Manufacturing of the StrainCell force sensor and turnkey silo weighing systems with NivoVIEW software
Strain Systems Europe GmbH
Cologne (Venloer Straße 511-513) · Cologne (Samariterstraße 5)New on Amplifa
About Strain Systems Europe
Strain Systems Europe GmbH, based in Cologne, manufactures the patented StrainCell force sensor, which measures the level of containers and silos by weighing. The StrainCell detects force effects across 360° and is therefore mechanically and electronically temperature-compensated. Production is carried out in quality stainless steel on a dual-axis CNC lathe with permissible tolerances of 0.002 mm; the sensors are fitted with gold wires under a microscope, followed by soldering, functional tests and temperature tests up to serial numbering. Up to 8 StrainCells can be used per silo; the NivoVIEW software manages incoming and outgoing goods, level curves and inventories. The range of services extends from component supply to retrofitting existing systems to turnkey systems including design consulting, maintenance contracts and financing models. Areas of application include cement and salt silos as well as bulk solids technology.
- Site
- Köln
- Processes
- CNC turning (dual-axis CNC automatic lathe), Maintenance and after-sales service (maintenance contracts), Design consulting (consulting on designs), Level measurement/silo weighing (silo with up to 8 StrainCells, visualization via NivoVIEW), Complete solutions (turnkey systems), Retrofitting of existing systems, Consulting on designs, Maintenance contracts / after-sales service
- Materials
- Quality stainless steel, Gold (gold wires), Copper (copper wires), Dual-axis CNC automatic lathe
- Certificates
- 100% inspection of the pressure cap, Functional and measurement data inspection per StrainCell, Temperature testing, ISO 9001
- Industries
- Bulk solids / silo technology, Cement, Salt / winter services, Container and silo weighing
- 01
CNC turning of the mechanical components made of stainless steel
- 02
Fitting of the sensors with gold wires under the microscope
- 03
Soldering of the gold wires and connection of the copper wires
- 04
Multiple tests and temperature tests
- 05
Production finalization: housing, electronics, pressure cap, measuring frame
- 06
Final inspection of all measurement data and serial numbering
- 07
Installation and commissioning at the customer's site (incl. retrofitting of
- 08
Maintenance and after-sales service
Materials and Manufacturing
Quality stainless steel
From a bar of quality stainless steel, the pressure cap, measuring frame and housing parts of the StrainCell are manufactured on a dual-axis CNC lathe.
Gold (gold wires)
Gold wires are used to fit the four sensors (gages) on the measuring frame under the microscope.
Copper (copper wires)
Copper wires conduct the measurement signals from the soldered gold wires to the electronics.
Dual-axis CNC automatic lathe
Manufacturing of the precise StrainCell components such as measuring frame and pressure cap from solid material.
Locations
Cologne – Venloer Straße 511-513
DEHead office
- Materials
- Stainless steel, gold, copper
- Dual-axis CNC automatic lathe (turning machine)
Cologne – Samariterstraße 5
DELocation (according to company brochure / measuring method PDF)
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC turning (dual-axis CNC automatic lathe)Machining | 0.002 mm | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Testing | 0.002 mm | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Gold, Copper |
| Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Maintenance and after-sales service (maintenance contracts)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design consulting (consulting on designs)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Level measurement/silo weighing (silo with up to 8 StrainCells, visualization via NivoVIEW)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-axis CNC automatic lathe (turning machine) | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The production of the StrainCell consists of precise, controlled work steps under laboratory conditions: the pressure cap undergoes 100% inspection, and at the end of the process each finished StrainCell is checked for function and all measurement data after multiple tests and temperature tests and is assigned a serial number.
| Evidence | Cologne |
|---|---|
| 100% inspection of the pressure cap | |
| Functional and measurement data inspection per StrainCell | |
| Temperature testing | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2014
Trade journal 'Schüttgut' (5/2014) reports on silo automation with the NivoVIEW software
Gerhard M. Middendorf takes over worldwide sales and production of the StrainCell at a contract handover in Seattle, USA