Scales supplier and service provider raise profile
With the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) verified gross mass (VGM) regulations looming, the public profile of container scale makers and weighing services is starting to rise.
Western Australian manufacture AccuWeigh says it is seeing increased interest and, so far, despite industry concern about the global need for equipment, has had no issues with satisfying demand.
Meanwhile, innovative mobile on-demand, on-site mobile container weighing service Conweigh has garnered a $25,000 St George Bank Kick Start program grant after pitching its business idea at TEDxSydney last week.
Conweigh offers booking online or via the Apple or Android mobile apps to weigh a container and issue a verified weight certificate via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
“Shippers can access information about their containers anywhere at any time through our customised weight seals,” the company says.
AccuWeigh advises that those considering buying or renting shipping container scales to help you meet the legislative requirements of SOLAS, you should look for equipment that offers the following features:
- trade approval
- sufficient capacity to handle standard size shipping containers
- hot-dipped galvanised finish to withstand corrosive environments
- four 30 ton capacity weighbridge-style load cells
- choice of digital weight indicators
- enhanced safety features such as restraints which restrict lateral movement, forklift bumpers stops to protect against accidental damage from reversing trucks etc and locking mechanisms which lock the container onto the weigher.
“Given the other weighing option allowed under the SOLAS regulations, ie where loads can be weighed individually and included in the overall weight calculation for the container, it can be advantageous to choose shipping container scales which incorporate a miscellaneous weighing area which allows them to double-up as standard platform scales,” the company says.