The food industry is a complex network of trades including farming, food production, processing and distribution. Scales are used in almost every step — from farm to table. Scales are implemented to maintain food safety, adhere to regulations, and in the quality assurance process.
- IP RatingIngress Protection, or IP ratings, are used to define levels of how effectively sealed electrical closures are against foreign bodies and moisture. The first digit in the IP rating indicates the intrusion protection and the second digit refers to moisture protection. IP rated scales can help maintain safety standards. For example, food production is carried out in environments with controlled conditions. In these environments moisture is an expected by-product due to cold temperatures. That moisture, which could damage components in a regular scale, is kept out of IP rated scales. Certain IP rated scales known as washdown floor scales may also be found in food production due to their ability to be hosed down and cleaned.
- High Capacity ScalesHaving a high capacity food scale can help you reduce the overall food waste, which is one of the primary problems existing in the food industry. The food being weighed in the initial stages can be raw with very little processing, and is usually weighed in bulk. With these conditions, a high capacity food weighing scale is ideal as it can weigh the bulk quantities easily.
- AccumulationThe accumulation feature allows you to keep a running total of items weighed. This allows the user to make sure the combined ingredients of a recipe have the same combined weight; which helps ensure a consistent product. In the food production industry, scales need to weigh a mix of different ingredients based on the recipe to ensure consistent taste across all batches of the product. This feature can also help you keep track of your inventory. You can weigh the correct amount of product before it is packaged and track the total amount of product that was processed.
- Compatibility with IndicatorsDigital indicators on food scales allow the weight to be read clearly and accurately. This is an important aspect that can help eliminate human error when reading and recording weights. Digital scales are used in the quality control of food containers and to verify the amount of product sent out. Suppliers or retailers can make sure they send and receive the right amount of finished product. Scales also help determine whether or not the truck transporting the product is overloaded. These processes, among others, are improved with an indicator that will display weight legibly.
Having a quality scale in your food industry facility will help your business achieve higher weighing accuracy. If you are looking for a reliable weighing scale supplier, contact Quality Scales Unlimited at 925-634-8068.