Counting scales are specialist scales designed to save time in counting large quantities of a particular item. They can also sharply reduce the risk of human error.

In the words of a press release from Ohaus, announcing a new line of scales (but also applicable to other major manufacturers):

The new high-resolution counting scales have capacities from six to 60 pounds, and can count parts as small as 0.0002 pounds....Ideally suited for a host of counting applications, including annual inventories, stock rooms, print shops and rentals, the ...scales can be used to count parts ranging from semiconductor chips, electronic coils and screws to ticket stubs and seeds.

The press release also described some of the operations of the scales, and this too can be applied to many other advanced models from other manufacturers:

For fast and accurate counting, users simply place a known quantity of what they wish to count on the scale and press the dedicated Sampling Key or, for components where unit weight is known, simply input the value on the dedicated APW [Average Piece Weight] key. The scale will automatically display the total count of all parts on the pan as well as calculate and display the unit weight of the part.

...The...scales provide weighing, counting and accumulation application modes, and can perform both positive and negative counting, continuously keeping track of how many items have been added or removed from the scale. The counting scales have dedicated keys for the most common counting operations, including sample, tare, zero, APW entry stability, accumulations and pre-set tare entry. Preset tare weights can be quickly entered via the keyboard, or use the Tare key.

The memory accumulation feature keeps a running tally of each individual count – invaluable in batch counting operations or when accumulation counting large quantities of the same part. The new counting scales also include 10 memory locations for storing commonly-used part weights, easily accessed using the numeric keypad.

A useful introduction to choosing counting scales comes at the Scale Knowledge Database of the RightOnScales website. And the Digital Scale News website offers an article titled "The BIGGEST Mistake Counting Scale Buyers Make and How to Avoid It." DigitalScale.com, publisher of Scale magazine, also provides an extensive amount of information.

Leading counting scale manufacturers are as follows:

Mettler Toledo

Mettler Toledo was founded in Switzerland in 1945. Following a series of acquisitions, including in 1989 the acquisition of Toledo Scale Corporation of Ohio, it is now an American company. It makes a large range of counting scales. Many of its scales are sold through Amazon.com, a good source for price checks.

Get the latest prices on Mettler Toledo counting scales.


Ohaus

Ohaus is another prominent American manufacturer of a wide range of counting scales. The company's history dates back nearly 100 years, when German-born Karl Ohaus and his son Gustav began a scale repair business in Newark, New Jersey.


Sartorius

Sartorius is a German company, founded in 1870, with operations around the world. It describes itself as:

An internationally leading laboratory and process technology provider with areas of core competence in biotechnology and mechatronics. Our technological expertise, the high quality of our products and services and our global presence make Sartorius a preferred partner of the pharmaceutical | biotech, chemical, and food and beverage industries.


Adam Equipment

Adam Equipment offers a range of counting scales. The company says about itself:

Adam Equipment is a global supplier with more than thirty years experience in the production and sale of electronic weighing equipment. Our scales and balances are supplied and serviced from one of our 3 international locations in the UK, USA and South Africa and distributed through our worldwide dealer network. Adam Equipment's products are predominantly designed for the laboratory, medical, educational and light industrial markets.


A&D Weighing

Founded in 1977, A&D Weighing is now a multi-national corporation with operations in the US, Germany Japan, Australia, Korea and Great Britain.


CAS Corporation

CAS is Korea's leading supplier of electronic scales, with a 70% domestic share and a growing export business to the US.