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Communications Technology of Weighing Instruments

Working Group 1.14

Profile

Working group 1.14 „Communications Technology of Weighing Instruments“  works at the interface between
information technology and weighing technology. It is concerned with metrological software for weighing instruments, modules and peripheral devices. Existing and partialy superordinated regulations are interpreted and apllied but also developed further by work in the respective committees.
Research and development in the field of weighing insturments and legal metrology is another main activity of the working group.

User forum d-CoC March 2024

On 14 March 2024, the d-CoC user forum will take place at PTB. More information will follow here soon.

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Research/Development

Digital Certificate of Conformity (d-CoC)

In a digitalised quality infrastructure, certificates such as type examination certificates are provided digitally and transferred seamlessly along the product life cycle. The digital data formats enable optimisation of the data flow and access to data. Based on the Opens external link in new windowQI-Digital pilot project Opens external link in new windowReliable Hydrogen Technology, we develop and test prototypes.

PTB is developing a digital, machine-readable certificate for conformity assessment (Digital Certificate of Conformity, d-CoC), initially for conformity assessments according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 in legal metrology (d-CoC M), as well as in the legally regulated area of explosion protection (d-CoC Ex). Here, administrative information and data confirmed in tests are brought together and can be used as a digital certificate in further QI processes such as the declaration of conformity or market surveillance. One possible use is the retrieval of certificate data in the field using a smartphone and the QI-Cloud.

Project "Ceraforce" (finished)

The Ceraforce project aims to examine a new sensor principle based on ceramic materials. Current high-resolution force measurement sensors for long-term applications show drift behavior, which is often caused by the creep of hardened metals used in these sensors. The sensor consists of a non conductive ceramic spring which is metal coated between the spring windings. If a force is applied the resulting winding displacement can be measured by means of a change in the capacitance between these two metal surfaces. Apart from applied fundamental research on the sensor properties the project focuses on the design and development of a novel relative gravimeter.

Project AWICal (finished)

The aim of the project is to develop a harmonized European method for the calibration of automatic weighing instruments. While for non-automatic weighing a guideline for calibration exists (Euramet guide CG-18) for many years, there is not something similar for automatic weighing instruments currently.
The AWICal project started in June 2015 and will be completed within 3 years. The project was initiated by the Slovenian National Metrology Institute MIRS. Beside PTB project partners are the Austrian National Metrology Institute BEV with the test office PTP, the National Metrology Institutes of Czech Republic (CMI), Poland (GUM), Bosnia and Herzegovina (IMBiH), Estonia (Metrosert), Serbia (MoE) and Turkey (TUBITAK). Furthermore the company of Mettler-Toledo participates as a manufacturer of automatic weighing instruments.

Three types of automatic weighing instruments will be examined: automatic checkweighers, automatic gravimetric filling instruments and automatic weighing instruments for weighing road vehicles in motion.

The project is divided in the following working fields:

  • Develop and validate calibration methods for the selected types of automatic weighing instruments
  • Determine influence quantities and possible errors for dynamic weighing
  • Develop and validate measurement uncertainty budgets
  • Develop drafts of calibration guides for the selected 3 types of automatic weighing instruments


To check the reproducibility of the developed measurement methods and to validate the uncertainty budget there will be comparisons between the measurements of the project partners.

Especially in the measurements PTB will bring in their experience in the testing of automatic weighing instruments

You can find further information on the project on its web page Opens external link in new windowwww.awical.eu.

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Services

Software testing

The working group offers the following services:

  • Consultations regarding software for weighing instruments, modules and peripheral device
  • Pre-assessment of software for weighing instruments and modules in order to facilitate a subsequent conformity assessment of the entire device
  • Software testing for conformity assessment


The services are offered within the scope of the Opens internal link in new windowPTB conformity assessment body. On its web page you can find further information on conformity assessment procedures.

Softwareworkshops für Waagen oder Kassensysteme

In regelmäßigen Abständen führt die Arbeitsgruppe Workshops zum Thema Softwareanforderungen durch. Derzeit steht kein neuer Termin fest. Bei Interesse kontaktieren Sie uns.

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Information

Regulations, standards and recommendations:

  • European Directive 2014/31/EU (Opens external link in new windowNAWID)
  • European Measurement Instruments Directive(Opens external link in new windowMID)
  • OIML Recommendations (Opens external link in new windowOIML)
  • WELMEC Guides (Opens external link in new windowWELMEC)
  • EN 45501
  • Measurement and verification law (Opens external link in new windowMessEG)
  • Measurement and verification ordinance (Opens external link in new windowMessEV)

Interesting links:

  • Working Group "Metrological Software" (Opens internal link in new windowAG 8.51)
  • Verification authorithies (Opens external link in new windowEichamt)
  • Working group metrology and verification (Opens external link in new windowAGME)
  • VDMA - department weighing technology (Opens external link in new windowVDMA)

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