Trends, Outlooks, and Updates

​​​​​This past year has offered a lot of challenges. As we look back on all we’ve been through together, gratitude is atop our list. We are very grateful to our customers for the continued loyalty and our essential team members who demonstrated that together we are stronger.

We also learned a lot from your interests over the past 12 months. We know that our precision load cells topped the list for wishes and wants in 2020. We also experienced a growing demand for torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, and digital instrumentation. The lightweight, light-touch applications for miniature load cells have piqued the interests of many of you, leading to two new Interface Mini® product releases in 2020.

​​​​​​WHAT’S TRENDING AT INTERFACE?

1. Load Cells 
2. Torque Transducers
3. Instrumentation
4. Multi-Axis Sensors
5. Miniature Load Cells

Click here to see the complete list of Interface’s trending T&M products, along with best-selling Interface solutions picked by engineers, product designers, and OEMs around the world.

As our standard products continue to be our best sellers, we also have seen an influx of requests for what we call “Engineered to Order” products built to spec. With more than 38,000 engineering designs using our base standard products, Interface has the flexibility and know-how to meet our customer’s unique requirements.

Watch Interface Engineered to Order Force Measurement Solutions.
 

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​​​​​​Interface CEO Greg Adams Shares His Outlook for the New Year

​​​​​No doubt that the year 2020 will make history. Despite the challenges faced by many, Interface CEO Greg Adams notes he is still very optimistic about our future and for Interface. His optimism is fueled by what he sees in the amazing people at Interface that has demonstrated resolute dedication to delivering quality products to our customers. 

As we look ahead, Greg notes Interface’s pledge to invest in our team, our products, and with a heightened focus on pre-sale and post-sales service. As we see greater migration from components to systems, requirements for higher performance, and more customization options, Interface is ready to meet the demand. This includes the expanding requirements for miniaturization and the desire to pack more sensor technology into a single load cell or torque transducer. Read Greg’s 2021 outlook.

​​​​​​Sensors for Robotics and Industrial Automation are Grabbing Attention

I​​​​​​n this new application note, Interface highlights a recent customer request in identifying the best sensor solutions for lifting and moving fragile objects, like a glass bottle, in an automated environment with a robotic arm. The solution required a technology that could measure the amount of force, thus preventing damage to the objects in transition.

The solution was found by using two ConvexBT Load Button Load Cells in the grips of the robotic arm to measure the amount pressure in use, in combination with a DMA2 DIN Rail Mount Signal Conditioner used to convert the signal received from the load cells from mV/V to volts to the PLC controller. The signal is used to halt the robotic arm clamping pressure when a predetermined amount of force of pressure is applied. 

Watch our new Robotic Arm Animated App Note. 
 

All Indications are Go!

​​​​​​Among the numerous choices of Interface Instrumentation products, the most frequently purchased with a force measurement device is our load cell indicators. This includes various models of handheld, digital, wireless, multichannel, programmable, output modules, analog, and bidirectional indicators. Load cell indicators provide stable excitation voltage and convert force measurement sensor signals to a digital display. Commonly available features include analog or digital output, selectable digital filtering, peak and valley monitoring, and set-point outputs. Additionally, each load cell indicator can be used to connect to four (or more)
digital load cells and can display individual readings or the sum of all connected load cells. Read more about indicator options.

EXTRA, EXTRA!

Learn more about the force measurement solutions we are providing to the aerospace and defense industries here. We also added some of the innovations that are driving Interface product development and custom solutions in what we are looking forward to in the new year. 

From our Interface family to yours, we look forward to staying connected in the coming year. Happy New Year!