Products · Weighing automation and control systems

Load cells and weighing hardware

Q: Can a damaged load cell be replaced in an existing scale?

Yes. A replacement of matching geometry, capacity and sensitivity (mV/V) is selected, even where the original model is no longer made. During the replacement the condition of the remaining cells, the cabling and the junction box is checked, and once fitted the scale is calibrated. It is a common and inexpensive way of restoring accuracy without replacing the whole structure.

Load cells, mounting kits, junction boxes and cabling: the complete measuring chain from the vessel support point to the signal reaching the weighing electronics. We select the design, the capacity and the accuracy class for the application, then supply, install and calibrate.

Send us your specification data See the load cell types

300 g – 100 t+ rated capacities OIML C3–C6 accuracy classes, verifiable builds IP68 / IP69K ingress protection, stainless steel ATEX · NTEP builds for potentially explosive atmospheres

Load cell types

Load cell designs: from grams to hundreds of tonnes

The starting point is the design and the way the load is applied, not the manufacturer. We carry load cells from leading brands — Utilcell, Tedea Huntleigh (VPG), Flintec and Ascell among them — in certified and standard versions, from stock.

Single-point load cell for platform scales

single point · 300 g – 2 t

Single-point load cells

A single cell weighs the whole platform whatever the position of the load. Platform and batching scales, packing machines, OEM equipment.

aluminium · alloy steel · stainless steel

shear beam · 50 kg – 10 t

Shear beam load cells

The industrial standard for mounting vessels, mixers and platforms on 3–4 supports. Resistant to side forces, with a wide choice of mounting kits.

alloy steel · stainless steel

Double-ended shear beam load cell for weighbridges

double-ended shear beam · 1 – 50 t

Double-ended shear beam load cells

The load acts on the centre of a beam supported at both ends. Weighbridges, large vessels and silos, and structures that need self-centring.

alloy steel · stainless steel

S-type load cell for suspended weighing and force measurement

tension S-beam · up to 25 t

S-type load cells

They work in both tension and compression. Weighing suspended vessels and hoppers, feeders, and bidirectional measurement of tensile force.

aluminium · alloy steel · stainless steel

Compression column load cell for silos and weighbridges

compression column · up to 100 t+

Compression column load cells

The highest capacities in a compact housing: large silos, weighbridges and rail scales, and structural weighing.

alloy steel · stainless steel

Bending beam load cell for precision batching

bending beam · low capacities

Bending beam load cells

High accuracy at low capacities: small process vessels, hygienic scales and precision batching.

stainless steel

Planar beam load cell for compact OEM installation

planar beam · low profile

Planar beam load cells

A flat design for building into equipment: OEM machines, instruments and applications with restricted headroom.

aluminium

hydraulically damped

Hydraulically damped load cells

Built-in damping steadies the measurement under shock and vibration: dynamic weighing and weight checking in motion.

aluminium · alloy steel · stainless steel

torque ring · special purpose

Torque ring and special load cells

Low-profile torque ring cells and special builds for measuring forces in structures, presses and machinery.

alloy steel · stainless steel

Not sure which design suits your application? Give us the load, the number of supports and the working conditions, and we will do the selection for you.

Send us your specification data

Method of mounting

Vessel supported on load cells or suspended from them?

The same vessel can stand on compression load cells or hang from S-type tension cells. The choice depends on the supporting structure, the space available and how the vessel is worked with. We design and build both arrangements, supporting structure included.

Criterion	Supported compression	Suspended tension
Load cells	shear beam, double-ended, compression column, single point	S-type (tension), up to 25 t per cell
Number of points	usually 3–4 supports; long hoppers 6–8	1–4 suspension points
Typical applications	silos, vessels, mixers, platforms, weighbridges	process vessels and hoppers in restricted space, feeders
What to watch for	side forces, thermal expansion and wind loading: the mounting kits absorb them	high point loading on the supporting structure; freedom of movement in the suspension

Weighing hardware

Mounting hardware: cheap insurance for an expensive load cell

Correct mounting determines both the life and the accuracy of a load cell. Mounting kits remove the risk of overload, absorb side forces, protect against stray and welding currents, and give resistance to wind loading on outdoor installations.

Mounting kits

Self-centring load cell assemblies with anti-lift and overload protection. Essential on outdoor vessels and wherever thermal expansion occurs.

Weigh modules

T-end modules with built-in vibration damping and a spherical bearing that compensates for misalignment. The insulation protects the cell from stray currents.

Anti-vibration mounts

Flexible elements that isolate machine vibration from the measuring chain: mixers, screeners and equipment with vibratory drives.

Hardware for suspended weighing: rod ends and links for S-type load cells

Suspension hardware

Rod ends, eye bolts and links for S-type cells: freedom of movement in the suspension with no side loading on the cell.

Junction boxes

Combining 3–8 load cells into a single signal, corner trimming and diagnostics of the measuring chain. IP68 builds, stainless steel, versions for ATEX zones.

Cables and connectors

Screened weighing cables, compensated extensions, EMC glands and connectors: an mV/V signal free of interference all the way to the electronics.

Load cell simulators

A load cell simulator (LCS) for testing electronics and controller programs without loading the scale — useful during commissioning and service.

Selection

Six questions that settle the choice of load cells

A standard cell for a platform can be ordered straight away. Hopper scales, verification and ATEX zones need specifying: send us these details and we will calculate and confirm the rest before you order.

Load and number of supports

The tare weight of the vessel, the net weight of the product, and an allowance for dynamics and uneven load distribution.

Accuracy and verification

OIML class (C3–C6), the number of scale intervals, use in trade and e-mark prepackaging: the build depends on these.

Working environment

Temperature, moisture, high-pressure washdown (IP68/IP69K), chemical attack and ATEX explosion-hazard zones.

Mounting arrangement

Compression or suspension, thermal expansion, connected pipework and agitators, and wind loading on outdoor installations.

Signal and cabling

Analogue mV/V or digital cells, the distance to the electronics, the junction box and compensation for cable length.

Mechanical interference

Structural vibration, agitators and conveyors: dampers, anti-vibration mounts and digital filtering in the weighing electronics.

We work with, among others

Utilcell Tedea Huntleigh (VPG) Flintec Ascell PENKO other brands to order

How to buy

Three routes: shop, specification or project

Standard load cells and accessories can be bought directly from our B2B shop. Application-dependent products are specified from the data you provide, and complete weighing systems are designed together with an engineer.

Standard product

Do you already know the model or type of load cell?

Common load cells, junction boxes and accessories from stock, in the InterProcess B2B shop.

Go to the shop

Product requiring specification

Hopper scale, verification, ATEX?

Give us the load, the number of supports and the working conditions, and our engineer will confirm the selection.

Podaj dane do doboru

Complete solution

A weighing system or an upgrade?

Load cells, structure, electronics and PLC/SCADA integration, from design through to calibration.

Ask about a solution

The load cell is the start of a larger system

Weighing automation and control systems

The overview page for the whole area: the architecture from load cell to higher-level system.

Back to the overview →

Weighing electronics

PENKO indicators, transmitters and controllers plus Siemens SIWAREX modules — the other end of the measuring chain.

View the page →

PLC, HMI and SCADA control systems

Siemens S7-1200/S7-1500 controllers, visualisation and integration of weighing with the process.

View the page →

Integration, commissioning, calibration

Design, installation, calibration and service of weighing systems, plus upgrades of existing scales.

Full scope of services →

Weighing in the process

Hopper scales, platform scales and weighing systems in bulk solids installations.

See the applications →

Feeding

Screw feeders, recipe weighing and batch feeding with a weighing function.

See the applications →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do you select load cells for a hopper scale?

The starting point is the tare weight of the vessel plus the maximum net weight, divided by the number of support points, with an allowance for dynamics and uneven load distribution. To that you add the accuracy class, the environment (IP rating, ATEX, temperature) and the way side forces and thermal expansion are compensated. Send us the vessel dimensions, the weights and the number of supports, and we will do the selection, mounting kits included.

Why use a mounting kit when the load cell can simply be bolted down?

A load cell measures correctly only when the force acting on it is purely vertical. The mounting kit absorbs side forces, thermal expansion, moments from pipework and wind loading; it secures the vessel against lifting and protects the cell from overload and from welding currents. It costs a fraction of the load cell and removes the commonest causes of damage and measuring error.

What is a junction box and when is it needed?

Where a scale rests on several load cells, their signals have to be combined into one, and that is what the junction box does. It also allows corner trimming — evening out the readings whatever the position of the load — and diagnostics of individual cells. We use IP68 stainless steel versions and builds for potentially explosive atmospheres.

Are load cells subject to legal-for-trade verification?

Load cells carry OIML type-examination certificates in classes C3–C6, but verification applies to the complete scale: load cells, structure and electronics together. If the scale is to be used in trade or for e-mark prepackaging, we establish that at the selection stage and choose certified cells, matching electronics and the appropriate number of verification scale intervals.

Can a damaged load cell be replaced in an existing scale?

Yes. We select a replacement of matching geometry, capacity and sensitivity (mV/V), even where the original model is no longer made. During the replacement we check the condition of the remaining cells, the cabling and the junction box, and once fitted we calibrate the scale. It is a common and inexpensive way of restoring accuracy without replacing the whole structure.

Need load cells or a complete weighing system?

Give us the load, the number of supports and the working conditions, and we will select the load cells, the hardware and the electronics — and, if you wish, install and calibrate the lot.

Send us your specification data