Coolest Things Made in Missouri 2026: Armor truck scale

Matt Stovern

Owners: Privately held
Employees: 275
Founded: 1950
Web: CardinalScale.com
Social: Facebook.com/
CardinalDetecto
2025 Revenue: Undisclosed
Product Pricing: Undisclosed
Why is this the coolest product made in Missouri? It’s American-built steel, engineered here in Missouri, designed to weigh millions of pounds with unmatched accuracy and durability.

Webb City-based Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Co. makes a variety of commercial scales for industries such as aggregates, agricultural, chemical and food processing. Armor truck scales are heavy-duty products used to weigh trucks and trailers. Proprietary SmartCell sensors don’t require a junction box, and the scales are designed to last for years in tough environments.

SBJ: Where did the idea for this product come from?
Matt Stovern, president and CEO: The idea came directly from our customers and decades of experience in the field. Operators told us they needed a truck scale that could take more abuse, last longer and require less maintenance. Our engineers took that feedback and designed a scale with heavier steel construction and a focus on long-term structural integrity and performance.

SBJ: Where do Armor truck scales fit in among your company’s products? Is it a flagship product?
Stovern: Armor truck scales are absolutely a flagship product for Cardinal. They represent the heart of our heavy-capacity weighing business and showcase our strengths in engineering, steel fabrication and system integration. When customers think of Cardinal, Armor is one of the products that defines who we are and what we build.

SBJ: What other products does your company offer?
Stovern: In addition to truck scales, we manufacture livestock scales, conveyor belt scales, digital load cells, weight indicators, unattended weighing kiosks and remote monitoring systems. Through our Detecto division, we also produce a wide range of medical and food-service weighing equipment, serving a wide range of industries around the world.

SBJ: What impact does this product have on the state and regional economy?
Stovern: Cardinal’s truck scale production supports hundreds of skilled jobs in Missouri, from welding and machining to electronics assembly and software development. Beyond our factory, the scales we manufacture are installed by local dealers and service companies across not only the state, but the entire U.S. and around the world. Because truck scales are essential for agriculture, mining, transportation and manufacturing, our products directly support many of Missouri’s key industries.

SBJ: What are your priorities when sourcing materials for the Armor truck scales?
Stovern: Our top priority is quality and dependability. We source high-strength U.S. steel and industrial-grade components that ensure long service life under heavy loads and harsh conditions. Materials are selected to withstand moisture, corrosion, extreme weather and repeated daily use. We balance durability with cost efficiency so customers receive a reliable, long-lasting product at a competitive price.

SBJ: Why does your company choose to manufacture the Armor truck scales in Missouri?
Stovern: Our headquarters and factory are located in Webb City, Missouri, where we’ve been manufacturing for 75 years. Our roots run deep in this community and producing truck scales here allows us to maintain complete control over quality, shorten lead times and keep skilled manufacturing jobs local.