Defender® 6000 Washdown Scale

Overview

The Defender® 6000 Washdown Scale is a high-integrity industrial floor scale engineered for rigorous hygienic environments where washdown protocols, corrosion resistance, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. Built upon OHAUS’ legacy of precision weighing instrumentation, this scale employs a robust Couette-flow–independent load cell architecture—specifically, hermetically sealed, welded 316 stainless steel strain-gauge sensors rated to both IP68 (submersion up to 1 m for 30 min) and IP69K (high-pressure, high-temperature steam jet resistance per DIN 40050-9 and ISO 20653). Its design conforms to the mechanical and material requirements of food-grade process weighing under HACCP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (when paired with compliant software), and EU Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on hygiene of foodstuffs. The scale is NSF Certified (NSF/ANSI Standard 18 & 27), validating its suitability for direct contact with raw and processed food products across production, filling, packaging, warehousing, and outbound logistics operations.

Key Features

• Hygienic Construction: Full 316 stainless steel enclosure, U-shaped support frame, load-receiving platform, and vertical column (excluding 300 kg and 600 kg variants); seamless welds eliminate crevices for microbial ingress.
• IP69K-Certified Sensor Assembly: Load cells are fully encapsulated via laser welding, eliminating gaskets or O-rings vulnerable to degradation during caustic or chlorine-based cleaning cycles.
• Operator-Safe Interface: Tamper-resistant front panel with knife-proof polycarbonate overlay; 6-digit, 20 mm high white LED display with ambient light adaptive brightness control.
• Intelligent Weighing Modes: Standard modes include basic weighing, parts counting (with APW optimization), percentage weighing, checkweighing, piece counting verification, dynamic weighing, and fill-level monitoring with real-time hold function.
• Overload Protection: Mechanical and electronic 150% overcapacity safeguard; integrated three-color LED matrix (8 × 16 pixels) provides intuitive pass/fail/reject feedback during checkweighing.
• Configurable Environmental Filtering: Adjustable digital filtering algorithms mitigate vibration-induced instability in high-traffic or conveyor-coupled installations.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Defender 6000 Washdown accommodates bulk solids, packaged goods, totes, drums, and palletized loads within its certified capacity range. Its inert 316 stainless steel surface resists pitting from organic acids (e.g., citric, lactic), sodium hypochlorite, and alkaline cleaners common in food and pharma sanitation regimes. The scale meets NSF/ANSI 18 (Food Equipment) and NSF/ANSI 27 (Commercial Scales) standards. It supports GLP/GMP data integrity requirements through built-in real-time clock, user-accessible audit trail logs (when connected to compliant host software), and configurable print templates traceable to operator ID and timestamp. All firmware complies with IEC 61000-6-2/6-3 for electromagnetic immunity and emissions.

Software & Data Management

• Standard Connectivity: RS232 serial port and USB Host interface for direct connection to label printers, barcode scanners, or local PCs.
• Optional Expansion: Dual RS232, RS485, Ethernet (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.2, 4–20 mA analog output, and 2-in/4-out isolated digital I/O for PLC integration.
• Data Integrity Tools: Configurable auto-print triggers (e.g., stable weight, button press, timer); password-protected menu lockout; GLP/GMP-compliant time/date stamping; zero/tare memory retention across power cycles.
• Firmware Updates: Secure over-the-air (OTA) updates via USB or network; version-controlled firmware revision history accessible through service menu.

Applications

This scale is deployed in USDA-inspected meat processing lines for carcass and portion weighing; in dairy facilities for whey powder and cheese block batching; in pharmaceutical manufacturing for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) dispensing and final container checkweighing; and in chemical blending stations handling corrosive catalysts or surfactants. Its stability under thermal shock (−10 °C to +40 °C operating range) and resistance to condensation make it suitable for cold-room and steam-jacketed environments. Integration with MES/SCADA systems enables real-time weight data ingestion into SAP EWM, Siemens SIMATIC IT, or Rockwell FactoryTalk.

FAQ

Is the Defender 6000 Washdown certified for use in explosive atmospheres?
No—this model is not ATEX or IECEx certified. For hazardous locations, consult OHAUS’ EX-series scales.
Does the scale support NIST-traceable calibration documentation?
Yes—calibration certificates with NIST-traceable reference standards and uncertainty budgets are available upon request (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration optional).
Can the checkweighing thresholds be configured per product SKU?
Yes—up to 100 user-defined tolerance sets can be stored locally and recalled via keypad or external trigger signal.
What is the warranty coverage for the load cell assembly?
OHAUS provides a 5-year limited warranty on the welded stainless steel sensor module against defects in materials and workmanship under normal washdown usage.
Is remote diagnostics supported?
Yes—via optional Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity, authorized service technicians can initiate secure remote session-based troubleshooting using OHAUS ServiceLink™ v3.2 firmware.