Hopper Scales

If you arrived at this site through one of the more popular search engines you may have noticed that the first 3 unpaid sites didn’t mention hopper scales and many (including paid) have little to do with weighing bulk materials in hoppers with hopper scales. Additionally many sites go into great detail to describe components that may be used to weigh hoppers. They don’t acknowledge that NTEP load cells and NTEP indicators (typically includes the display) with independent mounts are not NTEP (legal for trade) scales.  An NTEP scale also has an NTEP Certificate for the load receiving element or frame that is attached to the hopper along with NTEP load cell(s) and an NTEP indicator to qualify as a legal for trade scale......according to NIST's Handbook 44 - 2013.

 

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Palletized for shipping.

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The NTEP scale has an  NTEP certificate that includes NTEP  loadcells (with their separate NTEP certificates) installed along with all the wiring, the junction box and a homerun cable ready for connection to an NTEP indicator with a separate NTEP certificate.  All 3 NTEP certificates are required for an NTEP certified “legal for trade” scale

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An exploded image of one corner of the scale above.

Our NTEP certified hopper scales are certified by the National Type Evaluation Program National Conference on Weights and Measures.

It is important to note that some major hopper and tank manufacturers mistakenly imply that using certain hopper or tank mounts with NTEP certified load cells and NTEP certified indicators is the same as an NTEP scale....don’t be confused, it is not. Unfortunately, many users make that discovery too late. The complete weighing system including the frame must be certified.

The National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) was developed In order to ensure that equipment reaching the market place is manufactured to meet requirements established by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). That gave manufacturers the ability to be evaluated and certified one time with acceptance throughout the United States. Previously many states implemented State Prototype Testing and manufacturers were then being subjected to multiple time consuming and costly state evaluations. States, manufacturers and consumers all benefit from NTEP's service.

"NTEP certification is issued by NCWM upon successful completion of the evaluation process. This Certificate indicates that the device manufacturer has demonstrated the ability to meet applicable requirements for commercial weighing and measuring equipment in the U.S as specified in NIST Handbook 44. NTEP certification is required in most states in the Unites States and is a symbol of assurance for all.

NTEP is more than certification. It is a complex program of standards development, evaluation, management and problem resolution. Administered by NCWM, NTEP provides a forum for regulators, industry and technical experts to work together toward consensus on issues. There will always be new technologies, new techniques and new marketing strategies. NTEP assures appropriate response to the needs of the marketplace. NTEP is not a barrier to new technology rather a facilitator of technology being put to use in a responsible and efficient manner.

The NTEP technical policies and checklists for evaluation are published annually in NCWM Publication 14. The various volumes are available for purchase from NCWM individually in printed format or all-inclusive in electronic format."

Tell us about your requirements and we will design and build a custom scale with associated software, as needed, for your specific needs. If the market is there we will also evaluate the possibility of working toward NTEP certification for your requirements. Our standard NTEP certified production products are Stainless Steel Scale retrofits for fertilizer blending systems, general purpose weighing, and fertilizer scale dealer management systems. It began with custom requirements that no one else was interested in designing, developing or building .... we were!

We are also interested in your custom hopper scale (hardware) and/or software weighing system requirements and at an affordable price.

 

When an NTEP scale is not required, we provide mounts like those below.  However, you should  know that the NTEP certificate shown is for the loadcell and has nothing to do with the mount. A mount or a combination of mounts can’t be NTEP certified for general hopper, tank or container use. An NTEP scale has NTEP certificates for loadcells, the scale itself (weigh bridge, frame,  load receiving element) and an NTEP certified indicator.

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