Features-specification (including certifications) for a weighing scale to be used in industry
Numerous industries are subject to specific regulatory criteria that the weighing instruments employed must or at least should comply with. The regulations and standards listed in the following are intended to give you an overview about the guidelines applicable to certain industries. In this connection, it is highly recommended to thoroughly review regulations specific to the branch of industry.
The requirements of the ECEx, NEC (USA), CEC (Canada) and the European Union in the area of ATEX explosion protection (ATEX stands for the French term: Atmospheres Explosibles) ensure the safety of electrical equipment used in potentially explosive areas. The equipment is tested and certified in accordance with the standards of various organisations such as ATEX, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), FM, CSA and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Under the ATEX directive, in addition to certification by an appointed body, assessment by the manufacturer is also permissible. In addition to equipment approval, regular monitoring of quality assurance by an appointed body or, for the FM and CSA, by the organisation that issued the approval is also required.
Originally established for the food industry, the seven principles behind the “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)” concept are increasingly being used in the pharmaceutical and other industries as well. Even though the HACCP principles are supervised by a regulatory body, these self-regulating criteria stress the importance of hazard detection and prevention in a process. This way, process risks can be minimized. It’s not necessary to go into further detail about the corrective actions required in the event of failure and the repercussions that come in their wake. Every responsible manufacturer understands the costs and long-term risks for his company.
The IEC is a system for classifying electrical equipment safety based on definitions according to IP codes (IP = Ingress Protection). The higher the protection rating, the better [the electrical equipment is protected against dust, foreign particles and moisture (this extends to water jets). Although the commission does not certify equipment, the standards can be self-certified. Moreover, external testing institutes can also issue the appropriate certificates.
The International Organization for Standardization, abbreviated ISO after the Greek word isos for “equal”, is the standards organization that arguably enjoys the greatest recognition worldwide. This non-governmental agency develops a broad range of technical standards throughout the world which are valid for a number of industries and markets. Neutral testing organizations conduct conformity assessments and approvals. Although compliance with these standards is not mandatory, innumerable local and industry-specific organizations strongly recommend compliance with certain ISO standards. This particularly applies to ISO17025, – the most important standard governing testing and calibration laboratories and thereby also pertinent for measuring instruments like scales.
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There are standards of protection in place for all types of electrical products, e.g., IP and NEMA, including a standard for the protection of electrical production equipment against dust penetration and the protection of equipment used in cleaning processes. A neutral testing laboratory conducts product certifications. In this process, the vendor is also required to furnish a declaration of conformity, although certification is not mandatory.
In Europe and other countries, OIML or CE rules and regulations apply. Scales that satisfy these rules are approved for use in legal metrology. In the USA, the NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) declaration of conformity is issued by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). It evaluates the performance, operation, and compliance of weighing and measuring instruments based on established criteria. Even though such approval is not mandatory, a U.S.-recognized certificate of conformity is issued after the procedure has been completed successfully.
All of the CE, UL, ETL, CUL and CSA standards provide guidance on product safety, especially that pertaining to electrical production equipment. The Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an organization that evaluates products according to accepted safety standards like the National Electrical Code (NEC) and awards a UL or CUL (Canadian) trademark for products that meet or even exceed the criteria. CSA International is the body that tests and certifies a wide variety of product types for applications in the USA and Canada.
Quality is our best product
Our aim is to deliver products of premium quality to our customers. One way we do this is by checking our quality standards regularly and thoroughly. As part of the final completion process, every device goes through a comprehensive and detailed testing programme. Internal product audits are also carried out regularly. Management systems at all Minebea Intec facilities meet the requirements of DIN EN ISO 9001 at the very least, and are part of our company policy.
Many of Minebea Intec’s industrial scales are equipped with a built-in motorised calibration weight. This allows the scales’ accuracy to be checked at the touch of a button without the need for an additional test weight. The sensitivity of the scales can also be easily calibrated by touching a button. To ensure that legal requirements are complied with and that weighing results are traceable, we can also provide calibration and conformity assessments (previously verification) of scales during servicing.
Benefit using Minebea products
A reliable partner for food production quality control equipment
Minebea Intec has decades of experience in the development and manufacturing of innovative quality control equipment for weighing and foreign body detection purposes. A great deal of this experience has been in food and beverage manufacturing applications, where quality control is of great importance for the vital role it plays in safeguarding many of the key interests of manufacturers and consumers – such as food safety, quality and cost-effectiveness. Of course, the quality assurance that a food and drink manufacturer offers to consumers depends in part on the quality assurance it receives from its equipment suppliers.
In order to provide these manufacturers with the confidence they need, Minebea Intec invests heavily in testing and certification of products in accordance with various national and international standards and regulations, such as EHEDG, FDA, HACCP and IFS, while also providing Ex solutions.
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