Zone 1 weighing solution maintains top quality

An Applied Weighing International product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 19, 2003

Polymer Laboratories manufactures to very high quality standards, and when the company wanted to source a reliable and accurate method of batching chemicals, ATEX certification was a key factor.

With the recent implementation of the ATEX Directive, now more than ever, companies are looking for suppliers who can not only provide solutions for hazardous areas, but also for those that assist in assessing and advising them about the most cost effective ways of implementing new systems.

Applied Weighing, the UK's leading manufacturer of weighing systems has complied with the ATEX directive for more than nearly three years, making it well placed to advise on any kind of hazardous area weighing application.

Its recent work with Polymer Laboratories in providing a solution for the company's Zone 1 hazardous area has allowed Polymer to continue to adhere to the strict safety standards now enforced on all new equipment used.

Shropshire based Polymer Labs recently completed a new production facility for the manufacture of polymer based particles, which are used in a wide range of applications from analytical research applications through to drug purification processes.

Polymer manufactures to very high quality standards therefore a reliable and accurate method of batching chemicals is required.

As all the weighing equipment would be located in Zone 1 hazardous area, safety and ATEX certification were key factors.

Applied Weighing provided weighing systems for nine vessels that incorporated Cleanmount weighing assemblies and Ultra load cells under each vessel leg.

These weighing assemblies are ideally suited for this kind of application as they are easy to install and their hygienic design makes them the perfect choice for any clean room environment.

Control instrumentation was located in a safe area and connected to the weighing systems via safety barriers.

For additional safety, each vessel was fitted with Applied Weighing's Uniprobe level detection probes.

The success of the implementation of these systems meant that Applied Weighing was subsequently asked to supply two specially designed platform scales for the measurement of hazardous chemicals inside a fume cupboard.

They were constructed from stainless steel and were purposely designed to fit exactly inside the fume cupboard to ensure total containment during the weighing process and very low profile so that drums can be easily loaded on and off.

High accuracy and repeatability was key to all the systems provided, along with technical advise and support.

As Neil Hall, Project Engineer at Polymer Labs said: "The weighing systems and level probes have proved to be both accurate and reliable, they worked from day one with no problems, a year on they all passed recalibration with no adjustments required.

Applied Weighing also supplied us with excellent after sales support and other services such as recalibration of the equipment as required by our quality system".