Kanawha Scales & System

What Kanawha Scales & System does

Kanawha Scales & Systems (KSS) is a privately held industrial weighing and automation company founded in 1954 and headquartered in Poca, West Virginia. The company designs, manufactures, distributes, and services heavy-capacity and precision weighing equipment — including truck scales, rail scales, belt scales, crane scales, forklift scales, axle scales, livestock scales, tank and hopper scales, lab balances, and checkweighers — alongside radiation detection analyzers and custom drum filling systems produced at the Parkersburg facility. Its core technology stack combines the physical scale hardware with proprietary data management software (WeighMaster, BatchMaster, WebVIEW+, KSS Pioneer, Inspector, CubeTape) that captures weight and dimensional data for inventory, yield tracking, compliance reporting, and logistics billing.

KSS operates across thirteen named vertical segments — aggregate and mining, agriculture, pharmaceutical, logistics and transportation, manufacturing, steel/scrap/recycling, waste/refuse, food and beverage, electric utility, retail, coal/mining, pulp/paper/textile, and chemicals/plastics — serving a mix of commercial enterprises, government agencies (e.g., Mississippi Department of Agriculture, West Virginia Dept of Highways), and institutional customers (e.g., Ohio State University's Molly Caren Agricultural Center). Revenue is generated across five streams: one-time equipment sales (proprietary and distributed third-party brands such as Avery Weightronix, Fairbanks, and Rice Lake), recurring ISO-17025 accredited calibration and 24/7/365 maintenance contracts, equipment rentals, proprietary software often bundled with hardware, and engineered-to-order industrial automation and PLC integration projects. All pricing is quote-based and contracted through the field sales force rather than published.

The company distributes through a direct enterprise field sales model with over 25 co-located sales-and-service branch offices across the eastern, midwestern, and southern United States, supported by regional sales managers and a dedicated Corporate Accounts Division serving multi-location enterprise customers; international reach is maintained through a Beijing-based KRS subsidiary. In November 2025, Investcorp Capital plc acquired KSS from American Equipment Solutions and described the asset as a platform for "transformational" add-ons, followed by a May 2026 Employee Ownership Plan launch, signaling an active buy-and-build phase under new private equity ownership.

Name

Kanawha Scales & System

Legal name

Kanawha Scales & Systems, LLC.

Website

https://kanawhascales.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kanawha Scales & Systems designs, manufactures, distributes, and services industrial weighing systems, calibration services, and proprietary data management software across thirteen vertical segments including aggregate, agriculture, pharmaceutical, logistics, and manufacturing, operating from over 25 branch offices in the eastern, midwestern, and southern United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Weighing Equipment & Calibration Services

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Weighing & Force Measurement (Load cells, scales, torque, strain measurement) (IMAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Weighing Systems / Onboard Scales Calibration & Certification (TLAKANAN), Crane & Hoist Safety & Monitoring Systems (Limiters, Anti-collision, Load Monitoring) (IMAHAJAL), Crane & Hoist Installation, Inspection & Maintenance Services (IMAHAJAM), Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Industrial weighing systems
• Truck and rail scales
• Scale calibration services
• Industrial automation systems
• Process control batching

Headquarters

HQ city

Poca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices27 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Scales and Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial weighing equipment including truck scales, rail scales, axle scales, crane scales, forklift scales, bench scales, floor scales, conveyor scales, livestock scales, monorail scales, tank and hopper scales, wheel loader scales, lab balances, and accessories (load cells, indicators, printers, test weights). Products include both manufactured proprietary equipment and distribution of third-party brands.
2. Service, Calibration, and Maintenance: ISO-17025 accredited calibration services, emergency repair, preventative maintenance, load testing, and technical support. Service is available 24/7/365 across all branch locations. Calibration records managed through WebVIEW+ portal.
3. Equipment Rentals: Short-term and occasional rental of precision weighing equipment for customers with temporary or seasonal needs.
4. Proprietary Software Systems: Sales and support of proprietary software platforms including WeighMaster, BatchMaster, KSS Pioneer, and Inspector application, often bundled with hardware sales.
5. Engineered Solutions and Industrial Automation: Custom software solutions, PLC and computer interfaces, industrial automation, and engineered-to-order systems for unique customer applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kanawha Scales & Systems manufactures, distributes, installs, and services industrial weighing equipment — including heavy-capacity truck and rail scales, belt scales, crane scales, axle scales, forklift scales, livestock scales, lab balances, and precision measurement systems — paired with proprietary data management and automation software (WeighMaster, BatchMaster, WebVIEW+, KSS Pioneer, CubeTape, Inspector). The company also delivers ISO-17025 accredited calibration, 24/7 emergency repair, preventative maintenance, load testing, equipment rentals, and engineered custom solutions including drum filling systems and industrial analyzers, primarily to enterprise and government customers across the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WebView+: Proprietary online calibration reporting portal for existing customers to access calibration data and manage service requests.
• WeighMaster
• KSS Pioneer
• CubeTape
• Inspector
• BatchMaster

Products and services

• Truck Scales Heavy-capacity permanent and portable truck scales for weighing loaded trucks and trailers in commercial and industrial applications, used by aggregate, mining, waste, agriculture, and logistics operations for transaction pricing and production monitoring.
• Rail Scales Heavy-capacity rail scales for static and in-motion weighing of railcars, serving aggregate, mining, coal, electric utility, and chemical customers requiring bulk material transaction weighing and inventory control.
• Belt Scales Belt conveyor scales for continuous in-line weighing of bulk materials on conveyors, used in mining, aggregate, coal, electric utility, and recycling operations for production monitoring and quality determination.
• Crane Scales Crane scales for weighing suspended loads in heavy industrial environments, used by scrap yards, steel plants, and heavy lifting operations including certified load testing applications.
• Livestock Scales Livestock scales for accurate weight measurement of cattle, hogs, and other livestock, serving farming operations, livestock producers, and agricultural commerce.
• Forklift Scales On-board forklift scales that capture real-time weight data during material handling, integrated with the KSS Pioneer proprietary data management system for warehouse and logistics operations.
• Industrial Floor Scales Industrial floor scales for general weighing of totes, drums, and palletized loads in manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse applications.
• Lab Balances Precision lab balances for pharmaceutical, chemical, and laboratory applications requiring high-accuracy weighing with regulatory data control.
• Batch Measurement Systems Batch measurement and process control systems for industrial batching, portioning, and filling applications, integrated with BatchMaster proprietary software for manufacturing automation.
• ISO-17025 Calibration Services ISO-17025 accredited calibration services for industrial scales and weighing equipment, with calibration records managed through the WebVIEW+ online portal, ensuring legal-for-trade compliance across customer sites.
• Load Testing Nationwide high-capacity load testing using KSS heavy-capacity test units certified up to 225,000 lbs, used for safety compliance verification of crane scales, lifting equipment, and in-house manufactured test trucks for state Weights and Measures divisions.
• Emergency Service (24/7/365) 24/7/365 emergency repair service for industrial scales and weighing equipment, available across all KSS branch locations to minimize production downtime.
• Preventative Maintenance Scheduled preventative maintenance programs for industrial weighing equipment designed to extend equipment life, prevent lost revenue from breakdowns, and ensure ongoing accuracy and compliance.
• Equipment Rentals Short-term and occasional rental of precision weighing equipment for customers with temporary or seasonal needs.
• Drum Filling Systems Custom-designed turnkey drum and container filling systems with integrated PLC controls, manufactured in-house at KSS's Parkersburg facility for chemical, industrial, and bulk product packaging applications.
• Industrial Analyzers and Radiation Monitoring Systems Industrial automatic identification analyzers and radiation detection/monitoring equipment designed and manufactured through KSS's analyzers division for scrap yards, steel plants, mining operations, and bulk material handling to prevent radioactive contamination.
• Engineered Solutions Custom engineered-to-order industrial automation, PLC and computer interfaces, and proprietary control systems designed and built for unique customer applications across multiple vertical industries.
• Automated Ticketing Systems Integrated ticketing and transaction recording systems for truck scale operations, enabling automated recording of weighments and transactions for aggregate, mining, and waste hauling operations.
• National Accounts / Corporate Accounts Program Dedicated Corporate Accounts Division serving enterprise customers with multi-location logistics, retail, and government solutions, providing centralized contracting and coordinated service delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• KSS is recognized as the world leader in automated truck and railcar batch loading systems for fast, efficient bulk materials loading operations.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Equipment SolutionsminorOthers · 1 November 2025American Equipment Solutions was the prior owner of Kanawha Scales & Systems prior to the Investcorp acquisition. The company sold KSS to Investcorp in November 2025. No further strategic or financial details of the transaction were specified.
• Security Scale Service CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021KSS acquired the assets of Roanoke, Virginia-based Security Scale Service Company in November 2021, after several years of collaboration. SSS had supplied industrial weighing products and services since 1971 across Virginia and Tennessee. The acquisition added 5 locations (Roanoke, Richmond, Suffolk, Lynchburg, and Blountville) to the KSS network. KSS COO Jim Freeman cited shared values in employee development and customer service as key alignment factors.
• Avery WeightronixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity Scale Service Company distributed and serviced industrial weighing products from Avery Weightronix. Post-acquisition, this distribution relationship continues under KSS operations.
• Fairbanks ScaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity Scale Service Company distributed and serviced Fairbanks Scale products. Post-acquisition, this distribution relationship continues under KSS operations.
• Rice Lake Weighing SystemsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity Scale Service Company distributed and serviced Rice Lake Weighing Systems products. Post-acquisition, this distribution relationship continues under KSS operations.
• Coal Prep Society of America (CPSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSS is a member of the Coal Prep Society of America, participating in the coal preparation and mining industry community.
• Putnam County Development Authority / FAME ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSS joined the Kanawha Valley FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) Chapter as a pipeline for skilled talent acquisition. Through the program, KSS sponsors students at BridgeValley Community & Technical College who receive paid on-the-job training. Mason Midkiff was the first sponsored student, working with KSS Manager of Engineered Products Kevin Nichols and Director of Technical Services Larry Wigal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mettler-Toledo International: Global leader in precision weighing instruments and laboratory/industrial scales. Directly comparable as a manufacturer and servicer of industrial and lab weighing equipment serving overlapping verticals (pharma, food, manufacturing), though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Avery Weigh-Tronix: Industrial weighing equipment manufacturer and service provider with a comparable product portfolio (truck, floor, bench, retail scales) and a multi-brand distribution approach. KSS distributes Avery Weightronix products while also being a direct competitor in service territories.
• Rice Lake Weighing Systems: Manufacturer and distributor of industrial weighing equipment including truck scales, lab balances, and force measurement products. Comparable as a hardware OEM and as a channel partner to KSS for distributed brands.
• Fairbanks Scales: Long-established US industrial scale manufacturer and service provider offering truck scales, rail scales, and retail scales. Directly comparable product mix and customer base; also a KSS distribution partner via the Security Scale legacy relationship.
• Cardinal Scale Manufacturing: US manufacturer of industrial scales (truck, floor, bench, livestock) with in-house engineering and OEM focus. Comparable as a domestic industrial weighing competitor with overlapping product categories.
• Detecto Scale Company: Manufacturer of industrial, medical, and retail scales with broad product portfolio. Comparable as a US-based weighing equipment manufacturer serving overlapping industrial and commercial customer segments.
• Pennsylvania Scale Company: Manufacturer and servicer of industrial weighing equipment with emphasis on heavy-capacity truck and rail scales. Directly comparable scale specialist competing in similar Eastern/Midwestern US territory.

Emerging players

• Transcat: Provider of calibration services and distributed test/measurement instruments. Comparable to KSS's ISO-17025 calibration and metrology lab business, though Transcat operates more broadly across instruments beyond weighing.
• Trescal: Global calibration services provider with strong industrial focus. Comparable to KSS's recurring calibration revenue stream and accredited service model, with broader geographic reach.
• Walz Scale: Specialist in heavy-capacity truck scales, weighing systems, and load management software for mining, aggregate, and waste. Comparable in heavy-capacity truck scale focus and software-enabled weighing data capture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kanawha Scales & System