ABB PFTL101A 1.0kN Load Cell / Pressductor Sensor

Features and Advantages

The ABB PFTL101A 1.0kN is a Pressductor-type load cell designed for tension and force measurement in industrial automation, process control, and heavy-duty manufacturing systems. Leveraging ABB’s patented Pressductor® technology, this sensor delivers exceptional accuracy, stability, and resistance to mechanical and electrical disturbances.

Key advantages include:

Outstanding Linearity and Repeatability: Ensures highly accurate force readings across the full measurement range.

Maintenance-Free Operation: No moving parts, ensuring minimal wear and long service life.

High Overload Capacity: Can withstand substantial mechanical stress without performance degradation.

Electromagnetic Immunity: Immune to temperature drift and electromagnetic interference.

Compact and Robust Design: Suitable for harsh environments in steel, paper, and manufacturing industries.

Proven ABB Quality: Backed by decades of experience in industrial sensor technology.

Overview

The PFTL101A 1.0kN belongs to ABB’s Pressductor Load Cell series, engineered for accurate tension and force measurement in demanding applications such as rolling mills, web tension control, paper machines, and wire drawing.

Unlike conventional strain gauge sensors, ABB’s Pressductor sensors utilize electromagnetic field changes in a steel core to measure applied mechanical force. This unique operating principle ensures high precision and robustness even in environments with vibration, dust, or electrical noise.

Technical Specifications

Structure & Composition

The PFTL101A 1.0kN consists of a solid steel core equipped with two pairs of excitation and sensing windings. When force is applied, the magnetic permeability of the steel changes, causing a measurable signal change in the secondary winding.

Key structural elements include:

Magnetic Core: Transduces force into a measurable electromagnetic signal.

Coil Assembly: Generates and detects magnetic field variations.

Hermetically Sealed Housing: Protects the internal components against moisture and contaminants.

Mounting Base: Allows integration into machine structures such as rollers or frames.

This design eliminates friction, hysteresis, and deformation errors common in strain-gauge-based sensors.

Applications

The ABB PFTL101A 1.0kN is widely used in:

Metals Industry: Tension control in rolling mills and strip lines.

Paper and Pulp Mills: Web tension control in paper machines and winders.

Textile and Plastic Film Lines: Consistent tension measurement for quality control.

Cable and Wire Production: Continuous monitoring of draw or winding tension.

Test Benches: Accurate force feedback in laboratory and industrial testing setups.

Its durability and precision make it ideal for continuous, real-time measurement in both static and dynamic applications.

Installation & Maintenance

Installation:

Mount the load cell on a flat, rigid surface using ABB’s recommended hardware.

Ensure alignment to avoid side loads that may affect accuracy.

Connect the excitation and signal wires to the measurement amplifier or controller.

Perform a zero-load calibration before applying force.

Verify system output with known reference loads.

Maintenance:

The Pressductor design requires virtually no maintenance.

Periodically inspect cable connections and mounting bolts.

Keep the sensor surface clean and free from metallic debris.

Recalibrate annually for optimal accuracy in critical applications.

Additional Information

The ABB PFTL101A 1.0kN complies with IEC, CE, and RoHS standards. Each unit undergoes factory calibration and quality testing to ensure conformance with ABB’s precision and durability requirements.

With its unique electromagnetic sensing technology, the PFTL101A 1.0kN offers unmatched stability, ruggedness, and measurement reliability, making it a leading choice for industrial tension and force measurement across the world.