The exact correspondence between the weight declared on the label and the actual weight is a duty to buyers but also an opportunity to improve the production chain and confirm the professionalism of the producing company.

The wrapping and packaging stage of the finished product is one of the most delicate things: attention must be paid to the safety and perfect preservation of the contents, the solidity of the packaging, and the accuracy of the labeling and its wording.

In each of these steps there can be inaccuracies that affect the overall quality of the final product.

Hence the need for specific checks before distribution.

One of the main checks to be made concerns the correspondence between the quantity of product stated on the label or on the documents and the actual contents of the package.

Differences between the declared and actual weights reveal incomplete contents, for example in the case of kits, or dosage errors when liquid or powder products are involved.

Detecting and correcting these discrepancies is both an action to protect the rights of the prospective buyer and an operation that benefits the manufacturer itself, enabling it to identify and solve problems at the source that could have a heavy impact on the marketing of the product.

There are two main requirements at this point: the speed of the check and its accuracy.

Needs that are fully met by Sipi’s checkweighers, systems and scales for checkweighing.

How do SIPI systems for weight control work?

SIPI’s automatic and manual checkweighing systems are characterized by a high level of efficiency.

They are capable of inspecting up to 100 packages per minute.

They are versatile because they can be adapted to any production environment (pharmaceutical, food, manufacturing) and all types of packages (bags, pouches, trays, boxes…).

They can be integrated with metal detectors or x-ray devices to check for foreign objects in the package.

When the checkweigher detects, on the conveyor roller, a dissimilar package, it ejects it from the die via an air or mechanical device.

Discovering discrepancies quickly, avoiding subsequent disputes with related reputational damage among customers, has as beneficial effects a general reduction in costs and an improvement in corporate image.

The checkweigher therefore can be considered not only a quantitative but also a qualitative control tool.

Statistical weight checking scales.

Regulation No. 76/211/EEC, to which Italian legislation was adapted by Law No. 690 of 1978 and the consequent Presidential Decree No. 391 of May 26, 1980, provides a precise type of control for pre-packaged products, i.e., products, in a predetermined quantity indicated on the package, contained in a closed package in the absence of the purchaser.

Since deviation tolerances are provided, pre-packaged products must be weighed with special scales for statistical control.

With them, some package samples are checked in two stages:

• checking the weight of each package in the sample;
• checking the average of the actual contents of the sample packages.

Both of these measurements involve a non-destructive check (without opening the package) and a destructive check (whereby the package is opened and thus damaged).

Statistical control scales automatically perform the legally required checks and related calculations, making it possible to quickly assess whether or not the sample lot complies with regulations.

SIPI scales ensure that all required parameters are verified quickly and on time, enabling timely corrective action in packaging activities and preventing the manufacturer from incurring penalties.

The role of checkweighers

Regulations concerning controls on prepackaged products require the use of checkweighers when automatic measuring or batching systems are used in packaging.

The checkweighers must be placed on the production line, downstream of the measuring systems, and verify the correctness of their action.

The advantages related to the introduction of a checkweigher on the line are not limited to compliance with regulations, which allows the manufacturer using checkweighers to reduce the frequency of checks.

In fact, checkweighers play an important role in identifying any errors in package composition or ingredient dosing, avoiding material wastage and remakes of large quantities of packages. They thus enable production processes to be optimized.

And, as already pointed out, together with the other control tools, they protect the company’s reputation, now considered an asset in its own right.

SIPI makes checkweighers that meet all legal requirements-approved and equipped with metric stamps-that can be used in any industry, fast and accurate, and can provide real-time information on the operation of production lines.

Reliable, customer-friendly instruments

Like all of SIPI’s achievements, checkweighing systems can be adapted to specific package types or particular production line requirements.

A customized combination of weighing platform and weight indicator can be created. As mentioned, the systems can be integrated with additional instruments (metal detector, x-ray verification).

The invitation is to contact SIPI to learn in detail about its proposals regarding checkweighing and identify those best suited to your industry.

By adopting a SIPI system you will be able to experience the benefits in a short time, in terms of productivity, savings and raising the level of quality.