Interface Helps to Move Agriculture Innovation Forward
The agriculture industry is the backbone of most economies, as food production and farming are essential to everyone’s existence worldwide. Advancements and innovations in this market are core to growing a sustainable food supply and to safety and productivity management across the agriculture supply chain. Interface is proud to support a range of customers developing innovative sensor-based tools and equipment used in the field.
As a complete solutions provider, we offer standard and engineered-to-order measurement products designed for modern agricultural testing projects and for OEMs as components. Our Interface expert application engineers can also help design customized solutions for all types of applications using our products in harsh environments, for material handling, within complex agricultural machines, and for extreme weather conditions and engine testing. These are typical use cases that rely upon the quality, accuracy, and reliability of measurement solutions from Interface.
Our customers are in a range of agriculture submarkets, from heavy machinery to food production. The common products Interface supplies to these segments include our precision load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, and miniature load cells, along with the popular tension links, load shackles, and wireless instrumentation. We also provide advanced sensor technologies and digital monitoring equipment for agricultural-based manufacturing, farm and field management, inventory monitoring, equipment testing, livestock weighing and ranching, as well as food processing and grain monitoring.
In the application use cases below, we provide a few examples of agricultural solutions that are using various Interface force measurement products. To review a larger series of applications, visit our Interface Agriculture Solutions here.
Silo Monitoring and Weighing
For customers who need to weigh and monitor the contents of their silos, Interface can offer our A4200 Zinc-Plated or A4600 Stainless Steel Weigh-Check Load Cells, paired with a 1280 Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller. Using these products, the customers can monitor the amount of content by weight in their silo. In this application example, the customer was provided a customizable solution to monitor and weigh their silo. Results from the 1280 Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller were sent to the customer’s control center. Read the entire application note here.
Tractor Linkage Draft Control
A large commercial farming group wanted to measure the forces applied to their tractor’s draft control between the tractor and any attached equipment. Measuring the force will help the farmer sense any strain on the tractor hitch and will be needed to apply specific settings to the draft control when the tractor encounters rough terrain. Interface supplied a WTSLP Wireless Stainless Steel Load Pin, a wireless load pin that can be installed directly in the hitch, replacing the tractor’s standard shear pin. Force results are transmitted wirelessly to the WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station, where the farmer can view them on their PC or laptop using the supplied WTS toolkit. The customer can also view results on the WTSBS-1-HS Handheld Display for Single Transmitters in real-time. Using these products, the farmer can determine the specific draft control settings for their tractor. Read more about the tractor application here.
Poultry Feeder Monitoring
A customer wanted to monitor the motor that operates their poultry feeders. The poultry feeders must dispense feed evenly across each poultry house. We provided a solution using the T5 Standard Precision Pedestal Mount Shaft-Style Rotary Torque Transducer, with speed and angle options, to be mounted between a poultry feeder and a motor using Interface couplings. Torsion measurements can be graphed and logged using the 9850 Torque Transducer and Load Cell Indicator. With this solution, the customer was able to monitor their poultry feeders and ensure that each feeder received the same amount of food.
Interface load cells, torque transducers, and data acquisition systems are ideal for a wide variety of agricultural applications. These products can be paired together to measure and ensure efficiency, sustainability, and proper production planning. Interface products can also operate in harsh conditions, such as high humidity and extreme temperatures, while still maintaining high testing and measurement performance. Our custom solutions application engineers will work alongside you to create the most effective and efficient solution for your needs if a standard does not meet your exact requirements. Read more here.
To check out additional application examples related to agriculture and other industries, please visit our website at www.interfaceforce.com/application-notes/. Be sure to check out these great new farm applications.
