If any given industrial operation is to be a success, it is crucial for unfaltering accuracy to be achieved, time after time. It is certainly one of the uppermost priorities of conscientious organisations on the lookout for industrial measurement solutions such as weighing scales, flow meters, level instruments, and laser trackers.
The present industrial landscape is as competitive as it has ever been. This underscores that precision is not merely a “nice to have”; it is a fundamental requirement for delivering quality, efficiency, compliance, and profitability.
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Why Does Measurement Accuracy Matter So Much?
In the absence of high-quality and suitable measuring instruments, there can be a high risk of mistakes creeping into industrial operations.
Even seemingly minor measurement errors can lead to product defects, unnecessary material costs, equipment downtime, or customer dissatisfaction.
By contrast, an organisation or professional that does have access to dependable industrial measurement tools will have the consistent and repeatable data that lends itself to informed operational decisions.
The Role That High-Quality and Suitable Measurement Solutions Can Play
It isn’t just basic weighing that the latest industrial measurement equipment can help with. Today’s equipment is designed to provide greater precision, quicker data collection, and often seamless integration with digital manufacturing systems.
Examples of such solutions during the 2020s include:
- Bench and platform scales
- Precision balances
- Force measurement instruments
- Load cells
- Checkweighing systems
- Torque testing equipment
- Environmental monitoring devices
For any given decision-maker looking to invest in the most appropriate tool or device, their choice will hinge on such aspects as the required measurement range and accuracy, the operating environment, and the specific application.
Consider These Factors to Determine the Right Industrial Measuring Solutions
Are you on the lookout for the most suitable industrial measurement solution for your situation or task? In that case, adhering to this framework will enable you to evaluate and select the correct equipment:
1. Define The Environmental and Medium Properties
The physical state and surrounding environment will dictate the sensor material, housing, and technology that your industrial measurement tool will need to use.
The question of whether you will be measuring a liquid, gas, slurry, steam, or solid granulate will make a big difference. For example, highly acidic or caustic media will necessitate the use of exotic wetted materials such as Hastelloy, titanium, or PTFE coatings rather than standard stainless steel.
Taking ambient conditions into account will also be crucial. Ask yourself whether the equipment you will require is likely to face extreme outdoor weather, high vibration, heavy dust, or washdown styles for which high Ingress Protection (IP) ratings (such as IP69K) will be needed.
2 . Establish The Required Precision and Performance Metrics
If you under-specify accuracy with the measuring solutions that you invest in, you will be risking poorer quality control. Over-specifying, on the other hand, is likely to drive up costs unnecessarily.
One thing that will help you avoid either of these two “extremes”, is asking whether your application most requires absolute accuracy (closeness to the true value) or high repeatability (the ability to consistently show the same result under unchanged conditions).
Response time can be a major factor, too. So, be sure to determine whether your system will require real-time sub-millisecond data loops for automated safety shutdowns, or if periodic logging would suffice.
3. Evaluate Compliance and Hazardous Area Classifications
Stringent legal frameworks apply to industrial facilities, depending on such aspects as the specific sector and where in the world they are based.
If, for instance, the measurements need to be carried out in settings where combustible dust or flammable gases are present, there might be a need to select equipment certified under ATEX (Europe) requirements or the IECEx certification scheme, depending on the jurisdiction. Such solutions may incorporate intrinsic safety or explosion-proof enclosures.
4. Determine Integration, Power, And Connectivity Needs
Whatever measurement tools or devices you invest in for your premises, they will need to align with your existing plant infrastructure and automation architecture.
With regard to signal output, for example, it will be necessary to choose between traditional analogue signals, digital protocols, or industrial Ethernet. Remote locations such as tank farms or long pipelines benefit from wireless protocols like WirelessHART or LoRaWAN, given the scope this presents to save on cabling costs.
Remember to check, as well, whether the installation has line power available or you will need to rely on low-power loop-powered units or battery-operated devices.
5. Calculate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The initial upfront purchase price of a given industrial measurement solution will often be just a fraction of the expense that it incurs over its operational lifespan.
Much of the additional expenditure will lie in calibration and maintenance aspects. So, make sure you determine how frequently the given unit will need to be recalibrated, whether it supports in-situ verification without removal, and how much you can expect to pay for consumable parts.
Bear in mind that while some industrial measurement solutions will be cheap but wear-prone mechanical meters, there will be electronic alternatives available (such as ultrasonic or Coriolis meters) that often have lower maintenance requirements once installed, even if they cost more at first.
Conclusion: It’s Well Worth Investing in Exacting Accuracy and Reliability
In today’s era of escalating material costs, supply-chain pressures, and heightened quality expectations, reliable and accurate industrial measurement equipment will be an investment that pays dividends at your premises.
The benefits of choosing the right measuring equipment can encompass reduced waste, improved compliance, and even enhanced reputation. All these advantages, in turn, will support the broader longer-term success of your industrial operations.
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