Everything from one source

Fast and reliable calibration service

W‌eighing systems are used in many industries to account for materials by weight, for example in the extraction industry. By using wheel loader scales, the weighing and invoicing of sand and gravel can be carried out directly on site in the gravel works. The same applies to the waste disposal and recycling industry: here, waste disposal companies can weigh and account for incoming waste using excavator scales, for example.

PFREUNDT calibration truck, equipped with a crane and 15 t of tested calibration weights
© PFREUNDT GmbH

PFREUNDT calibration truck, equipped with a crane and 15 t of tested calibration weights

An indispensable step in the commissioning of a scale that is to be used in commercial trade is the conformity assessment. This confirms that the scales meet the valid requirements of the European Directives and thus also of the German Measurement and Calibration Act. If the conformity assessment is successfully completed, the scale can be used in legal trade. After the calibration period, the owner of the scale is legally obliged to have a calibration carried out by a calibration office. This is to ensure that the weighing results continue to meet the applicable requirements. This obligation is renewed each time the calibration period expires.

PFREUNDT takes over the entire organisation, scheduling and performance of conformity assessments for its customers’ weighing systems, as well as the application to the calibration office and monitoring of the calibrations. The company is a recognised company for carrying out conformity assessments and therefore has the authority to carry them out without the presence of the calibration authorities. “This authorisation makes us much more flexible when it comes to scheduling appointments, so that our customers can put their scales into operation promptly after installation,” says Stefan Busch, CE and Metrology Officer at PFREUNDT. When ordering a weighing system, PFREUNDT’s schedulers already agree a date for the conformity assessment. After the scales have been installed, a PFREUNDT service technician carries out the conformity assessment on site at the customer’s premises.

After the calibration period has expired, PFREUNDT sends reminders to its customers. They can then order the calibration online. PFREUNDT then takes care of the application as well as coordinating the date with the calibration office. A service technician from the company accompanies the calibration on site and the calibration officer calibrates the scales. This completes the inspection and the machine, including the weighing system, is ready for use again.

The advantages at a glance

“We take over the entire organisation and coordination of conformity assessment or calibration for our customers. This means they only have one contact throughout the entire process and get everything from a single source – which saves time,” explains Marc Schmittmann, Head of PFREUNDT’s Service Department. The company’s six in-house calibration vehicles, equipped with cranes and 15 t of tested calibration weights each, are in use throughout Germany. Conformity assessments and calibrations are carried out directly on site at the customer’s premises. This makes scheduling flexible and eliminates the need for customers to transport their vehicles to the calibration office. This minimises downtimes of the machines at the customer’s site. A team of trained, experienced employees carries out the conformity assessment or accompanies the calibration. The employees know how to handle PFREUNDT weighing systems, which also saves time.

“In Europe we now have so-called EU type examination certificates, formerly known as calibration approvals, for almost all of our weighing systems, from wheel loader scales, skip loader scales, hook-lift scales, excavator scales, crane scales, lifter scales through to vehicle scales. This allows us to offer our customers individual solutions for their operational processes and the industry in which they operate,” says Marc Schmittmann.