The process industry encompasses many sectors such as chemicals, the food and beverage industry, oil and gas, cement, pharmaceuticals, and more. These industries are characterized by continuous or batch processes, in which raw materials are converted into finished products through physical or chemical steps.
In this environment, accurate and reliable weighing of bulk goods is crucial to ensure consistent product quality, optimize efficiency, and comply with safety and regulatory requirements.
Bunkers and silos are widely used to store large quantities of raw materials such as powders, granules, and liquids. For stock monitoring, dosing control, and process optimization, they are often equipped with weighing systems. The most common and accurate method is the use of load cells, which measure weight by registering the force exerted on the sensor.
Zemic load cells for the Process Industry
- High accuracy and reliability
- Robust construction and materials
- Suitable mounting materials
- Easy integration into existing systems
Load cells in the process industry
Load cells are essential for measuring weight and force in industrial processes. They play an important role in quality control, process optimization, and safety. Depending on the load direction, capacity, and environmental conditions, various types are used, such as compression, tension, shear beam, and bending beam load cells.
In process plants, load cells are integrated into silos, tanks, conveyor belts, packaging machines, and weighbridges. They provide real-time data for batching, dosing, filling, and inventory management. Via transmitters, PLCs, or DCS systems, they support automation, safety, and accurate material registration.
A commonly used solution is the compression load cell, which is specifically designed for weighing large tanks, silos, and bunkers. These sensors offer high accuracy, high load capacity, a robust stainless steel construction, and are often available with ATEX certification for hazardous environments.
An example is the Zemic BM14C compression load cell . This stainless steel, hermetically sealed load cell with IP68 protection is suitable for heavy industrial applications and delivers accurate measurement results at capacities from 0.5 to 50 tonnes. In combination with mounting materials, junction boxes, and weighing electronics, the BM14C forms a complete and reliable solution for process weighing.
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