ABB Horizontal Measuring PFTL 101

Measurement made easy Web tension systems Quality tension measurement for quality tension control

 • Accurate • Rugged • Reliable

Pressductor PillowBlock load cells 

Introduction

ABB’s Pressductor® PillowBlock load cells are sensitive and accurate yet rugged, reliable and compact. The performace of the Pressductor PillowBlock load cells is unsurpassed for paper mill applications characterized by heavy rolls, high speeds and severe conditions – in some instances they are the only viable option. They can withstand high overloads and vibrations, and operate over a wide range of tensions. 

The well-proven Pressductor load cells combined with the tension electronics, offer an easy-to-use/ user-friendly web tension measurement system with superior long term performance leading to higher productivity and product quality and higher profit for the web producer.

Increased process uptime 

In a web process running continuously, every minute of production time is precious. Even so, no production line runs without downtime. With Pressductor PillowBlock load cells the risk of web breaks can be reduced to a minimum, thus leaving as much time as possible for real production.

Thanks to a strong and stable signal deriving from the Pillow-Block load cells, the upcoming web breaks are kept to an absolute minimum level.

Tighter product tolerances

The ability to produce web to tighter tolerances minimizes the costs associated with nonconforming web. It also increases the web producer’s accessible market to include products with tighter tolerance requirements.

Pressductor PillowBlock load cells 

Ideal for paper and converting industry

Designers appreciate: • Remarkably high spring constant • Wide measurement range • High reliability

Operators value a load cell with: • No drift • No need for recalibration • No failures • High reliability

Measurement essentials 

Keeping the tension constant in web processes is essential for high product quality and productivity. Continuously measuring the tension is an obvious prerequisite for tension control. Drives and operator instruments need quick and accurate input to regulate tension levels and monitor machine performance

Most web processing lines put a premium on long-term reliability, in addition to accuracy and overall performance. The measurement system, after all, is the front line of machine control, exposed to all the rigors of the operating environment. The costs associated with downtime and poor product bring out the true value of its components.

Quality measurement technology for superior tension control that will keep your processing lines productive and producing top-notch output – that’s what you can expect from us. We’re entirely devoted to providing process measurement systems and services, and we have 60 years of experience in the field. We are the experts in web and strip tension as well as force measurement for virtually any purpose

Selecting and sizing load cells 

The two types of ABB PillowBlock load cells are designed for either conventional vertical force measurement or for sensing the horizontal force component that may arise as the processed material partially wraps around a measurement roll.

Using the horizontal load cells can be quite advantageous. By design, they can be made exceptionally sturdy, rugged, and stiff. So, requirements for recalibration, other maintenance, or replacement are negligible, and they do not contribute to machine vibration. Since they don’t measure the tare weight, but just the horizontal force component of the web tension, they can be sized smaller than otherwise possible, measuring tension with greater accuracy.

Extended-range operation 

An extended range of measurement beyond the nominal load allows the PillowBlock to be sized for normal, as opposed to maximum tension levels. As a result, they permit greater application flexibility on the processing machinery.

Application requirements may dictate the selection of a vertical load cell. But whenever an adequate horizontal force component is present (or can be developed), the horizontal load cell should be considered.