Scales and weighing systems for iron and steel fabrication

Scales and weighing systems for iron and steel manufacturing

Iron and steel fabricators must carefully measure high-value incoming raw materials, finished product and outgoing waste in order to control costs and maximise operational efficiency. Materials transported by road and rail must be weighed and recorded in line with quality procedures and industry legislation to optimise production and profitability.

Some iron and steel fabricators choose automated functionality so that their facilities can accurately weigh road and rail deliveries around the clock without the need for a dedicated operator. These sophisticated consoles integrate with the weighbridge controls to extend operating hours, reduce labour costs and improve traffic management.

During fabrication, weighing systems are used to mix accurate recipe formulations, run metallurgy tests and uphold stringent quality control. Often, weighing systems are paired with sophisticated software and indicators to form a complete weighing and data analysis system that can record and evaluate data.

Scales and weighing systems for this sector must be robust enough to withstand tough environments and deliver repeatable performance with minimal downtime for maintenance. In sectors like iron and steel fabrication, cost and quality are the key drivers, meaning equipment like scales and weighing systems must be economical to purchase, operate and maintain, without compromising accuracy and performance.

Weighing scales, weighbridges and train weighing systems are used to accurately measure incoming raw materials such as iron ore or coal. This ensures the iron or steel manufacturing plant is paying for and using the correct ingredients, optimising cost control, revenue protection and operational efficiency.

Heavy duty train weighing systems can be fitted under a section of rail track, weighing carts of raw materials or finished products such as coils or blocks of metal. Train weighing systems can also be used to optimise the coking process and ensure the furnace is operating at maximum efficiency.

Iron and steel fabricators use lab balances and highly accurate bench scales to uphold quality control procedures by running metallurgy tests or using them to measure raw ingredients when mixing formulations. Weighing systems also play a critical role in measuring, reporting and reducing waste and minimising finished product giveaway.

Weighbridge controls can be integrated into a standalone console that allows weighing operations to continue unattended. This means drivers are able to complete weighing transactions 24 hours a day without leaving the cab. The result is a weighbridge that runs efficiently for extended hours, without a dedicated operator – reducing labour costs and improving traffic management on site.