The fundamental shape and construction of load cells has barely changed in decades. Even as strain gauge technology has advanced, and applications have grown, the basic solid metal beam has endured.
Until now.
vLite™ technology, launched this week by VPG Force Sensors, reimagines load cell construction by replacing the solid metal with a hollow beam – halving the weight while maintaining the same reliability, quality, durability and accuracy.
Some might ask, why change what works? But here at VPG Force Sensors, we subscribe to Thomas Edison’s approach. As he said: “There’s a way to do it better. Find it.”
We found that there is a real market need for a lighter-weight alternative to standard load cells. It’s not just that lightweight load cells are needed in applications such as portable scales. Lower-weight products are also easier to store and ship, which can be a critical consideration in a wide variety of applications given the current challenges in the global supply chain. Furthermore, environmental concerns are driving manufacturers to look for solutions that require less material, reduce waste, and minimize the carbon footprint.
The VPG team set out to address those needs in the indoor legal-for-trade (LFT) market and vLite technology was the solution. vLite products are made of a hollow beam of aviation-grade aluminum rather than a solid bar, and therefore are approximately 50% lighter in weight than comparable load cells. The reduced weight can reduce costs in storing and shipping and better address the specifications of portable applications. In addition, the hollow beam design reduces the product’s carbon footprint by minimizing raw material usage and production waste and reducing the energy needed for shipping, recycling, and disposal.
Load cells made with vLite technology are ideal for legal-for-trade retail applications like supermarket checkout scales, back-office scales, and postal scales; medical applications such as fluid weighing and monitoring, incubators for premature babies, hospital beds, and infant scales; and packaging, bottling, and filling machines. They offer renowned VPG quality and a 2-year warranty, minimizing production risks and providing peace of mind for machine builders.
There are already several vLite load cell models available off-the shelf. Additionally, vLite technology can be implemented in any single-point load cell and in customized designs.
Available models include:
Model 0022 Low-Profile Aluminum Load Cell
Exchangeable VPG Force Sensors products:
Model 1022, Model LPS
- Capacities: 10-30 kg
- Single-point 350 x 350 mm platform
Model 0042 Medium-Profile Aluminum Load Cell
Exchangeable VPG Force Sensors products:
Tedea-Huntleigh: Model 1040, Model 1041, Model 1042
Celtron: Model LOC-SE
- Capacity: 5-40 kg
- Single-point 400 x 400 mm platform
Model 0031 Medium-Profile, Medium-Width Aluminum Load Cell
Exchangeable VPG Force Sensors products:
Tedea-Huntleigh Model 1033
- Capacities: 10-30 kg
- Single-point 350 x 350 mm platform
Model 0038 Medium-Profile, Medium-Width Aluminum Load Cell
Exchangeable VPG Force Sensors products: Model 1241, Model 1242
- Capacities: 100-300 kg
- Single-point 400 x 400 mm platform
Learn more about our vLite technology and load cells here: vlite.vpgforcesensors.com
