Defender® 6000 Washdown Scale

Overview

The Defender® 6000 Washdown Scale is an industrial-grade, high-protection weighing platform engineered for rigorous hygienic environments where moisture, chemical exposure, and frequent high-pressure cleaning are routine operational conditions. Built upon OHAUS’ legacy of precision weighing instrumentation, this scale employs a dual-certified IP68 and IP69K ingress protection architecture—ensuring full resistance to dust ingress, continuous submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (IP68), and resilience against high-temperature, high-pressure jet washing (up to 100 bar, 80 °C) per DIN EN 60529 and ISO 20653 standards. Its core measurement principle relies on hermetically sealed, welded 316 stainless steel load cells utilizing strain gauge technology with temperature-compensated signal conditioning—delivering long-term stability, repeatability ≤ ±0.002% of full scale, and minimal drift under thermal cycling. Designed explicitly for compliance-driven sectors—including food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and fine chemical synthesis—the scale meets NSF/ANSI Standard 18 and supports HACCP-aligned workflows through traceable calibration, configurable audit trails, and GLP/GMP-ready firmware features.

Key Features

• Hygienic structural integrity: Full 316 stainless steel construction—including indicator housing, U-shaped support frame, weighing pan, column (except 300 kg and 600 kg variants), and load cell housing—minimizes crevices and enables seamless wipe-down or CIP/SIP-compatible cleaning.
• Dual-rated IP68/IP69K protection: Achieved via laser-welded sensor encapsulation, gasket-free front-panel sealing, and chemically resistant membrane keypads with tactile feedback.
• High-visibility operator interface: 6-digit, 7-segment white LED display (20 mm character height); tri-color LED matrix (8×16 dots) for intuitive checkweighing status indication (underweight/OK/overweight).
• Robust overload tolerance: 150% overcapacity mechanical protection integrated into the load path; automatic overload/underload alerts with audible and visual prompts.
• Configurable environmental filtering: Adjustable digital damping algorithms to suppress vibration-induced noise in dynamic production lines or near HVAC systems.
• User-accessible security controls: Keypad and menu lockout, auto-zero tracking enable/disable, programmable auto-off delay, and factory-reset protection via password authentication.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Defender 6000 Washdown Scale accommodates bulk solids, packaged goods, containers, and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) across wet, greasy, or particulate-laden production zones. Its non-porous surface finish complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for electronic records when paired with validated data capture software. The unit carries NSF/ANSI 18 certification for food equipment sanitation and conforms to EC Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD). Optional configurations support ISO/IEC 17025-compliant calibration documentation and traceability to NIST-traceable mass standards.

Software & Data Management

Standard RS232 and USB host interfaces enable direct connection to label printers, PLCs, or local PCs running OHAUS ACSS (Advanced Communication Software Suite) for real-time data logging, statistical process control (SPC) charting, and CSV export. Optional Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and analog output modules allow integration into MES/SCADA environments. Firmware supports time-stamped event logging (including tare, zero, calibration, and mode changes) with optional GLP/GMP audit trail generation—including user ID tagging, timestamping, and immutable record retention. Print templates are fully customizable via ACSS without requiring third-party drivers.

Applications

• Food & beverage: In-line checkweighing of prepackaged items (e.g., meat trays, dairy tubs, frozen entrées); batching of dry ingredients in humid mixing rooms; pallet verification prior to cold-chain dispatch.
• Pharmaceuticals: Weighing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients during formulation; container tare-and-fill operations under cleanroom-adjacent staging areas; raw material receipt inspection.
• Chemicals & coatings: Dispensing of solvent-based resins or catalysts in corrosion-prone blending stations; drum filling verification with dynamic hold functionality.
• Logistics & warehousing: High-frequency receiving/shipping verification in refrigerated or outdoor dock environments subject to condensation and hose-down protocols.

FAQ

What does IP69K certification mean for daily operation?
IP69K certifies resistance to high-pressure, high-temperature washdown—enabling safe use in USDA-inspected food plants and pharmaceutical clean utility corridors without disassembly.
Can the scale be calibrated in situ without removing it from the production line?
Yes—internal calibration routines support external weight-based adjustment using Class F1 or better certified test masses; no tool removal or panel opening required.
Is the firmware compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic signatures?
Firmware version 2.3+ includes configurable user roles, electronic signature prompts, and audit log export—meeting baseline Part 11 requirements when deployed within a validated IT environment.
Does the scale support dynamic weighing of moving loads?
It provides stable dynamic hold and averaging modes optimized for conveyor-mounted applications, though not intended for continuous belt-speed weighing above 0.5 m/s.
How is traceability maintained during routine maintenance or recalibration?
Each calibration event is logged with date/time stamp, operator ID, standard mass used, deviation values, and pass/fail status—retained locally and exportable via USB or network interface.