When Rice Lake acquired the MAS-M mobile livestock scale in 2011 from a Canadian manufacturer, the framework of an excellent weighing system was in place; however the design was based on the metric system and many components were manufactured overseas. “The first order of business was to convert the scale to SAE and source more components from the USA,” says Joe Grell, vice president of heavy capacity products for Rice Lake Weighing Systems. “Our name has always stood for quality, and we wanted the new livestock scale line to continue that tradition.”

Located in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, the company was established in 1946 to support the area’s thriving dairy industry. What began as a small scale service shop over 70 years ago, has evolved into a first-class manufacturer of a full offering of weighing solutions, from micro-precision to ultra-heavy capacity scales. While the company’s equipment can be found in a wide variety of applications, one principle has never changed through three generations of family ownership—the Rice Lake brand represents superior quality. This is an important factor for customers; however, another differentiator also defines Rice Lake Weighing Systems: commitment to customer service. Both of these qualities are evident in Rice Lake’s livestock scales.

“We listen to our dealers and the people using our scales,” explains Joe. “They are encouraged to visit our facility to see our manufacturing process firsthand. We sit down with them and take the time to listen to their opinions. We tap into their real-world knowledge and experience with our products. It’s truly a two-way street.” That feedback has helped shape the livestock scale line as modifications have been made throughout the years, based on customer feedback, to refine the design and include additional models. Originally, the lineup included only the MAS-M mobile livestock scale when it was acquired by Rice Lake. Today, the company offers a large variety of models, including additional mobile options as well as stationary livestock scales and instrumentation developed in-house.

The line of communication is not confined to in-person visits. It is always open at Rice Lake. The company’s customer support is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. “We know how important it is when a scale goes down,” Joe adds. “We have a huge stock of replacement parts for both our equipment and competitors’ scales so we can ship immediately if something is needed. When someone commits to Rice Lake with their scale purchase, we are also committed to them through our customer support.”