weegmeter

A weegmeter is a Dutch term that translates to "weighing meter" or "weighbridge" in English. It refers to a large scale designed to measure the weight of heavy vehicles, such as trucks, lorries, or trains, often when they are loaded with goods. These devices are typically installed at strategic locations like industrial sites, quarries, ports, and weighbridge stations to ensure compliance with weight regulations, for inventory management, or for billing purposes based on weight.

Weegmeters are crucial for maintaining road safety and preventing damage to infrastructure. Overloaded vehicles can cause significant wear and tear on roads and bridges, and pose a greater risk in terms of braking distance and control. By accurately measuring the weight of vehicles, weegmeters help enforce legal weight limits set by transportation authorities.

The operation of a weegmeter usually involves driving a vehicle slowly over a platform. Sensors embedded within the platform detect the weight and transmit this data to a display or computer system. Depending on the type, weegmeters can be above-ground, semi-inground, or fully inground. They are calibrated regularly to ensure accuracy. In some contexts, the term can also refer to simpler weighing devices used for lighter loads, but its primary association is with heavy vehicles.