October 2025 Newsletter

Interface Instrumentation Alarms, Fatigue Life, Tension Links, Recycling, and Auto Testing

The era of relying on periodic, manual checks for your critical force and torque measurements is coming to an end. Immediate detection is essential. A continuous monitoring system can instantly alert you if a sensor is overloaded or operating outside safe limits.

Across industrial and testing settings, there is a rapidly increasing demand for continuous monitoring, and for good reasons. This shift is driven by the urgent need to protect valuable equipment and critical infrastructure, and to maintain the accuracy of sensitive test data.

The three main benefits of using instrumentation alarms for force and torque measurements are proactive maintenance, equipment protection, and data integrity. Read more in Interface’s article: Using Instrumentation to Set Alarms for Force and Torque Measurements.

INTERFACE INSTRUMENTATION WITH ALARM FEATURES

The use of sensors paired with instrumentation devices with alarm features is increasing. Continuous monitoring systems are more than just a measurement tool. They are a proactive defense system that delivers real-time data and instant alerts to safeguard investments and people.

The following are some of Interface’s instrumentation that offer alarm functions.

9870 High-Speed High-Performance TEDS-Ready Indicator

9825 General Purpose Indicator

9825-AI General Purpose Analog Input Indicator

9894 Analog Input Process Indicator

9890 Strain Gage, Load Cell, and mV/V Indicator

WTS-RM1 Wireless Relay Output Receiver Module

TIP: Watch Interface’s Instructional on Instrumentation Webinar to learn about functions and features of our broad mix of instruments.

Continuous monitoring systems are vital for predictive maintenance. They detect and fix issues before catastrophic failure, preventing costly downtime, sensor damage, and structural and equipment damage. In regulated industries, continuous monitoring is essential to keep a complete, auditable record of all test data. Read more in Force Sensors Automate Safety Systems in Industrial Facilities.

If you have questions about pairing your sensors or systems or need help selecting the right instrumentation product, our application experts are available to assist. Contact us here.

UNDERSTANDING FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION

Fatigue refers to the weakening of a material caused by repeated loading. Failure occurs after a certain number of cycles in fatigue testing, even when the stresses are well below the material’s ultimate tensile strength. Load cells are indispensable tools for accurately quantifying the forces applied during fatigue testing. Fatigue failure is a leading cause of structural damage in materials and components, making fatigue life prediction a vital part of design, validation, and maintenance across many industries.
It is essential to understand what fatigue life is, why it’s difficult to characterize, and how tools like the S-N curve are used to estimate the operational lifespan of load cells and the structures they measure. Learn more in our tech talk article: Fundamentals of Fatigue Life Prediction.

TENSION LOAD LINK COMPLETE SYSTEMS AND USE CASES

Interface offers standard and custom tension load links, as well as pre-configured complete systems featuring our robust tension load links. They’re designed for lifting, weighing, tension testing, and monitoring applications.

WTSATL Lightweight Aluminum Wireless Tension Load Link and WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for Multiple Transmitters Complete System offers a lightweight wireless tension load link paired with a handheld display, providing ultimate portability and flexibility.

ITL Tension Load Link and 9325 Portable Sensor Display Complete System combines a rugged stainless-steel tension load link with a portable sensor display ideal for quick, on-site measurements. They are easy to install in both new and existing systems.

WTSTL Wireless Tension Load Link and WTS-BS-4 Wireless Base Station with USB and Industrial Enclosure are ideal for lifting applications that require short and long-distance measurements and monitoring. The sensor can wirelessly transmit up to 600 meters.

TIP: Learn more about these systems, product specifications, and use cases in Tension Load Link Systems and Applications.

Our load links are sealed to meet IP65, IP66, or IP67 standards for environmental protection. Interface tension load links are compact, lightweight, and durable, making them perfect for use in hoists, cranes, and marine operations. Check out Sensors Provide Intelligence for Safe and Automated Hoisting.

ADVANCEMENTS IN AUTOMOTIVE TESTING

As a long-time supplier of critical test and measurement solutions to the automotive industry, it’s important to share some of the trends and applications we see using not only rotary and reaction torque sensors, but also multi-axis sensors, miniature load cells, wireless sensors, and DAQ systems. See how our load cells are used to measure the significant forces that monitor occupant survival across all vehicle types. READ: Force Measurement in Crash Testing Improves Designs and Saves Lives.

Advanced testing requirements for torque transducers that support innovation and facilitate the transition from concept to production are driven by the industry’s shift toward increasing motor performance, fuel-efficient designs, Electric Vehicles (EVs), advanced safety systems, and the integration of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technologies. We have highlighted some of these transitions in Accelerating Advanced Automotive Testing Using Torque Transducers.

NEW! Listen to our new InterfaceIQ Podcast discussion on torque transducers. If we didn’t connect at the recent Automotive Testing Expo, reach out.

INTERFACE SENSORS USE CASES IN RECYCLING AND REUSE

The recycling and reuse sectors are giving materials a second life, helping reduce demand for new resources and maximizing the use of precious materials across multiple iterations. Recycling is a complex process that relies on accurate measurement at every stage. The reuse sector is all about extending the lifespan of products and components. This requires careful handling, inspection, and often, remanufacturing. Interface’s load cells and instrumentation are essential for optimizing these operations in processing equipment, scales, material handling, robotics, and logistics. Across various industries, including waste management, water management, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure, recycling and reuse form the backbone of the circular economy. Read more: Interface Sensors Support Efficiency Gains in Recycling and Reuse.

RESOURCES AND MORE

LATEST INTERFACEIQ PODCASTS! Have you listened to Episodes 7, 8, and 9 of our podcast? Tune in as Max and Molly discuss Defining Load Cell Accuracy, Load Cell Conditioning and Amplifiers, and Digital Vs. Analog Load Cell Outputs. Subscribe here and also listen on Spotify.

CONTACT RESONANCE 101: Contact resonance is a form of self-excited oscillation that occurs in mechanical systems involving mass, stiffness (spring element), and a small clearance gap. Read more. Be sure to follow our 101 Series here.

STRUCTURAL MONITORING AND GEOTECHNICAL TESTING: The foundational stability and ongoing safety of our infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, high-rise buildings, and dams, depend on accurate, reliable measurement of force, torque, and weight. Read more.

NEW ADDITIONS! ForceEDU is more than simply a collection of resources; it functions as an ongoing learning platform for all professionals, from seasoned engineers to newcomers beginning their journey in force measurement. Bookmark to check for updates, like our new S-Type Load Cell Cheat Sheet.

INTERFACE YOUTUBE VIDEOS: Watch our latest videos: Precision in Every Product: Interface Force Sensors on the Production Line, Force in Everyday Life, Torque Demo 1:6 Scale Dynamometer, and With Interface, There Are No Limits. Interface offers hundreds of videos on our YouTube Channel, including installation support, product reviews, and application videos. Check out all our videos and subscribe to our weekly product shorts!

WEEKLY LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER: We publish a weekly InterfaceIQ newsletter. What’s new? Our latest editions: Subsea Measurement for Monitoring in the Deep, More Testing Data with 6-Axis Load Cells, Full Stop Requires Accuracy in Brake Testing, Expanding Use Cases for Rod End Load Cell Technologies, and Sensors Accelerate Autonomous Mobile Robots’ Usability. Are you following? Subscribe on LinkedIn.

Whether you’re exploring alarm features in instrumentation options, recycling and reuse applications, automotive solutions, or tension load links, please reach out! Interface’s application specialists are ready to assist. Contact us for quotes, product reviews, technical assistance, or to discuss your custom requirements.

Your Interface Team