ARE NECESSARY
Scales, one of the oldest and most common me
chanical devices, play an important role in the
paper industry. From the laboratory to the ship
ment of the finished product, weighing of ma
terials and products at Ecusta is but one of many
operations required in the making of paper. Yet,
quite a problem would be encountered should
there be no scales on which to check the paper
during different stages of its manufacture.
Flax straw is weighed when baled for shipment
to Ecusta. After the first stage of bleaching the
pulp is weighed before going to the second stage.
The pulp is weighed again before going to the
beaters. Jumbo rolls of paper are weighed after
removal from the paper machines. The rolls are
wheeled on the scales again after inspection and
rewinding. The finished paper, after packaging,
tips the scales a final time just prior to shipment
to our customers.
In the Paper Division alone, there are more
than 100 scales of various types in regular use.
The smallest in size is the Laboratory’s Analytical
balance — sensitive enough to weigh one’s own
signature. (Take a scrap of paper; weigh it; write
your name on it; then weigh the paper again.
There’ll be a difference in the weight of the paper
—the weight of your signature!) The largest scales
in use at Ecusta are located near the Gate House.
With a capacity of 31,250 pounds and accurate to
within 5 pounds, they are used in computing the
weight of material by the truck load.
Pictured on these pages are some of the many
employees engaged in different weighing opera
tions, using various types of scales and balances.
Ecusta has a scale repairman, Harry Ballard, whose
sole job is scale adjustment and maintenance. He
checks for accuracy an average of 80 scales every
week, and, at the same time, makes any necessary
adjustments. According to our scale man, the more
intricate scales usually function for approximate
ly 18 months before needing major repairs. We
should be reminded, says Harry, that, regardless
of their size and mechanism, scales are delicate
and will not stand up under abuse.
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