Pallet Truck Scales – find manufacturers and suppliers

Pallet truck with scales for more efficient work

In production, warehousing, trade and crafts, the hand pallet truck is an indispensable aid. It is suitable for transporting both standardised and non-standardised load carriers. In addition, it requires no maintenance, is easy to operate and robust. Most manufacturers therefore give a 20-year guarantee on the forks of the pallet truck. Another advantage of this industrial truck is its manoeuvrability, which allows it to be used in confined spaces.

What are the advantages of using a pallet truck?

The ingenious idea of designing the forks of the pallet truck as scales enables faster, more rational work in many areas where goods have to be weighed and/or counted. The display of the scales is located in an elevated position on top of the forks. This makes it easy for the operator of the hand pallet truck to read. The goods have to be moved from A to B anyway. A pallet truck is ideal for this. But often the goods also have to be weighed. In the past, this meant that the loads had to be driven to the scales, weighed and then driven back again. Usually there is only one scale in the company. This can lead to long distances and waiting times. Often other work processes are also held up by the necessary weighing of pallets. Furthermore, the scale requires additional space for its installation. Integrating a scale into the pallet truck therefore saves space and, more importantly, a lot of time, as the goods are weighed directly on the pallet truck.

What are the differences between the various models of pallet trucks with scales?

An important differentiation criterion is the division into legal for trade, calibrated and non-calibrated weighing pallet trucks. A pallet truck with a legal-for-trade scale must comply with EU Directive 90/384/EEC. This means, for example, that the accuracy classes, the labelling and a protected software are prescribed. The scale of a weighing pallet truck is designated as a class III commercial scale. This means that the inaccuracy during weighing must be less than 2g. After verification, the pallet truck with scale receives a verification stamp. The purchase of a legal-for-trade, and thus more expensive, weighing truck is necessary if, for example, the weighing results are used to determine a price.

More convenient models of the pallet truck with scales not only show the weighing results on the display, but also print them out immediately or transmit them to an inventory management system via radio frequency.

The weighing pallet trucks also differ in the readability of the weight. For standard pallet trucks, this ranges from 0.5 kg increments to 20 kg increments.

For some applications, the maximum load capacity is also important. It ranges up to 3,000 kg.

Depending on where the pallet truck is to be used for transporting which load carriers, the fork length is also interesting. Usually it is between 450 mm and 2500 mm.

The models also differ in the fork width. It varies between 450 mm and 685 mm.

Most weighing pallet trucks today have a PRE-TARE function. With this function the weight of the load carrier is deducted (tare). On some models this weight can be stored. This results in a further saving of labour and time, as it is not necessary to weigh load carriers again and again when they are in constant use.

The different models also usually have a number of additional functions. Examples include: Counting function, totalization, gross/net conversion or switching between kg and lb units of measurement.

The electrical energy required for the scale is provided by rechargeable batteries or rechargeable batteries. One battery charge is normally sufficient for 35 to 40 hours of operation. Recharging takes between six and eight hours, depending on the model.

What to look for when buying a pallet truck with scales

When buying a pallet truck with scales, quality criteria for both the pallet truck and the scales should be considered. Since the scale is the more complex part of this combination, more needs to be paid attention to here as well.

For the pallet truck, attention should be paid to high quality material and workmanship, high quality tandem rollers and sufficient quick lift. In addition, if you plan to use it in confined spaces, you should pay attention to the dimensions of the hand pallet truck.

If you want to buy as economically as possible, you should think about the required weighing functions in advance. As a rule, the more the scale can do, the more expensive it is. Therefore, the principle should apply here: "As much as necessary, as little as possible."

• When it comes to the pallet jack's scale, you have to ask yourself if it needs to be calibrated. If not, there is no need to buy an expensive legal-for-trade weighing pallet truck.
• Does the design of the display meet one's requirements? There are purely alphanumeric or graphic displays - with and without backlighting.
• Is there a keyboard for operating the scale? Are the keyboard and display splash-proof?
• Can the display be rotated? This can also make work much easier in the long term.
• Is there a barcode reader?
• Are there one or more RS232/C interfaces for connecting a printer or PC.
• Is there an automatic switch-off or is it programmable?
• Can it be switched between kg and lb and between net and gross?
• Does the scale have a counting function? Can it totalize?
• What is the battery life? How long does it take to recharge?

With numerous manufacturers from home and abroad offering weighing pallet trucks, anyone can easily find the best pallet truck at a good price.