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Year in Review of Top Interface Solutions and Applications

As 2023 fades into the rearview mirror, the dust settles on a year where engineers, technicians, and designers across diverse industries conquered the complexities of measurement. Interface was at the forefront of innovative use cases and applications, providing quality devices worldwide to gather precision measurements.

With the growing demand for sensor technologies, we added new markets this year to capture some interesting customer applications, including in our two most recent solution additions: Manufacturing and Natural Resources.

Intrigued by the cross-industry use cases of how our products are used, we added 25 new industry submarkets in 2023. These new markets highlight the vast engineering prowess of those using Interface load cells, torque transducers, instrumentation, and accessories to solve intricate challenges and deliver accurate results. We have highlighted these new submarkets below.

In our vast landscape of products, which industries and applications saw the most action? Join us as we dissect the data and unveil the top trends that define force measurement trends and use cases in 2023.

2023 Top 5 Industry Solutions

To no surprise, test and measurement took the number one spot as the highest-ranked industry solution on Interface’s site in 2023. Aerospace came in a very close second, with automotive following in third position based on user views and interest this past year. The final two most popular industry solutions were industrial automation and newcomer to the top five, agriculture.

2023 TOP 10 Most Viewed Solution Application Notes

The following highlights each industry and the five top-ranking application use cases that highlight how Interface products are used to solve real customer challenges in the respective industries using our measurement solutions.

These rankings are based on the popularity. We’ve measured views from all users, including engineers, lab technicians, buyers, product designers, testing and calibration experts, measurement professionals, educators, and specific industry experts.

2023 Ranking of Industry Solutions with Most Popular Application Use Cases

TIP: When applicable, find links to new submarkets in the different industries below the applications.

#1 TEST AND MEASUREMENT INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Test and Measurement Submarket Solutions

#2 AEROSPACE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Aerospace and Defense Submarket Solutions

#3 AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Automotive and Vehicle Submarket Solutions

#4 INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Industrial Automation Submarket Solutions

#5 AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

#6 WEIGHING INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

#7 MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

2023 New Medical and Healthcare Submarket Solutions

#8 INFRASTRUCTURE

2023 New Infrastructure Submarket Solutions

#9 ENERGY

2023 New Energy Submarket Solutions

#10 INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)

#11 MARITIME

2023 New Maritime Submarket Solutions

#12 OEM SOLUTIONS

#13 ENTERTAINMENT

#14 CONSUMER PRODUCTS

2023 New Consumer Products Submarket Solutions

#15 LIFTING 

#16 NATURAL RESOURCES

2023 New Natural Resources Submarket Solutions

#17 MANUFACTURING

2023 New Manufacturing Submarket Solutions

Of course, we know that visually showcasing applications is also appealing, so we offer a series of animated application notes that you can view here.

What is the top animated application note of all time?

The #1 Animated Application Note of 2023

If you want additional application support or inspiration on how our products are used in different industries, save a copy of the Interface Applications Catalog.

Applications-Catalog-1

Please contact our application engineers for questions or to help source the right force measurement solution for your specific requirements.

Interface Sensors Optimize Food Canning and Production

In the food packaging and production industry, consistency and quality are key. Due to this, many food production and packaging facilities are utilizing automation more than ever. The automation process includes monitoring actions and tasks using force measurement sensors. These sensors collect critical data to maximize food production and packaging efficiency.

Interface provides force measurement sensors and systems for equipment, devices, and machines that produce and package consumable products across various use cases. From harvesting and sorting to processing and packing, force measurements improve quality control, efficiency, and safety in food production and packaging. For example, production line engineers use sensors to detect and reject defective products, monitor equipment performance, and identify potential hazards.

The versatility of Interface sensor technologies provides the ability to innovate and solve challenges related to condition, consistency, and productivity for canning and food production. Whether using a small LBM Compression Load Button Load Cell within a production line machine or deploying multi-axis sensors during production to gather feedback in real-time, Interface has a diverse range of transducer and instrumentation options.

How Interface Products Improve Canning and Food Production

  • Monitoring the pressure applied to a mixer to ensure consistent product quality.
  • Regulating the force applied to a canning line to prevent cans from being damaged.
  • Detecting unknown items in food products.
  • Measuring the force in picking fruit or vegetables without damaging them.
  • Capping with precision to prevent crushing the bottles.
  • Sorting by the size, weight, and firmness of produce ensures it meets quality standards.
  • Controlling the force applied to food during cutting, slicing, grinding, and other processing steps.
  • Ensuring food is packaged correctly and safely, with the correct pressure and cushioning.
  • Weighing food products precisely to ensure accurate packaging.
  • Monitoring the force applied to a robotic arm to ensure safe and efficient handling of food products.

Using Interface load cells, food production and packaging companies can gather instant force measurements from their production line. For instance, when a canned goods company is filling its packaging with any food, a load cell can be used to measure the weight of the food in the can and automatically notify the filling machine when it is complete. This will tell the device to move on to the next can. All this can be done without any human intervention.

Alternatively, force sensors can be used to monitor the health of the production line. Force sensors are often installed in industrial machines to collect data on the operations of devices. This data can be analyzed and used to help predict when a machine might need maintenance or a conveyor belt can be outfitted with force sensors to help keep everything aligned. This contributes to greater food packaging and production quality and less downtime for the production line.

Interface force measurement solutions are used in all aspects of food production, including agriculture equipment, weighing scales, industrial automation robotics, and lifting machines used to transport consumer goods. Here are a few customer use cases.

Commercial Food Processing

A food processing plant wants accurate results of their in-motion check weighing equipment when food is weighted and processed down the belt. They want to ensure production line efficiency and food quality. The customer also wants real-time results of their food being weighed and a load cell that can endure the industry’s highly regulated environment. Multiple Interface scale load cells can be installed in the customer’s in-motion check weigher at the specific points where the food is weighed on the belt. The SPI High Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells deliver precise weighing results. When connected to the 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller, it will give the customer real-time results of food weight, which can read up to four scale channels. Read more: WEIGHING: Commercial Food Processing.

Fruit Weighing and Packaging

A customer owns and operates a fruit packaging plant. They want to weigh the bins full of fruit loaded onto conveyor belts that transfer the fruit to other steps of the distribution process to read the hands of the consumer in grocery stores. Interface suggests installing SPI Low Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells and WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Modules in the center of the platforms the fruit bins are loaded on. The WTS-AM-1E wirelessly transmits the data collected from the SPI to the WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for multiple transmitters and the WTS-BS-6 Wireless Telemetry Dongle Base Station when connected to the customer’s computer. Read more: Fruit Weighing App Note.

Food and Beverage Conveyor Belt equipped with PBLC Pillow Block Load Bearing Load Cells and 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller

Food and Beverage Conveyor Belt

Conveyor belts for the food and beverage industry must be maintained and adequately aligned to transport the products. A load cell is necessary to prevent misalignment and to reduce the risk of damage or malfunction of the belt while in operation. PBLC Pillow Block Load Bearing Load Cells can be installed onto the conveyor belt. They are designed for easy maintenance and will measure and monitor the force of the conveyor belt while preventing misalignment. Using the PBLC Pillow Block Load Cells, Interface’s customer successfully maintained the proper alignment of the conveyor belt for the food and beverages being transported while also monitoring the forces being implemented. Read more: Food and Beverage Conveyor Belt.

Snack Weighing and Packaging Machine

A snack manufacturing brand wanted to weigh the amount of their snacks automatically dispersed into the bags during packaging. In this case, they want to weigh their potato chips being packaged. The company also wanted to ensure the potato chips were at the exact weight needed to meet regulatory standards to be distributed to consumers in the public. Interface’s solution was to use multiple SPI Platform Scale Load Cells and install them to the potato multi-head weigher and packaging machine. The SPI Platform Scale Load cells were installed inside the mount that attaches the head weigher to the packaging machine. Force results from the potato chips were read by the load cells and sent to the ISG-isolated, where the customer could control the automated production from their command center. Using this solution, the customer could determine the weight of the potato chips being distributed into their bags with highly accurate results. They also were able to control the automated production process with the provided instrumentation. They will use this same weighing method for other snacks that need to be packaged.

As many industries turn to automation to improve productivity and quality while reducing waste, force sensors will play an increasingly critical role in providing accurate and immediate data to optimize equipment and machines. In the food service industry, we are already seeing a significant impact on the quality of production processes using force measurement.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Interface Manufacturing and Production Solutions

Force Measurement for Efficiency in Food Processing and Packaging

Load Cells for Smarter and More Efficient Weighing

Watch how sensors are used in industrial robotics for packaging.

Vertical Farming for Sustainable Food Production on Earth and Beyond

Interface Helps to Move Agriculture Innovation Forward

Chicken Weighing

 

 

 

Interface Solutions for Consumer Products

Interface’s force measurement solutions affect every industry and all types of products. Chances are that the everyday consumer has purchased and used something evaluated with or utilizing an embedded force sensor.

In fact, Interface has a long history in providing load cells and sensor technologies to test and measure consumer packaged goods (CPG) and products. They are commonplace in early-stage prototype testing, all through final distribution. Most often, our force measurement solutions help predict failure and identify design challenges before goods are available to consumers. It is hard to imagine any product that would not go through rigorous test and measurement protocols before it goes to market. The liabilities are too great and consumer safety is paramount.

It is also critical to use accurate, quality sensors to gather reliable user data related to any consumer product. Product makers use sensor data to assess product usability, capabilities, and durability. The more data, the greater the opportunity to adjust and ensure the product is a direct fit. Precision in this process through data will improve the product’s performance and influence adoption.

From testing home health care devices to ensuring household appliances are safe and durable, Interface’s sensor measurement technologies have a vital role in R&D, design, production and packaging. Load cells and other sensor products are used for all kinds of testing, from material to fatigue, in the creation and manufacturing of everyday goods. They are growing in popularity to make products smarter and designed for IoT use.

Consumer Product Applications for Interface Force Measurement Solutions

  • Smart home devices
  • IoT solutions
  • Production line testing
  • Usability research
  • Safety and compliance
  • Regulatory and performance monitoring
  • Manufacturing robotics
  • Warehouse equipment
  • Food packaging
  • Toys
  • Gaming and simulation equipment
  • Electronics hardware
  • Sports equipment
  • Furniture
  • Capping and bottling machines
  • Real-time user feedback

We even provide products to accurately measure and monitor hardware used in intermediate goods, assembly equipment, and distribution. Our force measurement solutions are ideal for consumer product stand-alone testing rigs, production equipment, as well as embedded in consumer products to increase operability and reliability for end users.

Interface load cells and instrumentation help product designers and fabricators drive usability, adoption, production efficiencies, and ensure safety to satisfy the needs of all types of consumers. Here are a few applications notes to demonstrate Interface solutions utilized in the consumer products industry. Additional applications for consumer packaged goods and consumer products are found here.

Commercial Food Processing

A consumer food product processing plant wants to measure in-motion the food weigh as it is processed down the line. They want to ensure production line efficiency and food quality for future consumers. The customer also wants real-time results of their food being weighed to keep standards high and ensure quality product. Multiple of Interface’s SPI High Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells can be installed in the customer’s in-motion check weigher at the specific points where the food is weighed on the belt to deliver precise weighing results. When connected to the 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller, real time results of the weight of the food being processed is available at all times. The 920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller can read up to four scale channels. Read more here.

Computer Touchpad Force Testing

A laptop manufacturer wanted to test their mouse touchpads to ensure it is functioning properly for future consumers, thus measuring the right amount of sensitivity during the consumer’s use. They also needed a system that measures the force it takes for the mouse pad to activate a response on the laptop. Interface suggested using the SMTM Micro S-Type Load Cell, from the Interface Mini™ line. The SMTM was installed in the customer’s actuator test rig. The SMTM recorded the amount of force it takes to press on the trackpad and create a response on different areas of the trackpad. An actuator aided with tactile feedback by providing movements such as dragging or creating friction. The measurements were captured using the 9330 Battery Powered High Speed Data Logging Indicator through an SD card, or another laptop directly. The SMTM Micro S-Type Load Cell was able to measure the forces applied to the mouse touchpad at various locations. Interface’s products successfully measured the forces needed to make the mouse touchpad create a response. Get more information here.

Furniture Fatigue Cycle Testing

To meet safety protocols in relation to the manufacturing of various furniture products, rigorous fatigue testing, shock testing, and proof testing before dispersion into the marketplace, and into the homes of consumers. Force testing on furniture products is critical in determining the posted max loads to protect manufacturers from liability due to damages that might result from the misuse of those products and overloading. Using Interface’s SSMF Fatigue Rated S-Type Load Cell along with Interface’s 9890 Strain Gage, Load Cell, & mV/V Indicator provides a solution that measures the force being applied in fatigue cycle testing of a furniture product, in this case testing the rocking mechanism in an office chair. Unlike other similar load cells, the SSMF is fatigue rated making it highly suitable for fatigue testing. Using this solution, the furniture manufacturer was able to obtain accurate data about the rocking mechanism the office chair as it was fatigue cycled into failure. Post testing, adjustments to the design to improve the safety and life of the furniture, ensuring product quality, and protecting the manufacturer from future liability. Learn more here.

Printer Cartridge Seal

An ink manufacturer wanted to ensure there is a proper seal between their ink cartridge caps and the cartridge body, for it to work effectively in their printers and for consumers buying it for themselves. A bad seal can cause leaks, clogging, and overall deficient performance for their printers. Interface’s solution was to measure the pressure exerted on the cartridge cap by installing the 3A120 3-Axis Load Cell under the plate during the automatic production line process. Results were logged, graphed, and stored when the customer’s PC or laptop is connected to the BSC4D Multi-Channel PC Interface Module with supplied BlueDAQ software. Using this solution, the ink manufacturer was able to determine the exact amount of force it took to seal their ink cartridge caps onto the cartridge bodies to prevent any leaks or clogging. Learn more here.

Interface solutions for consumer products are abundant. For every machine, test system and even many products themselves, these products benefit from a force sensor to improve product performance, prove reliability and more.

Additional Resources

Force Measurement is Reducing Waste and Automating the Consumer Packaging Industry

Applications for Consumer Products and Packaging

Load Cells for Consumer Product Applications

CPG Bike Handlebar Fatigue Testing

Interface Solutions in the World of Sports

CPG Water Bottle Dispensing and Weighing

CPG Treadmill Force Measurement

CPG Golf Club Swing Accuracy

CPG Gaming Simulation Brake Pedal