PENKO Whitepaper Check Weighing Systems0 pages

Engineering White Paper: Check Weighing Systems
PENKO Engineering B.V.

Introduction
This White Paper discusses the challenges, options and solutions for process manufacturers when
checking packages for the consumer and/or processing industry.

Purpose of White Paper
… is to explain why it is important to dose the correct amount of material/product in a package – be it
small individual packages, boxes or big bags etc. Whether a check weighing system is static or dynamic, or
whether it is of industrial proportion or simply a small system on shop level, similar challenges regarding
control apply which have a direct effect on cost and profit margins for the process manufacturer. Where
overfilling results in profit loss and product spillage, under filling results in unhappy customers and may
even be a legislative fallacy such as the obligation to withdraw packages falling outside of the tolerance
levels.
In addition to such losses, there is the added argumentation of international standards and legislations on
trade such as for the European region that warrants a scrutinizing view on accurate, fair and proper filling
of packages of any size.
Since the opening of European boarders, the e-mark directive is applied for packages up to 10kg, filled
based on average weight. While the directive is aimed to standardize and control package quantities in
Europe, the e-mark principle is beneficial to any process manufacturer with regards to savings on overand/or under filling of packages which means a saving on raw material and/or product. An automated
administered e-mark protocol also makes additional checks redundant, saving valuable time and
resource. In addition, filling in accordance with this protocol opens opportunity for business in the EU
market.
The advantages of fast check-weighing (PENKO instruments weigh at 1600 samples per second) is faster
throughput, less spillage, continuous filling process possible – leading to fast ROI

Background on Check-Weighing
Check-weighers are automated systems designed for checking the weight of packaged commodities for
the purposes of internal control and external trade application. The checking process is usually found at
the end of production processes in any given industrial process flow.
For external trade applications, legal requirement is obligatory. The worldwide O.I.ML. (International
Organization for Legal Metrology) recommendation R51 outlines these rules, while the MID
(Measurements Instruments Directive) is Europe specific and the NIST Handbook 44, edition 2014,
covering check weighers in chapter 2.24 is relevant to the United States.

Copyright © 2015 ETC All rights reserved – no part of this document may be reproduced of any kind without explicit
approval of PENKO Engineering B.V.
PENKO Engineering B.V. | www.penko.com | T +31 (0)318 525 630
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