How to choose an on-board scale for wheel loader?
Today, quarries and sand pits are more competitive than ever.
Your ability to load more precisely and more efficiently than a competitor can make the difference between being a producer of materials and being the best producer of materials.
The key to success is having the right tools!
This is why on-board scales have become a necessity for small and large quarries. Today's scales are reliable, economical, and as easy to use as smartphones. Once implemented, they quickly help quarries minimize errors, optimize payloads and reduce cycle times. And just as important, they allow operators to stay focused on what they do best: moving materials.
However, the market is full of choices and opinions that can make investing in on-board scales confusing. We have therefore compiled a list of the five most important things to consider when looking for an on-board scale for your operations:
Five criteria to consider when choosing an on-board scale
Accuracy
An on-board scale must deliver an accuracy of approximately one percent or better. Although it sounds small, a margin of error greater than 1% can easily cost thousands of dollars a day for a busy quarry. Your scale must also guarantee precise performance regardless of common variables such as temperature changes throughout the day, site slope, operator technique or operator experience.
Extended functionalities
Beyond the optimization of the payload, a good on-board scale will also include functionalities capable of increasing efficiency in other areas. Good examples include the ability to totalize a machine's payload for a full day or more, automatically calculate bucket payload without operator intervention, and easily adjust the last bucket to a specific target payload (Target weight).
Data management
Data is the new added value - it has proven itself, is simple and useful in many different situations. And the better your data, the easier it will be to keep your machines and operations running smoothly and efficiently. On-board loader scales - such as the Pfreundt series WK60 & WK60 SWT scales - have the advantage of being connectable to an web portal. This means that you will be able to track payload data remotely from your laptop or cell phone. The WK60 series also include easy reporting functions and options to add and / or customize data capture fields. You can also consider adding an on-board thermal or impact printer (coupon) to make truck and individual load information immediately available to drivers, customers, or any other staff who need it.
Connectivity
Reliable Wi-Fi and / or cellular connectivity between the office, equipment and scale is essential to eliminate downtime and improve processes and customer service. A scale that lets you connect from the desktop in real time will help you quickly identify underproduction, understand why it is happening, and do what is necessary to get back on track. In addition to these capabilities, the most modern scales - such as the Pfreundt WK60 - further extend this connectivity in real time, allowing operators to receive orders from customers in the cabin immediately after their request from the Pfreundt web portal.
Support
Any scale you purchase must include a good warranty, installation by a qualified technician, and responsive technical support after installation. As mentioned above, The Alltech Group now offers Pfreundt brand on-board scales, a German brand that only manufactures systems with an accuracy of +/- 1% and that can be certified legal for trade in countries that accept this option.
PFREUNDT On-board scales:
On-board scales offer to quarries new levels of precision, efficiency and productivity that were not possible until recently. And whether you are on the market for the purchase of an on-board scale for a new wheel loader, or want to equip older machines, the Pfreundt WK60 scales will provide the performance you need to optimize loads useful, accelerate cycle times and truck rotation, manage and analyze data, and improve workflow.