50 Years and Still Innovating Force Measurement Solutions

Interface is well known for its premium accuracy and reliability in force measurement solutions. In this new InterfaceIQ post, we highlight the different ways we are instilling innovation in both our older products and our newest designs, including optimizing efficiencies and significantly reducing production time.

Mini Load Cells

Interface was founded on the LowProfile® load cell product, which some companies refer to as pancake load cells. The next major product line in our history is collectively referred to as load cell ‘minis,’ which tend to be smaller and cover a wide variety of geometries and packaging. The fundamentals of our quality products haven’t changed; however, the speed at which we are able to get these products to market has improved significantly.

Interface minis are used for light-touch, lightweight, or limited space applications. Our miniature load cells provide measurements as accurate as our full-size load cells, with proprietary alloy strain gages, full temperature compensation, and some environmentally hardened applications. Capacities are available as low as 0.11 pounds of force / 0.5 newtons and as high as 100 kilonewtons.

Most of our off-the-shelf mini load cells can be used in a wide variety of applications. Our engineers can also work with customers to design custom load cells tailored to specific needs.  For example, our custom mini load cells are commonly used in the medical industry for applications like blood separation products.

Optimizing Production Significantly Cuts Lead Times

The most significant development in Interface’s mini load cell product line is the optimized production methods we have continually introduced. Inventory positioning and communication streamlining have helped cut lead times for mini load cell production from 7 to 3 days in our pilot product tests.

We take time to make innovation a priority in everything we do, from optimizing production methods to introducing new ways to help our clients succeed. This diversity is the reward Brian Shaw and I receive as co-managers of a department with our oldest and newest solutions.” VP of Mini and 1923 Wireless Business Products at Interface

Last week’s blog outlined efforts by Interface leaders to improve efficiency by breaking down departmental barriers. The improvements we introduced have restructured various departments across the supply chain, enabling our employees to communicate more directly with one another.

For instance, planners now sit directly on the production floor. This gives them direct access to the assembly line, allowing them to schedule their own orders and accelerate time-to-market. In the past, the chain of communication was bogged down by departmental barriers that slowed the time it took to get a customer order into production.

1923 Wireless Series Load Cells

At the other end of the innovation spectrum is Interface’s 1923 Wireless Series Load Cell, a brand-new product under development. The original 1923 Series of load cells is one of Interface’s highest volume products. Its design and consistency have made it a popular off-the-shelf solution for many years.

The 1923 Series was originally designed for the oil and gas industry to prevent pump jacks from running too fast and disrupting the capillary flow of oil. The load cell sits on the pump jack and monitors the force required to pump, providing real-time data to avoid over-pumping.

One of the challenges that spurred the development of our 1923 Wireless Series is that the original 1923 Series required a cable to the bridge device to relay data to the user. In hazardous environments where the load cell is used, cables are prone to damage and can be inconvenient or dangerous. Our 1923 Wireless Series innovation eliminates the need for a cable and delivers the same accurate, real-time data readings with little to no fuss.

Interface has thrived for more than 50 years because we have built a foundation on which we manufacture premium force measurement products. This enables us to look ahead and create solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.