Choosing the correct balance for your application, or a series of balances that suit all of your application needs, is the first step in good lab weighing practices. If you choose the correct balance, calibrate it regularly, including any time the balance is moved to a new location, and keep it clean, your balance will reward you with many years of accurate operation.
6 Questions to Ask When Buying a Laboratory Balance
 | What is the heaviest sample you will weigh (including container weight) and what is the lightest sample? |
 | What is the required +/- tolerance of your lightest sample? |
 | How many decimal places in grams do you require for the displayed weight? |
 | What type of samples will you be weighing and do you need to take into consideration the size of the weighing surface or the securing of a tare container? |
 | Is on-site service available from a factory-trained service technician? |
 | Do you need to interface the balance to another device such as a computer, printer, bar code reader, etc.? |
Types of laboratory balances currently used by survey respondents:
| Precision Balance | 34% |
| Analytical Balance | 47% |
| Microbalance | 14% |
| Ultra Microbalance | 2% |
| Ultra Microbalance | 4% |
Top 5 laboratory balance applications as reported by survey respondents:
| Dynamic Weighing | 25% |
| Differential Weighing | 22% |
| Pipette Calibration | 22% |
| Mass Comparison | 18% |
| Filter Weighing | 12% |
Nearly 30% of respondents currently using a laboratory balance plan on purchasing a new or additional balance in the next year. The primary reasons for these purchases are:
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Top 10 Features/Factors respondents look for when purchasing a laboratory balance
Completed Surveys: 430
For more information on laboratory balances, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/balances
