Checkweighers and metal detectors: what test records mean to a buyer
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A checkweigher or metal detector does not carry its old production line's performance into every new installation. Give the buyer the reports, but describe exactly what they assessed.
Start with the complete system: detector or weighing unit, conveyor, controls, reject device and any included collection equipment. An inspection head on its own is a different offer from a documented system with all those components.
The seller's records help the buyer assess the equipment. They do not replace the buyer's work to establish suitability for a new product and line.
Read the report before summarising it
Check the asset identity, date, tested configuration and stated scope. A certificate or report with a different serial number belongs elsewhere, even if it came from the same department.
| Evidence | What to identify | What not to imply |
|---|---|---|
| Calibration record | Instrument, measurements, conditions and report limitations | Approval of every future weighing application |
| Metal detector test record | Product, test-piece details, settings and recorded result | The same sensitivity for every product |
| Reject-system check | Equipment and functions actually checked | A complete system assessment if only the detector was tested |
| Service report | Work completed, findings and outstanding actions | Current fault-free condition outside that scope |
| Future validation | Buyer’s product and installation requirements | That the seller's old records settle those requirements |
For a checkweigher, preserve units, ranges and test conditions in the report. Do not replace them with a broad claim such as “accurate to one gram” unless the evidence and conditions support that exact statement.
The calibration certificate guide for torque wrenches illustrates the same document-reading principle in another setting: identify what was measured and the limits of the result. It does not supply a calibration method for checkweighers.
Why metal detection performance needs context
METTLER TOLEDO's metal detection guidance identifies product characteristics, metal type and shape, aperture, speed and environment as factors affecting performance. It also distinguishes validation from ongoing verification.
That makes the previous application important. Record what product passed through the system, its packaging and the documented test conditions. A historical result on one product should not become a universal sensitivity claim.
Keep test pieces and their identifying records within the inventory if they are included. Do not infer their size or material from appearance. The buyer's competent specialist must decide which tests are appropriate for the intended use.
There is no need to reproduce a testing procedure in the auction particulars. Provide the evidence and make inspection arrangements clear.
Check the parts around the measurement
A missing reject mechanism, sensor or controller can change what the buyer is receiving. Photograph the installation and list the included components before equipment is separated.
Record whether the unit communicated with a filling machine or another production stage. Note dependencies without promising compatibility with a future line.
For combined coding and inspection equipment, identify each function separately. A successful weight check does not establish code readability, and a camera report does not establish metal detector performance.
If the machine is already dismantled, explain which records describe its previous installed state. A past line test is still useful history, but it should not be presented as a test of the current separated package.
Make gaps visible in the offer
List missing records, unverified functions and outstanding service findings. If a specialist assessment is needed before deciding the sale basis, arrange that discussion early.
Avoid broad terms such as “food-safety certified” unless a specific, applicable document supports the claim and its scope is explained. A manufacturer's general product brochure does not certify the present condition of a used system.
UK Auction Group can discuss the sale with the component inventory and report schedule. Send the actual documents, not just their covers, so the description reflects the evidence buyers can inspect.
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Sources
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.