PetFood PRO 2/2024

PACKAGING
Challenging environments
drive a need for reliable
weighing solutions
In some industries, the working
environment can be exceptionally
demanding, and the meat rendering
industry is a prime example of this. Anders
Juul, who has been a part of this industry
for more than two decades, has witnessed
firsthand how the technology used in
different load cells can impact day-to-day
operations.
Operating in meat production facilities
can be challenging, with the pervasive
presence of ammonia fumes and animal
fats on most surfaces. These conditions
create a particularly harsh environment
for any load cell system and cause load
cell cables to disintegrate after a few years.
This scenario poses a significant challenge
for weighing solutions, emphasizing the
need for accurate and robust equipment
to endure these tough conditions.
Typically, a meat rendering machine
from Oestergaard A/S is installed on four
compression load cells and must operate
under the following conditions:
• A total working weight of up to 200 tons
• Internal working temperatures ranging
from 40°C to 180°C
• Horizontal expansion of the machine, of
up to 20 mm
• Welding on machines during installation
often occurs
The Eilersen capacitive load cells have
proven remarkably reliable over the years,
with several beneficial features compared
to traditional strain gauge load cells.
For machines using Eilersen digital load
cells, it is possible to monitor the load
distribution on each load cell which is
beneficial to ensure correct installation.
The individual Eilersen digital load cells
even send an error code if maintenance
should be required for fast and easy
trouble-shooting. But apart from features,
it is the durability of Eilersen load cells that
seems to impress customers experienced
in weighing technology. Even though
it is not recommended, employees at
Oestergaard A/S often need to weld on
or close to machines installed on load
cells. Anders Juul, Project Manager at
Oestergaard A/S explains:
“Often, welding is required during
the installation process, which often
damages a strain gauge load cell, causing
expensive delays as we need to order
express delivery of replacement load cells
to customer sites. However, we have not
experienced damaging the Eilersen load
cells since we started using them many
years ago, even when welding on the
machines.”
Eilersen load cells installed a decade or
more ago — some even 30 years back
— have been operating with the same
accuracy and reliability as when they
were new, despite being exposed to high
horizontal loads and frequent overloads.
Reducing downtime using
digital capacitive load cells
The possibility of replacing load cell cable
on Eilersen load cells without needing
to change or recalibrate the weighing
system makes them optimal for harsh
meat rendering environments, where
load cell cables often have a lifespan of
only four to six years. These features, along
with their consistent performance over
time, not only showcase the exceptional
longevity of Eilersen load cells but
also their dependability, especially in
challenging environments like the meat
rendering industry. Anders Juul highlights
the advantages of being able to replace
load cell cables on-site without the need
for recalibration of the system. He shares
his experience with Eilersen capacitive
load cells, saying:
“We encounter no issues when using
Eilersen load cells. Eilersen provides a
reliable weighing system that’s not only a
breeze for us to work with but also instills
confidence in our customers who rely on
the load cells in day-to-day operations.
From planning to installation, the process
is always smooth sailing. If something
goes wrong after commissioning, and we
need to replace a load cell cable, we can
easily do so without replacing the entire
load cell.”
Expertise as a Service
In the meat rendering industry, everything
must go according to plan — always. But
sometimes, unforeseen issues arise, and
quick action and support is necessary.
Anders is confident that there won’t ever
be such an incident when using Eilersen.
However, when Oestergaard A/S needs
any assistance, expertise and first-class
support is always available as a service.
“If we ever need help, we just pick up
the phone and call Eilersen. I’m only one
phone call away from talking to someone
who understands the situation and can
help solve any issue. Having access to
such expertise is critical for my role and
our clients.”
Eilersen Capacitive Load Cells
While strain gauge load cells measure
the change of resistance and strain of the
load cell body, the capacitive technology
instead measures the change of distance
between the load cell body and an
internal ceramic sensor. This patented
contactless measurement principle makes
the capacitive weighing technology able
to tolerate extremely high overloads,
side loads, torsional forces, and welding
voltages.
The capacitive load cells were invented
at Eilersen and have been thoroughly
tested and proven over 50 years. Eilersen
load cells are known for being robust,
accurate, and reliable. They are used
in various industrial applications and
industries ranging from offshore, logistics
to the biopharma industry. The load cells
are produced in stainless steel, are laser
welded, and are an obvious choice for
industries due to their hygienic design
(IP68), digital output, and high overload
tolerance.
About Eilersen Electric A/S
Since its foundation in 1969, Eilersen
Electric A/S has been dedicated to
developing, manufacturing, and
supplying high-quality, robust load
cells based on capacitive technology for
measuring force and weight. Eilersen
products are developed, manufactured,
and individually calibrated in Denmark
at the Eilersen ISO 9001:2015 certified
manufacturing facilities.
Eilersen – Made in Denmark,
Trusted Worldwide
At Eilersen we continuously invest in
quality, product development, and
unmatched customer support. This is why
Eilersen is known worldwide and delivers
to leading companies and customers in
90+ countries.
Technology & Marketing
For more information
www.EilerCal.com
Issue 2 2024
41