Crane Scale Calibration | AML Instruments

Crane Scale Calibration

As one of the UK's leading weighing equipment calibration specialists, our engineers at AML Instruments are ideally suited to ensure your crane scales are weighing correctly. Whether you have mechanical or digital crane scales, we’re more than happy to calibrate and service/repair them.

We can calibrate all makes and models of crane scales, load cells, and load links from 10kg to 100,000 kg (100 Tonnes), including Kern, Adam Equipment, and OCS crane scale calibration.

Our crane scale calibration services are available both onsite (we visit you) or back at our laboratory in Lincolnshire. Local collection and delivery of your crane scales can also be arranged.

Contact us using of the channels in the red box below to get your crane scale booked in for its calibration and service.

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+44 01522 789375
[email protected]
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Onsite Crane Scale Calibration

AML is one of just a few companies in the UK providing onsite crane scale calibration services. This can be convenient and cost-effective, especially where you have a large number of crane scales, load cells, or load links.

This minimises your downtime to typically 30 to 60 minutes per crane scale, eliminating the need to have spare crane scales while yours are away for calibration. This alone means significant cost-savings, and is one of many reasons why lab managers and quality managers are often choosing to bring calibration expertise directly to their facility.

And that’s not all. We all know how heavy and difficult to pack crane scales are. There’s also a risk of damage in transit. So, why not consider the easy option of our experienced engineers visiting you?

Distance isn’t a problem either. Our equipment (although heavy!) has been designed for AML to be portable, so it can be taken to any site in the UK or Europe.

Offsite Crane Scale Calibration

As standard, our lab turnaround time is five working days, but by arrangement, we also offer an express 24 or 48-hour service. In certain scenarios, we can even offer our “Calibrate While You Wait” service.

Get in touch for a crane scale calibration quotation

AML Instruments are a family-run calibration business centrally located in the UK. If you are looking to calibrate one or all of your crane scales, then please call us on 01522 789375 or email the items you would like calibrating to [email protected].

Got other weighing and measuring equipment that needs fine-tuning? Check about our other calibration services — we’re here to help.

Whether you have a spring-operated or an electronic crane scale, over time, it will lose accuracy. Receiving precise weight data is vital during lifting operations. Inaccurate crane scales readings are a safety hazard, as they can lead to under and overloading, resulting in dangerous accidents.

Regular calibration also saves you money by preventing damage to expensive equipment and overpayment of materials due to weighing mistakes, as well as extending the lifespan of your crane scale.

Regular crane scale calibration isn’t a cry out of convenience — it ensures operational safety and efficiency, while keeping compliant with industry regulations.

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on several factors, including the type of crane scale, how often it is used, and in what environment. Crane scales are often used in harsh environments and exposed to challenging conditions such as dirt, dust, high or low temperatures, and saltwater spray.

Maintenance and regular servicing (including calibration) are critical for longevity and preserving the manufacturer’s guarantee.

As a general rule of thumb, most crane scales should be calibrated yearly. However, for  but it can be a challenge to maintain accuracy in hostile environments, so you might want to consider shorter calibration intervals such as every three or six months.

Professional crane scale services follow six essential steps:

  1. Select the weight – Firstly, you’ll need a set of certified calibration weights or a specialist test rig that can apply sufficient force to compare your crane scale’s readings against. You’ll need enough weights to be able to test the crane scale up to its capacity — for example, a 300kg scale requires up to 300kg in test weights.
    Important: Never exceed the scale’s maximum capacity, as this would constitute a dangerous overload.
  2. Set up the crane scale – Preparation and proper setup is imperative for accurate crane scale calibration. Check the crane scale is clean and free from any debris or damage that could affect its performance. Ensure its mounted in a way that ensures the weight is applied in an centralised manor and doesn’t introduce errors. Follow proper safety standards as you would with any other lift, such as ensuring its securely mounted and stable; and the components are perfectly aligned. Once the scale is powered on, set the scale to zero before applying weights.
    Important: It’s recommended the system is turned on for at least 10 minutes before beginning calibration.
  3. Performing the calibration – Ensure the scale reads zero when no load is applied, so there’s no offset or bias in the measurement. You need to test at multiple intervals across the scale’s capacity using the 5-point testing method, so you can verify accuracy across its entire range. For example, if your crane scale has a 400kg capacity, test at 80kg, 160kg, 240kg, 320kg, and 400kg.
  4. Adjustments – If you need to adjust the accuracy of the crane scale you will need to access the calibration menu as per the manufacturer’s instructions. While each brand operates slightly different, the general way it works is to carefully add each test weight and enter the weight value of that weight. Next hit “OK” — this means the scale has been adjusted. Repeat the process in the necessary increments until you’ve reached the scale’s capacity.
  5. Verify the crane scale accuracy – Calibration is only complete once you’ve verified its success. Repeat the testing process to confirm the displayed weight matches the test weight across all intervals, and the readings are within the manufacturer’s acceptable accuracy tolerance (consult your crane scale’s manual if you’re unsure on these).
  6. Finalise the calibration – Once you’ve verified the crane scale’s accuracy, save the calibration settings to lock in your adjustments. You’ll also need a legitimate calibration certificate as proof your scale is accurate and complies with regulatory standards.

Important: This information is not intended to replace the guidance listed in any of the national or international standards. It has been written to give an insight into the different care, procedures, and precision that go into the professional calibration of crane scales. We strongly recommend that, ideally, your crane scales are fully serviced at least once year by a specialist, during which a calibration check is performed. A full service will mean other aspects of the crane scale can be checked over and repaired or adjusted if necessary, to prolong the life of the scale.

Using certified calibration weights is essential for gathering accurate and reliable crane scale readings. Makeshift alternatives can lead to inaccuracies and are generally not fit for purpose.

Yes. Industries that use crane scales often use load links, which measure the tension force exerted between two components, such as rigging shackles. Load links require calibrating at regular intervals, so it will be worth calibrating your load link and any crane scales simultaneously. It gives you complete confidence when you operate your specialist weighing equipment, so get them booked in for calibration today!

We’re here to help

Let us help you

+44 01522 789375
[email protected]
Live Chat

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