That's why the retrofittable silo scale is the right solution for you
Are you familiar with these problems?
- You want to retrofit a scale on your silo or container.
- You are loading a truck or rail car from the silo. The truck is weighed on the vehicle scale and is 2.5 tons overloaded. This means driving back and time-consuming reloading of the material into the silo.
- Yesterday, the silo level measurement showed 30% content. Suddenly, the silo is empty and production has come to a standstill!
- Load cells for balancing and consumption measurement were not taken into account when the silo was installed.
The solution: Reliable content control based on weight instead of level measurement using radar, rope probes, ultrasound, or other volume measurements.
The best solution:
With the retrofittable silo scale, strain gauge sensors from Hense Wägetechnik are screwed onto the existing support structure of the silo.
The temperature-compensated sensors can be installed on double-T beams or pipe supports. The sensors detect the deformation of the silo supports, i.e., the compression during filling and the expansion during emptying of the silo. These minimal changes in length are converted into a precise weight signal.
The weight of the silo's contents is determined directly, as with a load cell measurement. Changes in bulk density or the distribution of the product in the silo, which can cause significant problems with level measurements, are irrelevant.
The strain gauge sensors measure the compression of the supports when the silo is filled and the elongation when the silo is emptied. The principle is analogous to load cells, in which the weight is determined by the deformation of a steel body.
Without any conversion or production downtime, you get accurate and reliable inventory control based on weight.
Folgende Unternehmen nutzen diese Lösung
Humana Milchunion
Degussa Wesseling
Mars/ Masterfood
Rockwool Deutschland GmbH
Installation: The sensors are attached to the silo support structure using high-strength machine screws by technicians from Hense Wägetechnik.
Measuring principle: The sensors detect changes in length due to compression, elongation, bending, or shearing on the support structure of silos or other components and machines. This change in length is proportional to the load on the support structure, for example, due to changing fill levels in the silo.
Precision through temperature compensation: Since the sensors measure length changes in the micrometer range, optimal temperature compensation is crucial. Hense Wägetechnik offers specific sensors for structural steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.
Result: The sensors are evaluated by special weighing electronics. The weight of the silo's contents is shown on a display and can be transferred to a control system or IT system via various standard interfaces.
With strain gauge sensors from Hense Wägetechnik, you get a reliable and economical solution for weighing your silo – without any costly modifications!
Do you have a question about the DMS sensor?
Our experts are here to help you with advice and assistance.
Folgende Unternehmen nutzen diese Lösung
Ludwig Weinrich GmbH
Kalksandsteinwerk Haltern
| Sensor: | Semiconductor – strain gauge |
| Power supply: | 5-12 VDC |
| Reproducibility: | 0.03 |
| Linearity: | 0.05% |
| Protection class sensor: | IP 65 |
| System accuracy: | Typically 2%, depending on support structure |
| Cable length: | 5 m |
| Material: | Steel, nickel-plated steel, or stainless steel |
| Display: | Bright, high-contrast OLED display |
| Power supply: | 115–240 V / 50 Hz 12–28 VDC |
| Input: | Max. 8 semiconductor strain gauge sensors |
| Outputs (optional): | RS 232/485/4 – 20mA / switching points / Profibus / Profinet / etc. |
| Housing: | Plastic or stainless steel |
| Protection class: | IP 67 |
| Mounting type: | Wall mounting or panel mounting |
| Operating temperature: | – 5°C – 45°C |
Why choose Hense Wägetechnik?
Fast response
High flexibility
Individual solutions & efficient standard systems
Qualified & free support
Reliable
Decades of experience
Inhouse product development
Maintenance-free products & simple commissioning
High availability & quality
The DMS sensors measure changes in length in steel structures. If the silo supports are extremely solid, the deformation (compression and elongation) may be so small that reliable measurement is not possible. In practice, this measuring system can be used for silos with a total weight of at least 10 t.
In addition, structural conditions, such as supports that are too short or the shared use of the steel structure by several silos, can impair the measurement accuracy or rule out measurement altogether. Hense Wägetechnik checks the feasibility for each application and estimates the expected measurement inaccuracy.
In principle, there are no fixed limits to the measuring range. The decisive factor is the surface load of the steel structure in kN/mm². Experience shows that this ratio is less favorable for very small silos and more suitable for precise measurement in large silos.
Once installed, DMS sensors are maintenance-free and do not require regular adjustment or servicing.
The measurement accuracy depends on the surface load, the design of the steel structure, and the number of sensors used. As a rule, the long-term error is around 1–2% of the silo content (e.g., +/- 0.5–1.0 t for a maximum filling capacity of 50 t). The so-called loading or short-term error is approximately 4–5 times lower. This makes the system a practical solution even for rapid truck loading.
For each new project, an individual calculation of the expected measurement accuracy is performed. This allows an assessment of whether the purpose of the measurement will be achieved and whether the investment in this system is economical.
No, structural modifications are not usually necessary. The sensors can be installed during ongoing operation; there is no need to interrupt production. The structural integrity of the silo is not affected or altered.
Yes, calibration is required. This involves precisely adjusting both the zero point and the sensitivity of the system to ensure accurate measurement. Calibration can also be performed at a later date after installation.