Platform Scales

Platform scales (also referred to as floor scales, deck scales or pallet scales) are the most widely used type of weighing equipment in industry and wholesale trade. A robust platform constructed from steel profiles, fitted with four strain gauge load cells, enables fast and accurate weighing of heavy loads – including pallets, containers, FIBCs (big bags) and drums. Loads can be placed mechanically using a forklift truck or manually, which significantly increases operational efficiency in the warehouse and on the production line.

At InterProcess, we offer industrial platform scales in a range of sizes and material finishes – from powder-coated mild steel to stainless steel. Furthermore, we customise the weighing decks to meet individual client requirements and, upon request, manufacture special configurations with guardrails for bag positioning, rollers for product discharge or loading ramps for pallet trucks.

Every floor scale consists of a platform (deck) supported by four strain gauge load cells, a junction box and a weighing indicator (terminal). The platform is constructed from steel profiles topped with a steel cover plate – available in powder-coated mild steel (for dry working conditions) or stainless steel (for wet environments with exposure to water, detergents, acid and salt solutions). This makes the scale exceptionally easy to clean, which is particularly important in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The weighing indicator can be mounted on a column integrated with the scale or connected via cable and installed at any convenient location – on a wall, on the operator’s desk or inside a control cabinet. As a result, the platform scale performs equally well on the production hall floor, on a laboratory workbench or at a loading dock.

Available special variants:

• Configurations with guardrails for bag positioning and support
• Decks with rollers for easy product discharge
• Versions with loading ramps for pallet trucks
• Low-profile designs (pit-mounted, flush with the floor)
• Stainless steel scales for wet and corrosive environments

Platform scales play a key role at many stages of industrial processes involving bulk solids handling. The most common applications include incoming raw material weight control (weighing pallets, FIBCs and packaging upon delivery), recipe ingredient dosing (manual batching of components for blends), finished product weight verification before dispatch, and material balancing – comparing the mass of raw materials against products and waste.

Additionally, floor scales can serve as checkweighers on packaging lines – verifying the mass of filled containers and rejecting portions of incorrect weight. In warehouses and at collection points, pallet scales are used for stock inventory management and vehicle loading and unloading control. If your application requires continuous material dosing with flow rate control, please explore our range of weigh belt feeders or gravimetric screw feeders.

Our industrial platform scales are equipped with practical special functions and designed for seamless integration with peripheral devices and information systems. The weighing terminal enables product and user identification, label printing, report generation and archiving of weighing results. Thanks to communication with supervisory systems (PLC, SCADA, ERP) via Modbus, Profibus, EtherNet/IP or RS-232/485 protocols, the floor scale becomes an integral element of the plant’s automation infrastructure.

Platform scales can be supplied as legal-for-trade (for commercial transactions and billing purposes) or calibrated (with a calibration certificate and calculated measurement uncertainty). In both cases, we provide full support – from selecting the right solution, through calibration, to warranty and post-warranty service. Furthermore, we offer integration of floor scales with our process control and visualisation systems, enabling centralised management of weighing operations across the entire plant.

What Is the Difference Between a Legal-for-Trade Scale and a Calibrated Scale?

A legal-for-trade scale holds a verification certificate issued by the national weights and measures authority, permitting its use in commercial transactions – i.e. wherever the mass of goods forms the basis for financial settlement. A calibrated scale, on the other hand, holds a calibration certificate with calculated measurement uncertainty, confirming its accuracy but without approval for trade use. Calibration is sufficient for purposes such as internal production control, ingredient dosing or material balancing.

What Materials Can Be Weighed on a Platform Scale?

A platform scale is a universal weighing device – you can weigh virtually anything that fits on the deck. In the context of bulk solids, the most common loads are pallets with bags, IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers), drums, FIBCs (big bags), cartons and unit packages. This is why pallet scales are particularly popular in warehouses and on packaging lines. Loads can be placed manually, with a pallet truck or with a forklift. The only limitations are the maximum capacity and deck dimensions – both parameters are selected individually to suit your requirements.

Can a Platform Scale Be Integrated With the Plant Control System?

Yes – our platform scales are fitted with weighing terminals that communicate with supervisory systems via Modbus, Profibus, EtherNet/IP and RS-232/485 interfaces. This enables them to work with PLC, SCADA and ERP systems, allowing automatic recording of results, dosing process control and generation of production reports.

Is It Possible to Manufacture a Scale With Non-Standard Dimensions?

Yes – we manufacture platform scales with dimensions and capacities tailored to individual client requirements. Additionally, upon request, we design special configurations – with guardrails for bag positioning, rollers for product discharge, loading ramps for pallet trucks, or low-profile versions for pit-mounting flush with the floor. Simply send us your requirements regarding the load to be weighed, available space and desired accuracy.