more accurate weighing results.
• Resistance to environmental conditions: A high weight can help the road scale to better withstand environmental conditions such as strong winds, extreme temperatures, corrosion. This resistance increases the reliability of measurements, regardless of weather conditions. It is important to emphasize that the advantages mentioned also depend, to a large extent, on the overall quality of the road scale's construction (metal/concrete quality, sandblasting, welding, painting, etc.)
• Improved Accuracy: With a solid foundation and increased deadweight, the road scale has a greater chance of providing accurate and consistent measurements, eliminating the unwanted fluctuations that may occur with lighter scales.
• Interference Resistance: Higher deadweight can help reduce external interference, such as vibrations and ground movement, that can negatively affect the accuracy of measurements in lighter scales.
• Stability over time: With a high dead weight, quality structure and materials, and a design designed with the best business practices in mind, the road scale can remain stable and functional over the long term, having a greater resistance to wear and degradation compared to lighter scales.
  FLINTAB, with satisfaction, can present countless cases of road scales that have elegantly exceeded the 25-year life expectancy

Disadvantages of a “WEIGHT” scale:

• Installation costs:A heavier road scale may require foundations and structural support
  more robust installation, implying higher initial costs and a more complex process.
• Transportation and handling: Transporting and handling a scale with a high deadweight can be more difficult and expensive, requiring specialized equipment and transportation methods.
  We wish and suggest that you correctly assess the decision to purchase a scale with “WEIGHT” and not to underestimate the trap of the lowest price!
  
• GLOSSARY:
  With comparable sets of electronics and related services, the weighing platform is the first to make a difference. The weighing platform is the "emblem" of the entire system.
• CLC C DTA R DIN 8119 1045
  CLC (Concentrated Load Capacity) is an internationally recognized industrial indicator and is the value specified by the manufacturer of road scales (and in the USA measured and verified during metrological tests) that defines the maximum concentrated load capacity of the axle groups for which the road scale platform was designed. CLC measures the ability to weigh concentrated loads in relatively small areas of the weighing platform. A high CLC value determines a long life with intact metrological performance. A low CLC value leads to a metal saving of 15..30%.
• SF – Factor de sigurantă
  Safety Factor In design calculations, allowable strengths are used in relation to the breaking strength of the material. This ratio, called the safety factor SF, measures the intensity of traffic on the platform of a road scale.
• FEA – Finite Element Analysis
  FEA (Finite Element Analysis) measures the critical stress factors virtually on each component of the load-bearing structure under the most unfavorable loading conditions of the scale, thus obtaining the areas with a high potential for damage risk or premature wear. The finite element analysis allows the optimization of the metal/concrete consumption necessary for the manufacturing of the weighing platform without affecting its resistance and places the structure in the certain field of technical safety and long life.
• f – Platform deflection
  Platform deflection under maximum load: "f" measures the stiffness is measured by the platform deflection under maximum load and the cumulative metal fatigue caused by repeated elastic deformations of the supporting structure is a determining factor in the life of the bridge. The actual measured deflection of a platform must be specified and guaranteed by the manufacturer.
• H – Platform Height
  A low deck height, known as a "low-profile" structure, determines low and short ramps, optimizing the space in which the platform is located.
  On the other hand, with a metal saving of 15..30%, a high deck height practically doubles the height and length of the ramps, with high construction costs and waste of space.