Download Document #2 - Emery Winslow Scale Company

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 Hydrostatic 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.
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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 Hydrostatic version for a typical 70 ft long truck scale consists of eight (8) Hydrostatic 
load cell, as illustrated below.
Both electronic and Hydrostatic 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, Hydrostatic 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
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Water Proof
The proof of the validity of the above comments is the “guarantee” offered by manufacturers of
electronic load cells vs Hydrostatic load cells.
Electronic load cells cannot be guaranteed to survive lightning and water and thus offer a limited
Warranty.
Hydrostatic 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
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