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Start with four decisions: the weight range and resolution you need, whether the area is hazardous, what the scale will be exposed to (corrosives, washdown, heavy loads), and how the readings must reach your systems. Arlyn Scales organizes its catalog around exactly these variables—capacity and resolution, load cell construction, form factor, and communication—so matching your requirements to a product line is straightforward. The guidance below covers each decision in order, with the published specifications and starting prices from Arlyn's site.

Step 1: Set capacity and resolution first

Capacity and resolution are the two numbers that eliminate most of the catalog immediately. Arlyn publishes both for each line:

Two practical rules apply. First, buy capacity above your heaviest expected load—typically 10–20% headroom—because overload is the most common cause of load cell failure. Second, check that the resolution is fine enough for your smallest acceptable measurement. If you weigh additives or small parts where a few thousandths of a pound matter, the Ultra Precision line is the only fit; if you weigh drums or pallets, a standard industrial or platform scale is sufficient and far cheaper.

Step 2: Decide whether the area is hazardous

If the scale will sit in an area with flammable vapors, dust, or gases, you need the ArlynGuard line. Arlyn describes these as intrinsically safe—meaning the electrical energy and heat in the scale and its wiring are limited so they cannot ignite the surrounding atmosphere—for a range of hazardous area classes, divisions, and groups. ArlynGuard models come in Bench, Cylinder, Platform, and Floor form factors with heat-treated stainless steel load cells.

If you already own a compatible scale but need safe electronics, the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969) is the standalone option. If you need both hazardous-area safety and ultra-fine resolution, the Intrinsically Safe Ultra Precision Scales – ArlynGuard S ($2,629) combine both.

Before ordering, confirm your specific class, division, and group against the rating on the model you select—"intrinsically safe" is a rating tied to a defined environment, not a blanket property.

Step 3: Match the construction to the environment

All Arlyn industrial scales use stainless steel strain gauge load cells, which the company positions as protection against difficult factory conditions. Beyond that baseline:

• Corrosive materials (acids, caustics, drummed chemicals): choose the Corrosion Resistant Scales for weighing cylinders and drums of corrosive materials ($1,289).
• Cylinders, pails, and tanks: the Cylinder Scales ($699) are built for containers that are awkward to place on a flat platform.
• General platform weighing: Platform Scales with Industrial Technology ($759) cover the most common floor-level tasks.
• Very large vessels: Chlorine Ton Scales ($4,119) are the heavy-duty option for cylinders and tanks at ton scale.

If your environment involves washdown or chemical splash, verify the enclosure rating for the specific model rather than assuming stainless steel alone is sufficient.

Step 4: Choose the form factor

Arlyn's catalog maps to five physical formats:

1. Platform — flat deck for boxes, bags, and general loads.
2. Cylinder — cradles or bases for cylinders, pails, and tanks.
3. Floor — low-profile, high-capacity weighing for pallets and drums.
4. Bench — smaller footprint for workbench weighing.
5. Indicator — a separate display/controller when you need to upgrade an existing scale or add a touchscreen interface.

The Arlyn UpScale Touchscreen Indicator ($599) is the latest addition for users who want a modern interface on an industrial scale.

Step 5: Confirm how data leaves the scale

Arlyn states that its industrial scales offer a variety of standard communication options including Wi-Fi and USB. Decide early whether you need:

• A local digital readout only (any standard indicator).
• Wired integration to a PLC or PC (USB or serial).
• Wireless data capture into inventory or ERP software (Wi-Fi).

Communication requirements can change which indicator you order, so settle this before checkout rather than retrofitting later.

A quick selection path

• Hazardous area, standard precision → ArlynGuard Bench, Cylinder, Platform, or Floor ($1,799+).
• Hazardous area, ultra-fine precision → ArlynGuard S ($2,629).
• Tiny weights, high sensitivity → Ultra Precision Scales ($1,369+); the SAW transducer design is the differentiator here.
• Corrosive drums or cylinders → Corrosion Resistant Scales ($1,289).
• Routine platform weighing → Platform Scales ($759) or the base Industrial Scales line ($579+).
• Upgrading an existing scale → UpScale Touchscreen Indicator ($599) or MKE-5-IS ($969) for hazardous areas.

Before you order

Confirm three things against the product page for your chosen model: the exact capacity and resolution, the hazardous-area rating if applicable, and the communication interface. Prices shown are starting prices and vary by configuration. Arlyn sells factory-direct through its online checkout, so the configured price appears at checkout rather than on the category page.

Arlyn Scales is an industrial scale manufacturer and seller that offers platform, cylinder, floor, bench, ultra-precision, explosion-proof, and corrosion-resistant scales, along with digital indicators, at factory-direct prices. It is a fit for buyers who need rugged weighing equipment for factory, laboratory, or hazardous-area use and who want to compare scale types and capacities before requesting a quote or ordering.

Product Lines and Typical Starting Prices

The site lists several core categories, each with a starting price. Treat these as entry points, not full configuration prices.

Additional models listed include the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969), the Arlyn UpScale Touchscreen Indicator ($599), Premium Ultra Precision Scales with SAW technology ($1,514), Intrinsically Safe Ultra Precision Scales – ArlynGuard S ($2,629), and Chlorine Ton Scales for cylinders and tanks ($4,119).

What Distinguishes the Ultra Precision and Explosion-Proof Lines

The ultra-precision line uses SAW (surface acoustic wave) transducers. Arlyn states these are 10x to 20x more sensitive than strain gauge scales at a fraction of the cost of MFR (force-balanced) scales. If your task involves small weight changes on a relatively heavy load—for example, tracking fill level in a pressurized cylinder by weight—that sensitivity difference is the main reason to consider this line over standard industrial scales.

The ArlynGuard explosion-proof line is described as intrinsically safe across a range of hazardous area classes, divisions, and groups, with heat-treated stainless steel load cells and internal resolution of 1 part in 500,000. Before selecting one, confirm that the specific model's rating matches your area classification; the site describes the line broadly, so model-level documentation matters.

How to Choose Among the Lines

Use the same three questions across every category:

1. What is being weighed and how? Cylinders, pails, and tanks point to cylinder scales; drums of corrosive material point to corrosion-resistant models; general pallets and containers point to platform or floor scales.
2. How precise must the reading be? If standard strain gauge resolution is enough, the $579 industrial line is the baseline. If you need to detect very small changes, compare the ultra-precision capacities and resolutions directly.
3. Is the environment hazardous? If yes, the explosion-proof line applies, and the area classification should drive the model choice rather than price.

Buying Direct and Custom Solutions

Arlyn presents itself as offering custom weighing solutions and factory-direct pricing, with standard communication options including Wi-Fi and USB on its industrial scales. The site includes a checkout path, but the listed prices are starting prices, so configured systems, indicators, and accessories may change the total. For a custom requirement, describe the load, capacity, resolution, environment, and communication needs rather than starting from a model number.

A practical next step is to shortlist two or three lines using the table above, then confirm capacity, resolution, and hazardous-area rating for the exact model before ordering.

Arlyn Scales sells factory-direct industrial scales with published starting prices by category: industrial scales from $579, ultra precision scales from $1,369, and explosion-proof (ArlynGuard) scales from $1,799. The most popular individual models are the platform scale at $759, the cylinder scale at $699, the corrosion-resistant scale at $1,289, and the MKE-5-IS intrinsically safe indicator at $969. All prices below come from Arlyn's own site and reflect starting prices, so a configured unit may cost more.

Starting Prices by Scale Category

The ultra precision line runs from 10 lb capacity at 0.0001 lb resolution up to 1,000 lb at 0.005 lb resolution. Arlyn states these are 10x to 20x more sensitive than strain gauge scales at a fraction of the cost of MFR (force-balance) scales. The ArlynGuard line uses heat-treated stainless steel load cells with internal resolution of 1 part in 500,000.

Most Popular Models and Prices

• Platform scales with industrial technology — $759. The default choice for flat, stable loads on a bench or floor.
• Cylinder scales for cylinders, pails, and tanks — $699. Built for upright containers rather than flat loads.
• Corrosion-resistant scales for cylinders and drums of corrosive materials — $1,289. Choose this over the standard cylinder scale when the material being weighed attacks standard finishes.
• MKE-5-IS intrinsically safe digital indicator — $969. An indicator-only purchase, useful when you need an intrinsically safe readout for an existing compatible base.

Latest Models and Prices

• Arlyn UpScale touchscreen indicator — $599. A touchscreen readout for industrial scales.
• Premium ultra precision scales with SAW technology — $1,514. A step up within the ultra precision family for extra sensitivity.
• Intrinsically safe ultra precision scales (ArlynGuard S) — $2,629. Combines hazardous-area safety with SAW-level precision.
• Chlorine ton scales for cylinders and tanks — $4,119. The highest-priced model listed, aimed at weighing ton-size chlorine containers.

How to Choose Between Them

Use the same three questions in order:

1. Is the area hazardous? If yes, start with ArlynGuard ($1,799 and up) or ArlynGuard S ($2,629) and skip the standard lines.
2. How fine does the measurement need to be? If strain gauge resolution is not enough, move to ultra precision ($1,369 and up); the premium SAW model is $1,514.
3. What shape is the load? Flat loads point to platform scales ($759); cylinders, pails, drums, and tanks point to cylinder ($699) or corrosion-resistant ($1,289) models.

If you only need a safe readout and already have a suitable base, the MKE-5-IS indicator at $969 is the narrower purchase.

Buying Notes

Arlyn describes all prices as factory-direct, and the site includes a checkout page, so listed models can be ordered online. Treat every figure here as a starting price: capacity, resolution, and communication options can change the final configuration and cost. Confirm the exact model and price at checkout before ordering.

For hazardous locations, Arlyn Scales points buyers to its ArlynGuard line — Bench, Cylinder, Platform, and Floor scales described as intrinsically safe for a range of hazardous area classes, divisions, and groups. The same safety approach appears in two related products: the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969) and the ArlynGuard S Intrinsically Safe Ultra Precision Scale ($2,629). "Intrinsically safe" means the equipment is designed so it cannot release enough electrical or thermal energy to ignite a flammable atmosphere — which is why the scale type you pick should match both the vessel you weigh and the area classification.

What "intrinsically safe" means in practice

An intrinsically safe (IS) device limits energy at the source rather than relying only on a heavy enclosure. In a weighing system, that generally covers two parts:

• The indicator/electronics — the display and communication hardware that could otherwise produce sparks or heat. Arlyn sells the MKE-5-IS as a standalone intrinsically safe indicator, which tells you the electronics are treated as a separate safety-relevant component.
• The load cell and wiring — the sensing element and its connections inside the hazardous zone.

Arlyn's hazardous-area scales use heat-treated stainless steel load cells with internal resolutions of 1 part in 500,000. The stainless construction is also aimed at difficult factory conditions, so the same unit is meant to survive washdown-prone or corrosive surroundings as well as the classified area.

One caution: "intrinsically safe" is not a universal stamp. It is granted relative to specific classes, divisions, and groups of hazardous atmosphere. Arlyn states the ArlynGuard line covers an "impressive range" of these, but the exact rating for your area is what you must verify before purchase — not the general label.

Matching the scale type to the environment

Arlyn's hazardous-area offering is organized by what you are weighing, not by a single model number. Use this to narrow the choice:

The ArlynGuard S is the specialized option: it pairs hazardous-area safety with Arlyn's SAW (surface acoustic wave) transducer technology, which the company says is 10x to 20x more sensitive than strain gauge scales. Capacities in that ultra-precision family run from 10 lb at 0.0001 lb resolution up to 1,000 lb at 0.005 lb resolution. If your hazardous-area task involves leak detection, filling verification, or small additive dosing, that sensitivity matters more than platform size.

Indicators and system building

If you already have a scale or load cell and only need safe electronics, the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969) is the component-level answer. For a complete new system, the indicator is typically specified together with the scale rather than chosen independently — the IS rating applies to the combination, so mixing an IS indicator with a non-IS load cell does not automatically produce a safe system.

Arlyn's standard industrial scales also offer Wi-Fi and USB communication options, but do not assume those interfaces carry over unchanged into a hazardous-area installation. Communication wiring is part of what an IS assessment covers, so confirm the interface configuration as part of the hazardous-area specification.

A worked example

Suppose a facility fills solvent drums in a room classified as a hazardous location and needs to confirm each drum reaches a target weight.

1. Identify the load: drums on a pallet — this points to a platform or floor scale rather than a bench unit.
2. Confirm the area classification: get the class, division, and group from the site's safety documentation.
3. Match the rating: check that the ArlynGuard platform or floor scale configuration is rated for that specific classification, including the indicator and cabling.
4. Check the resolution need: if the fill tolerance is loose, the standard 1-part-in-500,000 internal resolution is likely sufficient; if you are verifying grams-level additions, look at the ArlynGuard S instead.
5. Verify before ordering: ask Arlyn to confirm the exact model-and-rating pairing for your classification in writing.

The failure mode to avoid is step 5 being skipped — buying an ArlynGuard scale because the line is "intrinsically safe" without confirming it matches your specific area group.

Practical selection checklist

• Start with the classification, not the model. Get class, division, and group from your safety engineer or site documentation.
• Then pick the form factor — bench, cylinder, platform, or floor — based on what you actually weigh.
• Then decide on precision. Standard ArlynGuard for general weighing; ArlynGuard S when small weight differences are the point.
• Treat the indicator as part of the system. The MKE-5-IS is available separately, but the safety case is for the assembled system.
• Confirm the rating in writing for the exact configuration before purchase.

Prices shown here are the starting figures listed on Arlyn's site and will vary with capacity, platform size, and configuration.

Arlyn Scales' Ultra Precision Scales are industrial weighing products built around SAW (surface acoustic wave) transducers rather than the strain gauge load cells used in the company's standard industrial line. According to Arlyn Scales, the SAW design delivers weight measurements 10x to 20x more sensitive than strain gauge scales, with capacities from 10 lb at 0.0001 lb resolution up to 1000 lb at 0.005 lb resolution, starting at $1,369. Choose them when you need to resolve very small weight changes on a full-capacity platform; choose standard strain gauge scales when ordinary industrial accuracy at lower cost is enough.

What the SAW technology changes

A strain gauge load cell measures weight through the deformation of a metal element: as the load bends the cell, bonded resistance gauges stretch or compress and their electrical resistance shifts. The signal is small, so it must be amplified, and the measurement is limited by how precisely that analog chain can resolve change against noise and temperature effects.

Arlyn's SAW transducers take a different route. A surface acoustic wave travels across a piezoelectric substrate, and applied load alters that wave's behavior; the scale reads the shift. Arlyn describes the design as internationally patented and positions it as providing "extremely sensitive weight measurements" at a fraction of the cost of MFR (force-restoring) scales, the high-end laboratory class of instrument.

The practical difference is resolution relative to capacity. Arlyn's stated range pairs a 10 lb capacity with 0.0001 lb resolution (about 1 part in 100,000) and a 1000 lb capacity with 0.005 lb resolution (about 1 part in 200,000). Standard strain gauge industrial scales typically resolve far fewer parts of full capacity, which is why Arlyn frames the SAW line as 10x to 20x better on sensitivity.

Capacity and resolution at a glance

Prices are the "starting at" figures Arlyn publishes; exact configuration pricing is set at checkout.

When ultra precision is the right choice

Use the SAW line when the weight change you must detect is tiny compared with the total load — for example, weighing a 10 lb container to verify that a 0.001 lb additive dose was actually dispensed, or tracking slow evaporation or fill drift on a 1000 lb tank where the meaningful change is a few thousandths of a pound. In those cases a strain gauge scale's resolution floor sits above the signal you care about, and no amount of averaging fixes that.

Standard strain gauge industrial scales remain the sensible default for counting parts, check-weighing shipments, or general platform weighing where tolerances are measured in hundredths or tenths of a pound. They are also the lower-cost entry point at $579 versus $1,369.

Two further conditions matter:

• Hazardous areas. If the scale must operate in classified environments, the ArlynGuard line (including the ArlynGuard S ultra precision model) is described as intrinsically safe across a range of hazardous area classes, divisions, and groups. Standard ultra precision models are not presented that way.
• Corrosive or washdown conditions. Arlyn's standard industrial scales use stainless steel strain gauge load cells for difficult factory conditions; confirm the enclosure and load cell specification for your environment before assuming a precision model fits it.

What to verify before buying

The source does not publish full specifications for every ultra precision model, so confirm these directly:

1. Resolution at your working capacity. Match the capacity/resolution pair to your actual load, not the smallest number in the lineup.
2. Indicator and communications. Arlyn lists Wi-Fi and USB among standard communication options on its industrial scales; check which apply to the precision model you select, and whether you need the separate Arlyn UpScale touchscreen indicator ($599) or the MKE-5-IS intrinsically safe indicator ($969).
3. Environment. Temperature stability and vibration affect any high-resolution weighing; ask how the SAW design behaves in your specific floor conditions.
4. Total cost. Add indicator, interface, and any hazardous-area certification to the base price before comparing against a strain gauge alternative.