There are various types of scales that a food manufacturer would use for various applications across the food manufacturing process. A few common types of scales include floor scales, bench scales, check weighers, and rail scales.
Many food processing plants that deal with bulk product will use large containers called combo bins. These bins are typically weighed with a floor scale. Food processors might also weigh large reusable totes, or racks on a floor scale.
For individual pieces and finished goods cases, a bench scale can be used to weigh items. These items are typically smaller and can be lifted onto the scale by an operator.
Checkweighers and conveyor scales are used in the food manufacturing process to weigh or checkweigh boxes or pieces travelling down a conveyor. Most of these applications are automated and don’t require an operator to oversee the process.
In most abattoir facilities, hanging carcasses are weighed on a rail scale. These rail scales typically have a larger weight capacity than most bench scales. Rail scales can be both static and in-motion type scales. These scales are usually used to track yields across the harvest floor.