Product Spotlight: Rice Lake Survivor Truck Scale

Rice Lake Weighing Systems SURVIVOR® truck scales are commonly referred to as the Toughest Scales on Earth®. They are designed to provide reliable performance under the most demanding conditions. SURVIVOR truck scales are built with more structural steel, a superior support structure and innovative design features that provide consistent accuracy, less downtime and longer scale life. Each SURVIVOR is built with the exclusive five-step finishing process. Take a look at some of the different Rice Lake Survivor truck scale models below.

SURVIVOR® OTR
The SURVIVOR OTR Series truck scale is an outstanding design that incorporates the most advanced engineering and production technology to manufacture the highest quality vehicle weighing system in the marketplace.

SURVIVOR® ATV
The ATV is rigidly constructed for heavy-duty weighing, yet lightweight and compact for convenient portability. The pre-assembled modules (available in lengths from 10 – 30 ft.) and unique self-seating hinge connectors provide easy installation, expansion and relocation for your growing business.

SURVIVOR® SR
The SR concrete or steel deck modes are ruggedly designed with massive outboard beams available in a bolted or welded design. Load cells and mounting assemblies are easily accessed in the rugged, reinforced load cell pocket, through side access.

SURVIVOR® PT
The PT Series truck scale is available in many standard sizes to satisfy most requirements, but we also understand that pit-type installations often involve replacing and existing mechanical or electronic scale.

SURVIVOR® M-Series
SURVIVOR® M Series Levertronic Scales combine innovative features with time-proven durability that only a mechanical scale can deliver. In a market crowded with scales manufactured to compete on price alone, SURVIVOR M Series Scales are built from the ground up for lasting performance under the most extreme conditions.

SURVIVOR® Rail Scales
SURVIVOR railroad track scales incorporate Rice Lake’s best-in-class weighbridge design to create a rugged, accurate heavy duty weighing system. Used in static weighing operations, the SURVIVOR RT Pit Type railroad track scale and the SURVIVOR PL Modular Type railroad track scale excel in high-accuracy, legal-for-trade weighing and meet AREMA and Cooper E-80 design specifications.

SURVIVOR® Livestock Solutions
Rice Lake’s livestock scales are built from the ground up for lasting performance under the most severe circumstances. Whether you choose the RoughDeck™ SLV for single animal weighing or the SURVIVOR® AG, LV or LS, you’re getting the Toughest Scale on Earth®.

Take a look below at “Six Facts” regarding heavy capacity solutions from Rice Lake. Did you know for applications where steel is preferred or downtime is critical, a great choice would be the SURVIVOR® OTR Steel Deck. Operational within a day, this easy-to-install steel deck scale sets the standard for truck scale design and performance, keeping downtime to a minimum. Tightly spaced wide flange I-beams form the industry’s strongest weighbridge design, weighing as many as 250 trucks per day for 25 years without a trace of weighbridge fatigue.

Built to Withstand Extreme Use
Weighbridge design and the weight of structural steel used directly affect the life of a truck scale. Many truck scale designs incorporate low grade, non-certified steel and an inferior design to reduce the cost and decrease production time. These reductions also reduce the life of the scale. Rice Lake SURVIVOR® series truck scales utilize up to 30% more steel than most competitive models and incorporate a longitudinal highway bridge design. More I-beams are strategically placed longitudinally with the traffic flow to ensure tire support regardless of truck position.

Ultra Load Cell Protection
Load cell pockets that are welded or bolted to exterior I-beams allow excessive bending and flexing, causing damage to the weighbridge. Bumper bolts loosen and break. Check rods bind. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are designed with the load cell pocket integrated into the steel structure of the scale. The pocket is built inside the outer I-beam, offering a more durable, long-lasting load cell pocket. The SURVIVOR® series scales feature the G-Force™ self-checking mounting system, eliminating the need for check rods or bumper bolts.

Breathing Room Below
Closed-bottom weighbridge designs with both top and bottom plates, typically using lighter weight components, create cavities that tend to hold moisture causing rusting of internal components. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® steel deck truck scales feature an open-bottom design providing unrestricted airflow eliminating rust causing moisture buildup, which accelerates rusting of internal steel and imminent scale failure.

Tough, Start to Finish
Harsh environments and corrosive materials can quickly deteriorate improperly finished truck scale components. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are steel shot blasted according to the highest industry standards to remove mill scale and surface imperfections. An asphalt emulsion undercoating is applied to all non-visible steel surfaces on all steel deck models to protect against moisture damage. High-performance epoxy primer and specialized hard-coat alkyd enamel is applied to all visible steel surfaces for a car-like finish that protects the scale from the elements.

Custom Sizes are Customary
Replacing truck scales on existing foundations or fitting truck scales to unique locations or space limitations need not incur extra design fees. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales can be custom-built to fit almost any application.

A Complete Solution for Any Application
These truck scales are only a part of the equation. Rice Lake offers not only the scale, but also the complete solution for your weighing application. From automated ticketing and truck transaction data collection systems to intelligent controllers like the 920i, to advanced cell diagnostics. And of course no truck scale is complete without a Ticketpress ticket printer and Laserlight Remote Display.

It is Important To Learn As Much As You Can During The Initial Buying Stage

When looking to invest in a truck scale. It’s important to do research and learn as much as you can about truck scales. And you will likely have many questions throughout the process. Below are some of the key features of the Rice Lake Survivor line of heavy duty vehicle scales.

Built to Withstand Extreme Use
Weighbridge design and the overall weight of structural steel used directly affect the performance life of a truck scale. Many “economical” truck scale designs incorporate low grade, non-certified steel and an inferior design to reduce the cost and decrease production time. These reductions also reduce the life of the scale.

Rice Lake SURVIVOR OTR truck scales utilize up to 30% more steel than most competitive models and incorporate a longitudinal highway bridge design. More I-beams are strategically placed longitudinally with the traffic flow to ensure tire support regardless of truck position. Continue reading

EPR Plus Now Available

Cardinal already had a good truck scale with the EPR. Now they’ve improved it with the new EPR Plus Truck Scale.

Engineered with state-of-the-art robotics, Cardinal EPR+ Plus Truck Scale represents the culmination of 60 years of scale manufacturing experience. Available in impervious hydraulic or electronic load cell types, the EPR+ Plus durable baked-on, anti-corrosion powder paint stands the test of time. The legal-for-trade NTEP EPR+ Plus Continue reading

Typical Installation Time for a OTR Survivor

When scheduling and planning installation for a typical three-module, 70′ Rice Lake Survivor OTR truck scale, plan for a minimum two-hour crane rental to place the modules into position. A two-man crew, aided by a crane operator, can usually unload modules from the freight truck and place them into position in approximately 1 hour. Mount and load cell installation will require approximately 3 – 4 hours.  Electrical wiring is run through conduit and can be done in approximately 2 – 3 hours. Continue reading

Weighbridge for Truck Scales

Closed-bottom weighbridge designs with both top and bottom plates, typically using lighter weight components, create cavities that tend to hold moisture causing rusting of internal components. Rice Lake SURVIVOR steel deck truck scales feature an open-bottom design providing unrestricted airflow eliminating rust causing moisture buildup which accelerates rusting of internal steel and imminent scale failure. For more truck scale information, contact Central Carolina Scale for a quote today.

The foundation for success

A proper foundation is one of the most important parts of your truck scale. If the foundation is not constructed properly, built flat and level, or according to the certified foundation drawing, your truck scale foundation could shift and bring the scale out of accepted calibration tolerance.

If the movement continues, your scale will become inoperable and require costly foundation repairs. Many factors must be considered in the process, such as the slope of the site and soil conditions. Below are a few other factors that must be taken into consideration. The SURVIVOR truck scale line quality design and engineering is further complemented by Rice Lake’s ability to Continue reading

Cardinal Truck Scale Manufacturing

Cardinal Scale’s truck scale manufacturing processes was featured in a Fall 2008 episode of cable TV’s popular program “How It’s Made” airing on the Science Channel. The segment details the production of a 70-foot-long electronic Cardinal truck scale. Beginning on a microscopic level with the creation of the strain gauges that reside in the scale’s load cells, the educational program charts the manufacturing course of a Cardinal model EPR truck scale.

It proceeds to show the welding processes involved in the steel tubing and load cell stands, the powder paint process, and final assembly where the finished truck scale is shown with test weights being applied to measure its superb accuracy.

The episode first aired in November 2008 and will be translated into over 3 dozen different languages to be shown internationally. One of the reasons Cardinal was asked to participate on the show was worldwide brand name Continue reading