Selection of Balances and Scales
How to Find a Device That Is Fit for Purpose
METTLER TOLEDO offers a wide range of high-quality balances and scales. However, which one fits your intended purpose?
We can help you select the right weighing device by matching a device’s performance and characteristics to your requirements with our GWP® Recommendation service. This service is free of charge, tailored to your needs, and easy to apply – providing you with the security you need before making a purchase decision.
Why does it make sense? Having a fit-for-purpose balance or scale will help you to ensure consistent quality, reduce costs and maintain compliance.
Key Factors for Choosing the Right Balance or Scale
What questions need to be answered to find your ideal balance or scale? GWP® Recommendation considers the following:
- Maximum weight: The maximum load you weigh (including the tare container)
- Smallest net weight: The smallest load you weigh (excluding the tare container)
- Weighing tolerance and regulations: The acceptable weighing error, specified as ± percentage; often derived from standards and/or regulations (e.g. legal-for-trade, ISO, etc.)
- Safety factor: Considers the environment and external device influences (e.g. vibrations, drafts, number of operators, etc.)
Your local METTLER TOLEDO representative can help you answer these questions.
What You Get From the Selection Document
GWP® Recommendation gives you assurance that the chosen device is fit for your intended purpose and will provide the accuracy level and performance you need it to. Your audit-proof selection document contains:
- All information and requirements (yours and the recommended device's)
- Services that will help to keep the device in top shape
- Recommended test weights for routine testing
- And more!
How To Maintain Your New Balance or Scale
Have you found your ideal device? Congratulations! Now let's look into how to maintain your device over its lifecycle.
- Installation: First, your laboratory balances and industrial scales need to be installed properly.
- Preventive maintenance: Regular maintenance of your laboratory balances and industrial scales prevents failures and extends your equipment's lifetime.
- Calibration: During routine operation, your devices must be calibrated regularly.
- Routine testing: Between calibrations, routine testing performed by the user keeps performance in check.
Learn More
Qualification Service for a Smooth Start
Do you know that even the smallest oversight in configuration can result in weighing errors? Our installation and qualification services ensure your laboratory balance or industrial scale meets your process requirements from day one. Read more
Your Personalized Calibration Certificate
Do you know if your weighing results are not only accurate, but accurate enough for you? Find the balance or scale calibration and tolerance assessment that is right for your processes. Read more
Your Individualized Quality Assurance Plan
Do you need help defining the right calibration frequency and routine testing plan details? Let us help with quality assurance plans tailored for your balances and scales to ensure you get the ongoing accuracy you need. Read more
FAQ
1. What is a weighing tolerance? How do I define my weighing tolerance?
What accuracy is required to guarantee the quality of your weighing task? And what plus/minus range on results would still be acceptable for quality or regulatory requirements? These answers define your weighing tolerance.
Weighing tolerance can depend on factors such as cost of material, applicable regulations, safety concerns related to weighing errors, environmental impact of wrong measurements, and more. An example: 100 kg weighed with a +/- of 1 kg is a 1 % weighing tolerance. Typical tolerances are from 0.1 % to 5 %.
Watch the video to learn more about weighing tolerances!
2. What is a safety factor? How can I find out what safety factor to apply?
A safety factor ensures reliable results. It accounts for changing external influences such as vibrations, drafts, operators, etc. For normal, stable conditions, METTLER TOLEDO recommends a safety factor of at least 2 for laboratory and 3 for industrial environments. For unstable weighing conditions (e.g. a fume hood or harsh production environment) a higher safety factor should be applied.
Watch the video to learn more about safety factors and which safety factor is right for you!
3. What documents and details do I get with a GWP® Recommendation?
Our free GWP® Recommendation service will result in a report showing:
- your specific details and requirements,
- a device that meets your needs, and
- verification that the device is in line with your accuracy requirements.
A GWP® Recommendation Summary Report compares multiple devices.
Please note that actual device performance in its place of use can only be verified by calibration once it is installed.
Learn more: installation for laboratory balances
4. Is a GWP® Recommendation important if I do not work in a regulated industry (like pharma or biotech)?
Regardless of industry, weighing is considered a critical control point for many laboratory and industrial weighing processes. It impacts product quality and can cause waste, rework or overfilling.
It is important to pay specific attention to weighing, as weighing is often the beginning of your value chain. Any error at the weighing stage can become magnified in downstream analysis or processing.
GWP® Recommendation helps you get rid of this risk by finding the balance or scale that fits your specific needs and requirements.
5. I have a unique weighing application. Can a GWP® Recommendation still help me?
Your GWP® Recommendation is a direct output of your conversation with our weighing experts. Help us understand what you are weighing and how, and we will provide the best solution documented in a GWP® Recommendation report.