Digital Scales

[thegoodies]

Hey CSrs
I am in the market for some digital scales. I will need it for commercial activities (retail/wholesale) so need it trade approved (I think) Does anyone know a place where I can get some appropriate scales for a good price?

What do other roasters use? What is your recommendation for scale maximum weights. I have a 5kg roaster so only need up to 5kg I think. Maybe a looking at a 15kg :-/ , your thoughts?

[Dennis]

Re: Digital Scales

Hi Steve

Yes, you will need trade approved scales for your operation.

Suggest you contact Mark from Coffee Roasters Australia - he has them for a good price!

[Brewman]

Re: Digital Scales

If your after accuracy, then Im afraid here is no place that will give you a noticably better price than any of their competitors Best bet is to ring around because when they are running out superceded models is really the only time the equipment retailers discount.

Im assuming you want a top-loader (a flat pan on top of the balance on which you place whatever your weighing). They come in 2-, 3- & 4-decimal place but 2 is plenty and cheapest. The good brands (Sartorius, AND & Mettler are 3 Id recomend highly) give you the option to toggle from 0- to 2-decimal places. Balances are like espresso machines, you pay more for a well made quality unit from Japan/US/EU than for an inferior Chinese/SE Asian unit. They also can be calibrated something the cheap units often cannot - see later for more on this. You can also buy parts and get them repaired.

Units range from 200g max weight to 25kg, the less the working max weight the more accurate they are, generally

As to trade approved, do you mean NATA (National Australian Testing Authority) certified? This is simply a matter of getting an approved agent (youll find plenty in yellow pages if you search NATA) to check and recalibrate periodically - intervals are usually determined by the indusrty, we do ours every 6 mnths. They will leave documentation for you and place a little sticker on the balance saying that it is certified to AS/ISO standards
You can calibrate yourself, it is easy but you need weights of extreme accuracy, ie 1.0000g, 100.0000g etc which they are stupidly expensive and very easy to compromise. Plus you need to document it. Paying the professionals is relatively cheap.

I hope this helps If not just ignore it

[Wushoes]

Re: Digital Scales

As to trade approved, do you mean NATA (National Australian Testing Authority) certified? This is simply a matter of getting an approved agent (youll find plenty in yellow pages if you search NATA) to check and recalibrate periodically - intervals are usually determined by the indusrty, we do ours every 6 mnths. They will leave documentation for you and place a little sticker on the balance saying that it is certified to AS/ISO standards Smiley
You can calibrate yourself, it is easy but you need weights of extreme accuracy, ie 1.0000g, 100.0000g etc which they are stupidly expensive and very easy to compromise. Plus you need to document it. Paying the professionals is relatively cheap.

+1

youll need to keep a log of packed roasted coffee if thats what youre doing. 1 bag every 5 minutes or so will suffice.

[thegoodies]

Re: Digital Scales

1 bag every 5 minutes or so will suffice.

Could you clarify what you are meaning by the above statement? :-?

[Wushoes]

Re: Digital Scales

Clarification:

If youre bagging half a tonne of coffee in to 1 kg bags, you should be check weiging and logging every few minutes to ensure the machinery that is packing for you (auger filler or auto packing machine) is filling up slightly more than 1 kg...say 2 grams more. This is a legal requirement AFAIK.

If packing by hand you should be okay as long as you over pack by a few grams.

[Dennis]

Re: Digital Scales

I am in the market for some digital scales.

I have a 5kg roaster so only need up to 5kg I think.

If youre bagging half a tonne of coffee in to 1 kg bags

;D Go Steve! ;D