Saturno

What Saturno does

Saturno (legal name Saturno Smart) is a Brazilian manufacturer of industrial and commercial weighing scales headquartered in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. Founded in 1925 as Balanças Santo Antônio and rebranded to Saturno in 1983, the company operates the largest road-scale service network in Brazil with more than 170 technicians and engineers, 60 equipped trucks, and 660,000kg of standard weights for nationwide calibration. Its product portfolio spans concrete, metal, and hybrid road scales, railway scales, mining scales, container scales, continuous flow scales (Sat Flow), loading scales (Sat Loader), and a range of cold-storage scales for food processing, supported by an installed base of 15,933 scales performing approximately 220 million weighings per year across 8 countries.

The company's underlying technology combines proprietary hardware and software: the Smart Line automation platform (Smart 1-4 tiers) integrates RFID, OCR, QR code, biometrics, traffic lights, barriers, and Webservice APIs into a unified weighing and traceability stack, complemented by the SBR 140 national digital weight indicator and EXL/Standard load cells. The EXL load cell is sourced via a strategic partnership with German firm Minebea Intec and carries a 15-year warranty with industry-leading lightning protection. Saturno also offers the Solar System kit for off-grid scale deployment, and collaborates with PUCRS's Celeiro Agrohub-Tecnopuc on a blockchain-based traceability platform for agribusiness.

Saturno generates revenue through three streams: hardware sales (scales, load cells, indicators), recurring software subscriptions (Smart Line tiers), and professional services (technical support through its CAS call center and on-site maintenance/calibration network). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting agribusiness, mining, ports and terminals, railway, and cold storage customers, with multi-year quote-based contracts and distribution via direct factory sales, authorized service providers, and the CAS support channel. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds.

Name

Saturno

Legal name

Saturno Smart

Website

https://saturnosmart.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Saturno Smart is a Brazilian manufacturer of industrial weighing scales, automation software, and load cells, serving agribusiness, mining, ports, railway, and cold storage customers across 8 countries with Brazil's largest road-scale service network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Weighing Equipment

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAGAFAF

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

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Sensors, Instrumentation & Measurement (Industrial sensing, metrology, test)

Keywords

• Industrial weighing scales
• Road weighbridge systems
• Weighing automation software
• Load cell technology
• Vehicle weighing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Canoas

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Road Scales: Sale of physical weighing equipment including concrete, metallic, and hybrid road scales, railway scales, and specialized scales for mining and container applications.
2. Electronic Components: Sale of load cells (EXL and Standard), digital weight indicators, and electronic parts for weighing systems.
3. Technical Support and Maintenance: Post-sale technical support through CAS with more than 170 technicians and 60 equipped trucks. Includes calibration and maintenance services across Brazil.
4. Smart Software Solutions: Software packages (Smart 1-4) providing automation, route management, traceability, and monitoring capabilities for weighing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Saturno manufactures and sells industrial and commercial weighing scales including road scales (concrete, hybrid, and metal), railway scales, mining scales, container scales, continuous flow scales (Sat Flow), loading scales (Sat Loader), and cold storage scales. The company also provides electronic components such as EXL and Standard load cells and the SBR 140 digital weight indicator, alongside the proprietary Smart Line automation platform with four software tiers (Smart 1-4) for weighing process automation, route management, access control, and full production traceability.

Product overview

Saturno is a Brazilian manufacturer of industrial and commercial weighing scales offering a comprehensive portfolio of road scales (concrete, hybrid, metal), railway scales, mining scales, container scales, continuous flow scales, loading scales, and cold storage scales. The company also provides electronic components including load cells (EXL with 15-year warranty and Standard with 5-year warranty) and the SBR 140 digital weight indicator. Central to the product ecosystem is the Smart Line automation platform with four software tiers (Smart 1-4) providing weighing software, automatic scales, route management, and premium multi-point control. Hardware includes Smart Tower and Smart Slim Tower centralized automation units and self-service kiosks. The Smart system integrates with RFID, OCR, QR Code, biometrics, displays, and barriers for comprehensive process automation. Saturno also offers the Solar System kit for lightning protection and operates the largest service network in Brazil with over 170 technicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concrete Scale (Balança Concreto) Modular concrete weighbridge platform for truck weighing with easy expansion, relocation, and transport capabilities. Features versatile installation options. Targeted at industrial and commercial vehicle weighing operations.
• Hybrid Scale (Balança Híbrida) Combined concrete and metal weighbridge combining advantages of both technologies with lower civil work costs and faster installation. Targeted at customers seeking a balance between durability and rapid deployment.
• Metal Scale (Balança Metálica) Full metal modular weighbridge with immediate availability, simple civil work, high corrosion resistance, and 5-year warranty. Targeted at industrial weighing operations requiring rapid deployment.
• Mining Scale (Balança para Mineração) Road scale designed for mining applications with concrete or full metal models, supporting high-flow weighing 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Targeted at mining operations.
• Container Scale Container weighing system for 20' and 40' containers using modular steel structure with ASTM A572 Grade 50 I-beam profiles and ASTM A-36 steel covering. Targeted at port and logistics operations.
• Sat Flow - Continuous Flow Bulk Scale Continuous flow scale for bulk weighing with capacities from 10t/h to 3,000 t/h. Three-section design with receiving hopper, weighing hopper on shear beam load cells, and gravity discharge hopper. Targeted at grain and bulk commodity operations.
• Sat Loader - Automated Grain Loading Scale Automated loading scale for grain loading with 120-700 t/h capacity. Features precision of 0.1% on loaded value with coarse and fine cut valves for accurate dosing. Targeted at grain loading operations at ports and terminals.
• Railcar Loading Scale (Carregamento de Vagão) Railcar/wagon loading scale for grain loading and expedition from silos or grain bins. Targeted at railway freight operations.
• Concrete Railway Scale (Balança Ferroviária Concreto) Concrete railroad scale for railway wagon weighing with I-beam steel structure in ASTM A572 Grade 50 and platform molds for concrete casting. Targeted at railway freight operations.
• Modular Metal Railway Scale (Balança Ferroviária Metálica Modulada) Modular metal railroad scale with H-beam structure in ASTM A572 Grade 50 steel for railway wagon weighing. Targeted at railway freight operations.
• Stainless Steel Bench Scale (Balança de Aço Inox de Bancada) Benchtop stainless steel scale with sanitary finish, IP67 digital indicator, and optional load cell sealing for cold storage/fridge applications. Targeted at food processing operations.
• Low Profile Scale (Balança de Baixo Perfil) Low profile scale for cold storage/fridge applications. Targeted at refrigerated storage operations.
• Tendal Scale Hanging scale for cold storage/fridge applications. Targeted at refrigerated storage operations.
• EXL Extended Lifetime Load Cell Premium load cell with 15-year warranty, lightning protection up to 100,000A per IEC60060-1, IP68/IP69k protection, and operation in extreme temperatures from -40°C to +95°C. Manufactured in partnership with German company Minebea Intec. Targeted at industrial weighing system integrators.
• Standard Load Cell Load cell manufactured by UTILCELL since 1980, with 5-year warranty, 4,000 division certified accuracy per OIML R60, IP68 protection, and integrated lightning protection. Targeted at weighing system manufacturers.
• SBR 140 Digital Weight Indicator 100% Brazilian technology digital weight indicator controlling all product entry/exit operations. Features auto-diagnosis, software calibration, RF interference immunity, open communication protocols, TCP/IP Ethernet connectivity, and approximately 700,000 weighing operation records in internal memory. Targeted at industrial and commercial weighing operations.
• Solar System Kit Solar power kit that isolates the scale from electrical grid to protect against voltage surges and lightning damage. Features wireless Wi-Fi communication up to 500m, significantly reducing maintenance costs and equipment downtime. Targeted at weighing operations in remote or surge-prone locations.
• Smart Line Automation System Intelligent automation platform with four software tiers (Smart 1-4) offering weighing software, automatic scales, route management, and premium multi-point control. Includes Smart Tower and Smart Slim Tower centralized hardware units housing display, traffic lights, barriers, IP cameras, RFID antennas, and OCR. Self-service kiosks support facial recognition, QR code reading, and A4 printing. Anti-fraud positioning system included. Targeted at enterprises seeking process automation and traceability.
• CAS Technical Support and Maintenance Service Factory-direct post-sale technical support through Central de Atendimento Saturno (CAS), providing remote problem solving, installation tracking, calibration, and spare parts. Backed by more than 170 technicians and engineers, 60 equipped trucks, and over 660,000kg of standard weights for maintenance and calibration across Brazil. Targeted at enterprise customers with installed weighing equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 220 million weighing operations per year across installed base
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SLC AgrícolacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 March 2025SLC Agrícola participated in the 1º Simpósio de Automação na Prática presenting their automation case study. This collaboration showcases real-world implementation of Saturno's control and traceability systems in large-scale agricultural operations.
• Minebea InteccoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Partnership with German company Minebea Intec, a leader in weighing and inspection technology with 150+ years of experience. Minebea Intec provides the EXL (Extended Lifetime) load cell with 15-year warranty, featuring advanced lightning protection and extreme temperature tolerance. This partnership gives Saturno access to premium German engineering for industrial weighing applications.
• Celeiro Agrohub - TecnopucflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Strategic partnership with Celeiro Agrohub, part of Tecnopuc innovation hub at PUCRS university. Includes collaborative project on blockchain platform for agribusiness and joint organization of 1º Simpósio de Automação na Prática event. Partnership involves Polytechnic School of PUCRS students in innovation projects.
• ABIMAQ (Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Máquinas e Implementos)minorOthers · 1 November 2023Saturno became a member of ABIMAQ, the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Machines and Equipment. This membership supports industry strengthening and innovation promotion in a competitive market, demonstrating commitment to providing relevant solutions for society and customers.
• UTILCELLcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1980UTILCELL has manufactured Saturno's Standard load cells since 1980. UTILCELL is a specialist in load cell technology with over 500,000 units installed globally. They are the #1 seller in the European market and provide 5-year warranty on their products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Líder Balanças: Brazilian road and industrial scale manufacturer; comparable product portfolio of concrete and metallic weighbridges serving similar agribusiness and industrial customers in Brazil.
• Rice Lake Weighing Systems: US-based manufacturer of industrial weighing equipment, load cells, and truck scales; comparable product portfolio in road weighbridges and weighing components for industrial and agricultural customers.
• Toledo do Brasil (Mettler-Toledo): Brazilian subsidiary of global industrial weighing leader Mettler-Toledo; competes directly with Saturno in road scales, industrial scales, and load cells for the same agribusiness, mining, and logistics customers in Brazil.
• Alfa Instrumentos: Brazilian manufacturer of industrial weighing equipment and road scales; competes head-to-head with Saturno in truck weighbridges and electronic weighing systems for Brazilian agribusiness and logistics.
• Cardinal Scale Manufacturing: US manufacturer of industrial scales, load cells, and vehicle weighing systems with comparable portfolio of truck scales and rail scales serving similar customer use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Minebea Intec: German global leader in industrial weighing and inspection technology; Saturno's load cell technology partner and a broader competitor in process weighing, checkweighers, and metal detection across pharma, food, and chemical industries.
• Schenck Process: Global manufacturer of weighing, feeding, and bulk material handling equipment; competes with Saturno's Sat Flow continuous flow scales and loading systems in mining, cement, and bulk solids.
• Avery Weigh-Tronix: Global industrial scale and load cell manufacturer (part of Illinois Tool Works); comparable in truck weighing, rail scales, and process weighing, with broader international footprint than Saturno.

Regional players

• Brasfort Balanças: Brazilian manufacturer of industrial and commercial weighing scales; comparable in road and platform scales for agribusiness and industrial customers, operating primarily in the Brazilian Northeast region.

Emerging players

• UTILCELL: Spanish load cell specialist and Saturno's supplier partner since 1980; #1 seller in the European market. Comparable as a load cell manufacturer serving weighbridge integrators across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ1f6S3j764LWHRHvONQsTQ

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Saturno