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.
Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Laboratory Balance
- What are the heaviest and lightest samples you will weigh (including container weight)?
- 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 balance used by survey respondents:
| Analytical balance | 89% |
| Precision balance | 64% |
| Micro balance | 18% |
| Ultra-microbalance | 4% |
| Other | 12% |
Weighing applications, according to survey respondents:
| Differential weighting | 51% |
| Dynamic weighing | 49% |
| Pipette calibration | 47% |
| Mass comparison | 32% |
| Filter weighting | 27% |
| Other | 11% |
Most common problems users experience when using their balance:
| Weight readings do not stabilize | 55% |
| The unit is out of calibration | 17% |
| Display problems | 14% |
| Poor repeatability | 13% |
| Cornerload errors | 7% |
| The unit does not respond to weight addition | 6% |
| Readings moving only down | 3% |
| Other/None | 32% |
Factors that would help users overcome their weighing challenges:
| Newer equipment | 46% |
| Improved maintenance | 38% |
| Better training | 22% |
| Better technical support | 18% |
| Newer accessories | 14% |
| Other | 28% |
For more information on balances, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/balances
