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Interface Acquires LCM Systems

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Interface, Inc. is the world’s trusted leader in technology, design, and manufacturing of force measurement products. We are pleased to announce that we have recently acquired LCM Systems Ltd, a market leader in specialized load measurement solutions utilized across industries by customers worldwide. 

The acquisition of LCM Systems accelerates Interface’s growth in global test and measurement by adding critical engineering and manufacturing expertise with an international presence. Interface has been a long-time partner of LCM Systems. Working together to supply high-accuracy and quality measurement solutions to Interface customers, we both understand that the market is growing and dependent on LCM’s expertise and manufactured products, including load pins, load shackles, tension links and specialized measurement sensor solutions.

We are stronger together. Interface and LCM knows that we can open new markets, while expanding our offerings to meet current and future customer demand. READ THE FULL NEWS RELEASE HERE

“LCM Systems is an established and recognized leader in the design and manufacture of specialized load cells and instrumentation, and we are proud to officially welcome them to the Interface family. Adding their quality, proficiency and long history, the LCM team further bolsters our global capabilities in meeting the rapidly growing demands for exceptional products including their load pins, load shackles, load cells and other sensor technologies.”  – Greg Adams, CEO at Interface

LCM Systems was founded in 1984 to provide the yachting industry with precision load cells and readout systems. The load management solutions company grew rapidly over the years to provide engineering and design expertise to market sectors including energy, civil engineering, maritime, aerospace, heavy lifting, and process engineering. The company manufactures a comprehensive range of standard and ruggedized load cells and instrumentation, with a considerable proportion of its market share coming from the supply of customized products tailored to meet customer’s specific requirements. LCM Systems also manufactures load cells suitable for Zone 1 and 2 hazardous area applications including standard ATEX/IECEx certified load cells, load pins, load shackles, load links, instrumentation and accessories. LCM Systems is based in the United Kingdom.

“Joining Interface, a company with a world-renowned reputation and 55 years of experience in the load measurement industry, is an incredible opportunity for the continued success and future growth of LCM Systems. Interface and LCM are long standing partners and have been our exclusive distributor for the US market since 2018. Our combined experience, the unmatched expertise of our teams, and a shared continuous improvement culture will make our integration into Interface seamless and highly beneficial not only for both of our companies, but also our customers and employees.”  – Steve Sargeant, Managing Director at LCM Systems

Interface and LCM Systems have partnered together for several years. As the needs of the market and our customers evolve, we will continue to evaluate every opportunity there is to utilize our engineers and manufacturing resources to develop custom and new products. LCM has long offered engineered-to-order sensor products, including load pins and load shackles. These products are often designed to meet specific use cases and precise requirements. We will both continue to meet those demands and provide solutions that match the needs of our customers.

“The acquisition of LCM Systems gives Interface a major manufacturing and engineering center of excellence in Europe and expands our product portfolio with specialized load and weighing solutions. LCM is very reputable in the force measurement solutions industry for providing innovative solutions for complex measurement challenges and we are very excited to be working in collaboration to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.”  – Ken Bishop, Custom Solutions Senior Director at Interface

The strategic acquisition bolsters both capabilities and market solutions. Through our collective market analysis and understanding, we believe that together we have more to offer and can support the growth and demands of the products we design, manufacture and sell. We have more resources working together to exceed customer expectations and deliver exceptional experiences.

Interface and LCM Systems are growing companies. We will continue to expand and operate to meet these demands. We do believe that working together, we will continue to offer great service and products.

As a customer, there are no changes to how you engage with Interface or LCM Systems. The impact of this relationship is beneficial to customers, partners, and team members as we can meet the growing market opportunity and continue to build and supply exceptional products. Our respective sales distribution networks and channels for each company remain the same, while we continue to find synergies across channels and opportunities to expand our offerings and services for Interface and LCM products around the world.

Our distributor and representatives (Global Sales Network) will remain front-line for direct regional sales and support. Interface and LCM Systems will continue to directly support all incoming requests and work together, along with our global sales network to ensure quick response and support to all incoming inquiries.There is no change to the current contacts that our customers work with today and in the future.

Additional Questions and References

Will there be any changes to Interface or LCM Systems brand?

Interface and LCM Systems will maintain their existing brand names, marks and creative identification as two entities. Both companies have strong brand recognition and loyalty with respective partners and customers.

Will Interface or LCM change the current offerings?

No, we don’t anticipate any changes to pricing or products at this time. We will continue to engineer the products we have been offering, while looking to the future to meet demands for new products and challenges we can solve with our customers using our complete lines of measurement solutions. We do not foresee any short-term pricing changes. All pricing is subject to our material and supply chain resource availability and at this time we are not anticipating any immediate change that would be reflected in pricing adjustments for products sold by LCM Systems or Interface.

Will Interface and LCM change any support for the product?

Interface and LCM Systems will respectively continue with current support of all products, including customer service, sales, services and calibration, technical support and online support materials. We will work in coordination to provide the best support for all our customers and global sales networks around the world. 

Will my warranties still be in effect?

All products and services will continue to carry the full warranty and guarantees. Each company stands behind the quality and accuracy of our products. Our services teams will continue to support all RMA, calibration and warranty requests. 

Interface Warranty Info https://www.interfaceforce.com/support/#warranties

Will service quality and policies change?

No. Interface and LCM Systems will continue to manufacture products that meet precision-level specifications, supported by industry standard certifications and calibrations. These policies and quality standards are expected and will not waiver.

Will the quote you gave me still be honored?

Absolutely, the quotes provided by Interface and LCM Systems will not change. Every quote is provided with terms and those terms will be honored as defined in every quote.

Who do I call if I have a problem or concern?

Please direct all your questions as you’ve done in the past directly to Interface or LCM Systems. All information related to inquiries and contact can also be found on our respective websites, www.interfaceforce.com and www.lcmsystems.com.

Interface, Inc.
7418 East Helm Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona, US 85260
Email: contact@interfaceforce.com
https://www.interfaceforce.com/contact-us/ 
Interface Mailing & Shipping: 7401 E Butherus Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Toll Free: 800-947-5598 Phone:480-948-5555

LCM Systems Ltd
Unit 15, Newport Business Park, Barry Way, Newport, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom PO30 5GY
https://www.lcmsystems.com/contact-us
International: Tel +44 1983 249264  Fax +44 1983 249266
United Kingdom:Tel 01983 249264 Fax 01983 249266

What is the legal name of the new organization?

There is no change to the legal name of either organization at this time.

Where and to whom should invoices be sent now?

Please submit all invoices, payments and requests through the same established contacts at LCM Systems and/or Interface, Inc. There are no changes.

Interface is the world’s trusted leader in technology, design, and manufacturing of force measurement solutions. Our clients include a “who’s who” of the aerospace, automotive and vehicle, medical device, energy, manufacturing, test and measurement and industrial automation industries. Interface engineers around the world are empowered to create high-level tools and solutions that deliver consistent, high-quality performance. These products include load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, wireless telemetry, instrumentation, and calibration equipment. Interface, Inc., was founded in 1968 and is a U.S.-based woman-owned technology manufacturing company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

High Temperature Load Cells 101

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The temperature rating of a strain gage type load cell is primarily dependent upon the materials selected for its construction. While the load bearing element is normally good for a wide temperature range, the non-metallic materials in a load cell are quite sensitive to temperature extremes and must be carefully selected to ensure they can withstand high or low temperatures.

Considerations in designing the right solution for high temperatures includes understanding requirements for the strain gage materials, adhesives, and insulations. With any set of materials, performance at temperature extremes is frequently compromised, relative to performance at nominal temperatures.

Most Interface standard load cell models are rated for an upper operating temperature limit of 200°F. Special models can be engineered to operate as high as 500°F by request for customization. We also carry a line of intrinsically safe load cells that are designed and used in harsh environments.

Interface offers a range of high temperature load cells in different form factors, from miniature to jumbo, including:

Compensated temperature range is the range of temperature over which the load cell is compensated to maintain output and zero balance within specified limits. Operating temperature range is the extremes of ambient temperature within which the load cell will operate without permanent adverse change to any of its performance characteristics.

There are four parameters to consider when examining temperature performance of high temperature load cells.

  • Temperature Effect on Zero: The change in zero balance that is due to a change in ambient temperature. It is normally expressed as the slope of a chord spanning the compensated temperature range.
  • Temperature Effect on Output: The change in output that is due to a change in ambient temperature. It is normally expressed as the slope of a chord spanning the compensated temperature range. Note that output is defined as a net value, as the zero-load signal is always subtracted from the loaded signal.
  • Creep: The change in load cell signal that occurs with time while under load, and with all environmental conditions and other variables remaining constant. It is normally expressed in units of % of applied load over a specified time interval.
  • Zero Return: The degree to which the initial zero balance is maintained after application and release of a load, while environmental conditions and other variables remain constant.

Interface load cells are temperature compensated for zero balance. By compensating for zero balance, we can flatten the curve in the relationship between temperature and zero balance. An uncompensated load cell has a much more severe curve, which impacts the accuracy and overall performance. Read more in Understanding Load Cell Temperature Compensation.

Another consideration for utilizing load cells in high temperature environments or exposing load cells to high temperatures is the use of cables. Since cable resistance is a function of temperature, the cable response to temperature change affects the thermal span characteristics of a load cell cable system.  Interface recommends consulting with your application engineer to see if a 6-wire system can eliminate concerns. Also, for non-standard cable lengths, there will be an effect on thermal span performance. For long cable runs or high accuracy applications, this can be a significant factor.

Additional Resources

Hazardous Environment Solutions from Interface

Ruggedized Test and Measurement Solutions Webinar Recap

Coil Tubing Load Cells

Load Pins, Tension Links, & Shackles

 

Enclosures 101

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Individuals in the engineering and manufacturing world know Interface well for the reliability and accuracy of our force measurement products. However, some may not know that we also provide a wide variety of instrumentation and accessories for force measurement systems. One of those accessories that enhance the usability, durability, and ease of accessibility for force measurement products are enclosures.

Enclosures come in a wide variety of form factors and can be used for single or multiple products. Their purpose is to help in protecting devices, as well as facilitate easier mounting capabilities. They can also be used to combine multiple instruments to create a full measurement system for data recording and ongoing analysis.

Interface enclosures protect your sensor and instrumentation investments. They are durable for mobile force measurement solutions and are an easy-to-care for addition to any system.

There are a range of Interface enclosures, including NEMA rated options. NEMA ratings are a convenient system established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to rate how well various types of electrical enclosures protect against environmental hazards such as dust and dirt, water ingress (whether hose-directed, precipitation or submersion) and corrosion.

As detailed in our recent Ruggedized Test & Measurement Solutions webinar, here is a quick reference to NEMA ratings.

Single and Dual Instrument Enclosure

NEMA 4 Enclosure provides a convenient way to mount single and dual instruments (1/8 DIN Package) to walls and other vertical structures. Choose between bottom or rear exit cable glands. Both 110V and DC power options available.

Single and Dual Channel Internal Mount Enclosure

The internally mounted plastic NEMA 4 enclosure for 1/8 DIN single and dual instrumentation provides a convenient way to mount to walls and other vertical structures. This enclosure provides a greater degree of protection than other enclosures because the instrument is mounted behind a clear polycarbonate cover. The cover is secured with four screws. Includes bottom exit cable glands.

Interface Enclosure Examples

Special Purpose Wireless Enclosure

NEMA 4 Enclosure for 1 or more instruments (1/8 Din Package) that accommodates WTS Wireless Instrument Model WTS-9812 and related wireless antennas. Compatible with the Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) which includes sensor transmitters, receivers, and displays. High accuracy, high quality measurement is interfaced with simple yet powerful configuration and monitoring software. The WTS gives sensor manufacturers and integrators the complete flexibility to build their own sensor modules around it. The system easily replaces wired systems, reducing installation and maintenance costs. Connect wireless to one or more WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Wireless Load Cells.

Single Instrument Enclosure

This NEMA 4 Enclosure provides a convenient way to mount single instrument (1/8 DIN Package) to walls and other vertical structures. Choose between bottom or rear exit cable glands. Both 110V and DC power options available. The instrumentation panel of for this type of instrumentation are available for use with Interface Models 9825 General Purpose Indicator, 9890 Strain Gage Load Cell, Mv/V Indicator, 9894 Analog Input Process Indicator and others.

Dual Channel Benchtop Enclosure

Designed for benchtop and laboratory use, these enclosures provide an alternative to panel mounting of meters when an instrument panel is not available. Suitable for 1/8 DIN size dual instrumentation. Attractive, no-maintenance, black ABS polycarbonate material. They provide a finished instrument look to what would otherwise be isolated meters on a work bench or shelf. Cooling slits in top and bottom surfaces. Analog output connector option available.

Special Purpose Portable Systems

Custom Enclosure that can be built to accommodate customer requirement for any instrument or load cell type. Features and options available for custom system enclosures include:

  • Environmental Sealed Case with IP67 Rating
  • Custom Cut Foam Inserts
  • Instrumentation
  • Force Sensors – Standard, Engineered-to-Order and Custom
  • Cables and Connectors
  • Internal Battery Pack
  • Onboard Battery Charger
  • Internal
  • DC Power Charging Receptacle
  • AC Power Charging Receptacle
  • AC to DC Switch
  • Internal Cooling Fan

Watch to learn more

Rack Mount

Also available is a mounting rack that accommodates the BX8-HD15 BlueDAQ Series and BX8-HD44 BlueDAQ Series. The mounting rack holds up to five BX8 lab enclosures. Simultaneous acquisition and evaluation of measured values up to 40 channels with key guard and synchronization cable (included in delivery).

Enclosures provide special sealing options to protect instrumentation from harsh or hazardous conditions. They are a perfect pairing with using sealed sensors including Interface’s Load Cells, S-Type Load Cells and Load Beams, Miniature Load Cells and Load Buttons, Coil Tubing Load Cells, Load Washers, Load Pins, Tension Links and Shackles.

To learn more about our enclosure options, please contact our application engineers.

Enclosures Brochure

Stainless Steel Load Cells 101

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Different materials are used in designing and building force sensing products based on the environmental conditions. The choice of materials is important when considering specifications, test and measurement environment, and use case. One of the best metals for keeping environmental factors away from the electronics of a load cell is stainless steel.

The three main metals used in making load cells and other force sensing products is aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. The output signal performance for stainless steel load cells is in the middle of steel and aluminum standards.

The main benefit of stainless steel is the fact it is the best material to use in a corrosive environment because of the metal’s environmental resistance properties. The downside to stainless steel is that it is a bit more difficult to machine; however, it does only require a simple heat treatment process. It is also the most expensive metal of the three and has the highest hysteresis.

Why choose stainless steel over the more cost-effective steel and aluminum options, especially when it is not the strongest or provide the best signal output? Interface recommends stainless steel when the user needs to collect data from a load cell in a hazardous environment or under harsh conditions.

Interface offers stainless steel sensors as part of our hermetically sealed ruggedized load cell product lines. We make stainless steel load cells of all sizes and capacities, including stainless steel miniature load cells, load washers, and customized load pins. Using stainless steel not only keeps users safe, but it also allows for high-quality, accuracy and reliability in extreme environments.

These specialized load cells and force measurement solutions are designed and manufactured so that our products are safe for use in hazardous gas and dust environments when installed per applicable installation instructions. These components play an integral role in the safety of those working in dangerous environments in particular industries like oil and gas, mining, aerospace, automotive and more.

Some of our stainless-steel load cell options include:

To help keep individuals and workplaces safe, manufacturers create tools and equipment that are protected from the elements in these environments and will not expose electronics to hazardous environments. Interface’s contribution to this is our ruggedized load cells, many of which are made with stainless steel materials due to its strength in these harsh environments. We also carry a specialized line of intrinsically safe products.

There are hundreds of thousands of engineers and manufacturers that design solutions for or work in hazardous environments. Whether its operating inside of facilities with large machines with intricate moving parts, working hundreds of feet in the air repairing a bridge, or deep within a mine shaft, these professionals put themselves in danger every day by the nature of their work. The solutions they use to measure force must provide the type of specifications that are suited for these types of conditions.

To learn more about these products, join the conversation Ruggedized Solutions for Test & Measurement, where we discuss:

  • Defining Ruggedized
  • Environmental Stresses and Harsh Condition Categories
  • Standards and Ratings
  • Structural and Material Options
  • Ruggedized Test and Measurement Devices
  • Sealed Products and Enclosures
  • Extreme Temperatures and Cycling
  • Exposure to Moisture and Submersibles
  • Test and Measurement Applications Using Ruggedized Products
  • Do’s + Don’ts
  • FAQs

This is a live event that takes place Tuesday, November 15, 2022. To register or get a copy of the recorded event, go here.