Metal Weighing Solutions

From Ore to Finished Product — Complete Measurement Coverage

Steel and aluminum production puts extreme demands on measurement equipment. High temperatures, heavy vibration, electromagnetic interference, dust, and scale — these are not edge cases, they are the daily reality of a steel mill. Standard industrial weighing systems simply were not designed for this.

BLH Nobel has been a turnkey weighing supplier to the steel industry for decades. Our load cells, tensiometers, instruments, and complete process weighing systems are designed and built specifically to meet the challenges of measuring in rough environments. That is why our products are proven to be robust, reliable, and easy to use.

We offer both standard and custom-made systems for force measurement, strip tension, and process weighing — covering every step of the metal production process. Our engineers support you through the full lifecycle of your solution.

Built for the Harshest Conditions on the Floor

• HIGH TEMPERATURE LOAD CELLS Engineered for steel furnace environments with ambient temperature compensation up to 105°C and robust ingress protection.
  • KIS load cells with high IP protection rating
  • Robust construction for continuous operation
  • Suitable for pusher-type and normalizing furnaces
  • Custom cells available up to 2 metres in length
• CUSTOM LOAD CELL DESIGN When standard cells do not fit, BLH Nobel designs and manufactures custom solutions — including replacement units for legacy equipment.
  • Capacities up to 40 MN
  • Washer-type cells for rolling mills
  • Drop-in retrofit options for existing machines
  • Special one-off designs for unique applications
• STRIP TENSION MEASUREMENT Dynamic resultant force measurement for hot rolling, cold rolling, and galvanizing lines. ATEX-certified for furnace and coating areas.
  • FMU and PST sensors using standard KIS load cells
  • Typical accuracy of ±0.1% FSD
  • ATEX certified — hazardous environment approved
  • Short lead times and low maintenance downtime
• CRANE OVERLOAD PROTECTION BLH Nobel offers crane overload protection solutions designed to help meet relevant regulatory requirements, configured for a range of crane applications.
  • Designed with Performance Level PLd in mind (EN ISO 13849-1)
  • Developed towards Safety Integrity Level SIL2 (IEC 61508)
  • Life Cycle Monitoring software available for cranes
  • Configurable for cranes with multiple hoist setups
• OIML CERTIFIED WEIGHING Where legal-for-trade weighing is required, BLH Nobel instruments are available with OIML, FM, and CE certification.
  • Optional OIML certification for coil weighing systems
  • G Series instruments in OIML/FM/CE certified versions
  • Meets legal-for-trade requirements globally
  • Lightweight flat semi-platform — no trench required
• INDUSTRIAL WEIGHING — MINIMAL DOWNTIME Tensiometers and load cells engineered for close to zero maintenance. Standard components shorten lead times on replacements.
  • Standard KIS cells — widely stocked, fast to replace
  • Embedded web server for remote diagnostics
  • Up to 800 measurement updates per second
  • Full on-site installation, commissioning, and support

Covering Every Step of the Steel Production Chain

From the coke plant to the shipping dock, BLH Nobel provides measurement solutions at every critical point in the steel mill production flowchart.

• 01–03  COKE PLANT, BLAST FURNACE & TORPEDO WEIGHING Accurate mineral and coke weighing at the blast furnace stage is critical for controlling raw material input and reducing waste. BLH Nobel coke plant weighing systems and torpedo (cigar) weighing solutions handle high capacities in some of the most extreme dust and heat conditions found in any industrial process.
  
  COKE WEIGHING   MINERAL WEIGHING   TORPEDO WEIGHING
• 04–09  CONVERTER, LADLE, TUNDISH & CRANE WEIGHING
  Precise measurement at the liquid steel stage directly affects alloy composition, yield, and process efficiency. BLH Nobel converter weighing systems scale from small ladle furnaces to large converter scales. Ladle and tundish weighing supports correct steel volume control during continuous casting. Crane weighing solutions can be complemented with overload protection modules developed with SIL and PL regulations in mind.
  
  CONVERTER WEIGHING SYSTEM   LADLE WEIGHING SYSTEM   TUNDISH WEIGHING   CRANE OVERLOAD PROTECTION
• 10–15  BILLET WEIGHING, STRIP TENSION & FURNACE MEASUREMENT
  Billet weighing systems support both conveyor weighing and lift-to-weigh installations, and allow cutting of billets by weight for precise downstream inventory. Strip tension systems for hot rolling, cold rolling, and galvanizing lines use standard KIS load cells for easy maintenance and fast replacement. Furnace weighing covers pusher-type, quenching, tempering, and normalizing furnaces.
  
  BILLET WEIGHING   STRIP TENSION MEASUREMENT   FURNACE WEIGHING   ROLLER STRAIGHTENING
• 16–19  SCRAP, COIL & DELIVERY WEIGHING
  Coil weighing systems offer a price-competitive lightweight flat semi-platform solution — no trench required — that maximises the weigh-to-tare ratio and optimises system accuracy. Optional OIML certification is available for legal-for-trade applications. Scrap weighing and goods terminal weighing complete the coverage from raw input to finished product dispatch.
  
  COIL WEIGHING SYSTEM   SCRAP WEIGHING   OIML CERTIFIED WEIGHING   ALUMINUM PRODUCTION WEIGHING
  
   

Answers for engineers and plant managers

How do I choose the right load cell for my steel application?
Start with four parameters: required capacity, environmental exposure (temperature, moisture, dust), mounting constraints, and accuracy class. For most steel plant applications this means a compression or shear-beam load cell rated to match your process load, with a high IP protection rating and temperature compensation. BLH Nobel engineers can specify the right cell from our standard range — or design a custom unit up to 40 MN and 2 metres in length if the application demands it.

How do vibration and electromagnetic noise affect weighing accuracy?
Both are common sources of measurement error in steel environments. Vibration from rolling mills and cranes creates dynamic side-loads that introduce noise into the load cell signal. Nearby variable-frequency drives, welding equipment, and large motors generate electromagnetic interference. BLH Nobel G Series instruments include advanced signal filtering and shielding. Proper mounting and cable routing — part of our on-site commissioning process — eliminates most interference at source.

Can load cells withstand high temperatures in steel furnaces?
Yes — but only if specified correctly. Standard load cells are not rated for furnace environments. BLH Nobel KIS load cells used in billet weighing applications include ambient temperature compensation up to 105°C and robust ingress protection. For strip tension in furnace lines, our ATEX-certified FMU and PST sensors are specifically designed for high-temperature, potentially explosive atmospheres such as furnace interiors and galvanizing coating lines.

What is OIML certification and do I need it for legal-for-trade weighing?
OIML (Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale) is the international standard for weighing instruments used in commercial transactions. If your weighing system is used for invoicing, customs, or any transaction where the measured weight has legal or financial consequences — such as delivery weighing or coil weighing for customer billing — OIML certification is typically required by law. BLH Nobel coil weighing systems and G Series instruments are available in OIML-certified versions.

Ready to Specify your Weighing System?

Our engineers are available to assess your application and recommend the right solution — standard or custom. Full on-site installation, commissioning, and long-term support included.