To: Consulting Engineering Firms Involved in Preparing Specifications

To: Consulting Engineering Firms Involved in Preparing Specifications

Re: Truck Scales

Subject: Caveat Emptor: “Let the buyer beware”

Without a proper guarantee, the buyer takes the risk

upon himself. For truck scales, this risk amounts to many tens of thousands of dollars.

These comments are addressed to those responsible for preparing truck scale specifications or purchasing a truck scale.

In the scale business, truck scales are big ticket items ... just about the most expensive scale that can be purchased. After reading, reviewing and quoting on hundreds of truck scale specifications, we continue to be amazed and surprised at how many critical and beneficial aspects are overlooked.

Anyone who purchases a truck scale is well advised to know the price of ownership before a purchase is made. Sounds simple and straightforward, but there is a hitch in this evaluation.

The actual price of a truck scale is comprised of three (3) major cost components. They are as follows.

1. The price paid to the scale manufacturer of choice.

2. The price paid to prepare a pit, foundation, approach ramps and road, and the price to install and calibrate the scale, resulting in a State Weights & Measures certification.

3. Most overlooked is the price paid for maintaining the scale over its useful life. This can be in excess of twenty (20) years.

Whereas the purchase price of the scale is easily determined and equally so the foundation and installation price, the most overlooked item of maintaining the scale is NOT known, difficult to determine, and thus most frequently omitted from specifications. And, yet, it is the cost of maintaining the scale that frequently will surprise and dismay the end user with unplanned costs.

There are ways written specifications can protect the owners against unscheduled costs, frequently higher than the original price of the truck scale. The answer lies in a key truck scale component. There are two (2) dominant versions of truck scales available in the world and USA markets. One version has Electronic load cells, and the other version Hydrostaticä load cells. Therein lies the difference.

Emery Winslow developed and patented the Hydrostatic load cell and was the sole manufacturer for well over 25 years. Recently, an Electronic load cell truck scale manufacturer entered the hydraulic load cell market, announcing the obvious superior benefits of Hydrostatic vs Electronic Load Cells.

Consulting Engineers will now find it easier to specify Hydrostatic load cells. The seven (7) items listed on page 3 will provide the user with a superior scale, reduced downtime and a savings of tens of thousands of dollars over the life term of the scale.

The Electronic version for a typical 70 ft long truck scale consists of eight (8) or ten (10) Electronic load cell, as illustrated below.

The Hydrostaticä version for a typical 70 ft long truck scale consists of eight (8) Hydrostaticä load cell, as illustrated below.

Both electronic and Hydrostaticä load cells are NTEP certified for commercial use, and thus accurate. Both types have been in use for decades.

Both types must perform and endure lightning, heavy rain, flood potential, power surges, cleanout, power washing, heavy traffic, millions of weight cycles and rodent damage.

The simple truth is electronic load cells are not designed to endure a tough environment. Electronic load cells are easily damaged by lightning, by water, by rodents that destroy electronic cable, power washdown. All of the above result in a thriving replacement parts business for electronic load cells, with more electronic cells sold into the replacement market than into the new scale market.

On the other hand, Hydrostaticä load cells are immune to lightning, power surges, and will function under water indefinitely, cannot be damaged by rodents, and the method recommended for cleanout is power washing.

HYDROSTATIC STAINLESS STEEL LOAD CELLS

Lightning Proof Rodent Proof Water Proof

The proof of the validity of the above comments is the “guarantee” offered by manufacturers of electronic load cells vs Hydrostaticä load cells.

Electronic load cells cannot be guaranteed to survive lightning and water and thus offer a limited Warranty.

Hydrostaticä load cells are immune to lightning and water, and thus offer a

”LIFETIME GUARANTEE” against Lightning, Rodents, and Water damage.

These comments apply to the cost of maintaining the scale after installation. This is best understood when one realizes that the cost of scale maintenance can, and frequently does, exceed the original purchase price of the scale.

In summary, Emery Winslow strongly recommends that a truck scale specification state the following:

1. Load cells must have immunity to Lightning, Rodent, and Water damage.

2. Load cells must have a LIFETIME, or at the very least, a minimum 20 year guarantee against damage from Lightning, Rodents, and Water damage.

3. The scale must be suited for a high powered washdown cleanout in and around the weighbridge.

4. Load cell cabling must be guaranteed to be damage-proof from Lightning,

Water, and Rodents.

5. Load cells must be manufactured from grade 304 stainless steel.

6. Weighbridge must be guaranteed against catastrophic failure for a period of no less than ten (10) years.

7. There are to be no electronic components located underneath or in the immediate vicinity of the truck scale weighbridge.

If the specification lists the above “7” items, a major step will have been taken to dramatically reduce the cost of the truck scale over its expected and useful life.

And, finally, please note that the cost of electronic component replacement will repeat itself continually over the entire life of the scale ... over and over and over again.

Please ask the Emery Winslow Scale Company or an authorized Emery Winslow dealer to assist in the preparation of a truck scale specification. It will save your customer or the owner many tens of thousands of dollars over the life term of the scale.

Sincerely,

EMERY WINSLOW SCALE COMPANY

Page 1 of 3