A gross weigh filler dispenses product directly into a container placed on a weigh scale (example below) or, in the case of a bag filler, is suspended from a weigh scale. The load cell firstly measures the weight of the empty container (the tare weight). In this example an operator initiates filling and a feedback signal from the load cell closes the filling valve when the required nett weight of product is added to the tare weight. The combined weight of container and product is called the gross weight.