We were asked to check the accuracy of a competitor’s axle weighbridge recently.
To the untrained eye it looked quite a neat installation.
But testing it with our purpose designed calibration vehicle told a different
story.
There are two aspects to getting an axle weighbridge
calibrated correctly. One is to prove that it as a basic weighing machine. The
other is to check that it does what it was designed to do – weigh axles accurately.
The system in question was reasonably accurate when we
tested it with one tonne block weights. No error greater than 10kg up to
11,000kg and only marginally worse up to 12,000kg.
So far so average.
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| Axtec's Specialist Axle Weighbridge Test Vehicle |
But when we weighed our test vehicle dynamically, as the
system is supposed to operate, the error we found was startling.
Our test vehicle on the day grossed out at 38,680kg gross.
But the axle weighbridge weighed it at 35,650kg.
More than three tonnes lighter.
That’s three tonnes more the client could have been putting
on his trucks in ignorance.
Potentially three tonnes over the legal limit and almost
certainly in line for a prosecution.
The concrete either side of the weighing platform is crucial
for system accuracy. So we conducted a full levels survey again with startling
results.
What looked like a nice level piece of concrete was in fact
totally unsuitable for accurate weighing of articulated vehicles.
Unfortunately for the customer, the only option is to dig
the system up and start all over again.
Getting an axle weighbridge calibrated correctly requires
specialist equipment and Axtec are the only company to have invested in the
right tool for the job.
And means we can offer the world’s most accurate dynamic
axle weighbridge.
Can we help you check out your axle weighbridge maybe?
Get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.
