Ensuring every product meets its exact weight is essential in industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Checkweighing systems play a key role in maintaining product consistency and regulatory compliance.
In this guide, we’ll explore the common applications of checkweighing and offer practical advice on selecting the right model for your production line needs.
What is Checkweighing?
Checkweighing is an in-line automated weighing technology used to verify whether products meet target weight specifications. It plays a critical role in industries that prioritize quality consistency and regulatory compliance, especially food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics manufacturing.
Common Applications:
- Food lines: Seasonings, nuts, ground coffee, small packaged ready-to-eat products
- Pharma lines: Final checkweighing of tablets, capsules, and powder dosage forms
- Cosmetics lines: Facial masks, small cream packets, and Cosmetics in jars
Benefits of Checkweighing Systems
Checkweighing systems offer multiple advantages for manufacturers looking to improve product quality, regulatory compliance, and production efficiency.
- Ensures consistent product quality by automatically checking the weight of every item and preventing underweight or overweight products from reaching customers.
- Supports regulatory compliance by helping manufacturers meet legal weight requirements and avoid fines, recalls, or customer complaints.
- Reduces product giveaway and material waste, leading to better cost control and improved profit margins.
- Improves production efficiency by eliminating manual weight checks and enabling continuous, high-speed inspection.
- Provides real-time process data and feedback, allowing early detection of filling deviations and ongoing process optimization.
Common Types of Checkweighing Systems
1. Dynamic Checkweigher
Ideal for high-speed automation lines, performs real-time weight checks and rejects non-compliant products during conveyor transport.
★ Recommended model:WT300 Series
● Weighing range: 1–150g
● Accuracy: 0.05g
● Speed: up to 150 pcs/min
● Best for end-of-line applications in food and pharmaceutical packaging
2. Entry-Level Model (Perfect for Basic Lines)
★ Recommended model:WT200 Series
● Weighing range: 100–3000g
● Accuracy: ±0.5g / ±1g
● Suitable for lotion bottles, outer packaging, and medium to low-speed lines
3. Large-Capacity Model
★ Recommended model:WT500 Series
● Supports packages over 3kg
● Accuracy: 1g / 5g
● Ideal for bulk items like family-size food packs and supplement bundles
Key Functions of a Checkweigher
Checkweighing systems are essential tools for ensuring overall line quality and efficiency:
- Automatically reject non-compliant products, preventing defective goods from reaching consumers
- Enable traceable data logging to support GMP and FDA audit requirements
- Control filling accuracy to reduce overfill and material waste
Both WT300 and WT200 include data logging and user-friendly operation panels, supporting integration into upper-level management systems.
Role of Checkweighing in Various Industries
1. Food Industry (FSMA-compliant)
Checkweighing systems help food manufacturers ensure net weight accuracy at the end of the packaging line, comply with FSMA regulations, and minimize the risks of underfilling or overfilling.
2. Pharmaceutical Industry (21 CFR Part 211)
The pharmaceutical industry demands exceptional consistency in the weight of each tablet and packet. A checkweigher serves as a critical end-of-line quality control tool. The WT300 is suitable for high-speed pharmaceutical packaging lines, ensuring precise weight accuracy.
3. Cosmetics Industry (FPLA-compliant)
Cosmetic packaging must accurately display the “net weight.” Implementing the WT200 helps manufacturers verify the actual weight of each bottle or pouch, reducing the risk of labeling discrepancies and potential product recalls.
How to Select and Implement the Right Checkweigher?
1. Choose Based on Application Needs:
| Application Scenario | Recommended Model | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Small packs of powders or tablets | WT300 | High-speed weighing, 0.05g precision |
| Bottled lotions or cream pouches | WT200 | Moderate resolution, stable frame |
| Multi-item food bundles | WT500 | Handles heavy loads with stability |
2. Assess Functional Requirements:
- Do you need an auto rejection system (e.g., pusher, air-jet, drop-down)?
- Do you need ERP/MES or barcode scanner integration?
- Do you require data logging and batch report functionality?
3. Plan for Maintenance and Calibration:
- Choose a brand that offers technical support and spare parts availability (e.g., Wintech)
- Perform regular calibrations to maintain accuracy
- Modular design allows faster part replacement and easy cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1:Will a checkweigher slow down my production line?
A: No. Models like WT300 support high-speed operation (up to 150 pcs/min) without affecting production speed.
Q2:Can it handle soft bags, foil packs, or transparent packaging?
A: Yes. Wintech models are compatible with various materials and packaging formats.
（Read more: Understanding 3 Different Types of Pouches: The Ultimate Guide）
Q3:I’m unsure which model to choose. What should I do?
A: Contact us! We’ll recommend the most suitable model and setup based on your product weight range, line speed, and working environment.
Q4. What is the difference between a scale and a checkweigher?
A: The main difference between a scale and a checkweigher lies in their purpose and application.
A scale is designed to measure and display the weight of an item, typically operated manually by an operator for weighing, counting, or verification tasks. It is commonly used in static or low-volume weighing applications.
A checkweigher, on the other hand, is an automated system integrated into a production line. It continuously checks the weight of each product in motion and automatically determines whether it falls within a predefined tolerance range. Products that are underweight or overweight can be automatically rejected, ensuring consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and high-speed inspection without interrupting production.
Q5. Will a checkweigher slow down my production line?
A: Modern checkweighers are designed to operate at high speeds without slowing down production.
When properly selected and configured, a checkweigher matches the line speed and performs weight inspection in motion, allowing products to pass through continuously. In most cases, checkweighing improves overall efficiency by eliminating manual checks and reducing rework caused by weight errors.
Conclucion
Understanding what checkweighing is and how different types of checkweighers serve various roles can help you optimize production accuracy, reduce waste, and meet industry regulations more efficiently.
Whether you’re in the food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industry, choosing the right checkweighing system is key to maintaining quality control and protecting your brand reputation.
For expert advice, contact us today to explore the best checkweighing solutions for your production line.
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