The KIMD Load Cell
Movable Load Point - Double Shear Beam - High Capacity Compression
KIMD-1 • KIMD-6 • KIMD-M • Up to 300+ Tonnes Per Cell • ATEX • Stainless Steel
Big Vessels Move. The KIMD Lets Them.
Large industrial vessels are not static. A 500-tonne silo or storage tank expands and contracts measurably between filling cycles, between day and night, between summer and winter. Conventional compression load cells transfer that lateral movement straight into the sensing element — and the result is non-linearity, side-load error, and accelerated wear of the cell.
The BLH Nobel KIMD load cell solves this with an integrated movable load point. The vessel can shift horizontally as it heats, cools, fills, and empties — the load cell absorbs the motion and continues to measure only the vertical force. No separate rocker pin, no sliding plate assembly, no pendulum mount required.
Combined with a robust double shear beam sensing element, an operating temperature range of −40 °C to +100 °C, optional ATEX certification for hazardous areas, and optional stainless steel construction, the KIMD is the BLH Nobel standard for silo weighing, tank weighing, vessel weighing, and large process weighing applications across heavy industry.
Core Features
ENGINEERING FOR BIG LOADS IN HARSH CONDITIONS
Each KIMD feature solves a measurable problem in bulk storage, process weighing, and hazardous-area installations:
- Integrated Movable Load Point: Lateral thermal expansion of the vessel is absorbed within the cell itself — no separate rocker pins, sliding plates, or pendulum mounts required.
- Double Shear Beam Sensing Element: Three-section sensing element with strain gauges on the two outer sections. Rejects bending moments and parasitic stresses for stable, repeatable signals under dynamic process conditions.
- High Capacity Construction: Up to 300 tonnes per cell as standard, with custom higher capacities engineered to order. Suitable for the largest silos, tanks, and reactor vessels in heavy industry.
- No Additional Mounting Hardware: Installs directly between the vessel foot and the structural base — no separate mounting kit, rocker assembly, or anti-uplift hardware required for standard installations.
- Extended Temperature Range −40 to +100 °C: Qualifying the KIMD as an outdoor load cell for unheated silos, sub-Arctic installations, agricultural facilities, and solar-loaded metal vessels in industrial yards.
- ATEX Hazardous Area Version: Available for installation in classified explosive atmospheres — chemical plants, petrochemical storage, solvent zones, pharmaceutical bulk-handling areas.
- Stainless Steel Option: Corrosion-resistant construction for chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and hygienic applications. Resists cleaning chemicals, humid atmospheres, and chemical attack.
- Rugged Harsh Environment Design: Built to survive industrial reality: shock loading, vibration, dust, moisture, and continuous duty in bulk material handling environments.
- Overload Protection (KIMD-6): Mechanical safety margin built in to limit damage from accidental over-fills, dynamic shock during material drop, and uplift events — protecting both the cell and the surrounding structure.
KIM in Action
Representative deployments drawn from the process industries where BLH Nobel customers most often specify the KIM load cell:
Agitated Reactor Weight Control
A chemical producer needed accurate weight measurement on agitated reactor vessels where impeller-driven lateral motion was causing measurable drift in the existing compression load cell installation.
Specifying KIM load cells eliminated the rocker pin layer entirely. The cell's integrated movable load point and very high lateral force resistance absorbed the agitator-driven side forces while preserving vertical weight accuracy — simplifying the mechanical design and removing a recurring maintenance item.
See all KIM ProductsBulk Material Throughput Measurement
A bulk material handling operator required precise belt scale measurement on a continuous conveyor moving high tonnages per hour, with cyclic dynamic loads and vibration from drive motors.
KIM load cells installed under the weighing idler section delivered the precision required for accurate throughput accounting while withstanding the cyclic loading and vibration of continuous belt operation. The integrated cable simplified installation in the dusty conveyor environment.
See all KIM ProductsPrecision Storage Weighing
A process manufacturer needed accurate inventory measurement on ingredient storage silos feeding downstream batch operations, suffering from drift caused by silo structural deflection and temperature swings.
KIM load cells installed beneath the silo supports provided recipe-grade inventory data. The movable load point absorbed structural deflections that had caused measurement drift, and the cells installed without additional mounting hardware — simplifying the retrofit on production silos.
See all KIM ProductsAt a Glance
KIMD Load Cell - Specifications
Mechanical & Design
|
Variants |
KIMD-1, KIMD-6, KIMD-M |
|
Sensing Principle |
Double shear beam — three-section sensing element |
|
Load Point |
Integrated movable load point (no rocker pin required) |
|
Capacity Range |
High capacity — up to 300 T per cell standard, custom higher available |
|
Mounting Hardware |
None required for standard installation |
|
Construction Material |
Plated steel standard; stainless steel option |
|
Customisation |
Custom load buttons, dimensions, and capacities engineered to order |
Environmental & Certifications
|
Operating Temperature |
Standard range; extended −40 °C to +100 °C option |
|
Outdoor Installation |
Suitable — extreme temperature option available |
|
Hazardous Area |
ATEX-certified version available for explosive atmospheres |
|
Corrosion Resistance |
Plated steel standard; stainless steel option for aggressive media |
|
Service Environment |
Bulk storage, process, chemical, food, mining, harbor |
|
Overload Protection |
Mechanical safety margin built in (KIMD-6 in particular) |
|
Compatible Instruments |
BLH Nobel G5 / G6 process control instruments |
INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
WHERE THE KIMD LOAD CELL PERFORMS
The KIMD is the BLH Nobel standard wherever large vessels must be weighed accurately in real-world industrial conditions. The following sectors deploy it most frequently:
Mining & Minerals
As a rugged bulk storage load cell, the KIMD handles iron pellet silos, ore bunkers, crusher feed weighing, and harbor-side loading silos. Built to withstand impact loading from material drop, abrasive dust ingress, and the temperature swings of outdoor installations.
- Iron pellet silos and ore storage bunkers
- Harbor-side loading silos
- Crusher feed weighing
Chemical & Petrochemical
The KIMD's ATEX-certified version makes it the natural silo weighing load cell and tank weighing load cell for chemical and petrochemical bulk storage in classified areas. The movable load point handles thermal expansion of large reactor vessels.
- ATEX storage tanks and reactor vessels
- Bulk chemical silos
- Solvent storage in classified zones
Agriculture & Animal Feed
A workhorse silo weighing solution for grain silos, animal feed bins, fertiliser storage, and seed handling facilities. The extended temperature option (−40 to +100 °C) is essential for outdoor agricultural installations.
- Grain silos and animal feed bins
- Fertiliser and seed storage
- Outdoor weather-exposed installations
Cement & Building Materials
A heavy duty load cell for cement silos, aggregate bins, lime storage, and ready-mix concrete batching. Combines high capacity, thermal expansion handling, and overload protection in a single component.
- Cement silos and aggregate bins
- Lime and limestone storage
- Ready-mix concrete batching
Pulp & Paper
For pulp digester vessel weighing, stock chest weighing, and chemical storage tanks in pulp and paper mills, the KIMD-M variant provides the accuracy and thermal expansion tolerance needed for steam-heated process vessels.
- Pulp digester vessels
- Stock chest weighing
- Chemical storage tanks
Food & Beverage
A sanitary hopper weighing load cell and vessel weighing load cell for flour silos, sugar storage, ingredient hoppers, mixing tanks, and beverage process vessels. The stainless steel KIMD variant handles washdown environments.
- Flour, sugar, and ingredient silos
- Mixing tanks and process vessels
- Beverage and brewing applications
Why Choose the KIMD?
The KIMD offers clear advantages over standard compression load cells in large-vessel weighing applications:
|
Capability |
KIMD |
Standard Compression Cell |
|
Thermal Expansion Handling |
✓ Integrated movable load point |
✗ Separate rocker pin required |
|
Mounting Accessories Required |
✓ None for standard installation |
Base plate / rocker assembly kit |
|
Extended Temp −40 to +100 °C |
✓ Standard option |
Often limited or unavailable |
|
ATEX Hazardous Area Version |
✓ Certified variant available |
Requires separate certification |
|
Stainless Steel Construction |
✓ Available |
Variable availability |
|
High Capacity (≥300 T per cell) |
✓ Standard + custom higher |
Frequently requires custom build |
|
Combined Overload Protection |
✓ Built-in (KIMD-6) |
External hardware needed |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ENGINEERS ASK US MOST ABOUT KIMD Load Cell
Which load cell is easiest to install under existing large tanks and silos without major structural modifications?
The KIMD load cell is purpose-designed for this scenario. Unlike conventional compression load cells that require a separate rocker pin assembly, base plate kit, or sliding plate mount to handle thermal expansion and side loads, the KIMD installs directly between the vessel foot and the structural base — with no additional mounting accessories for standard installations. The integrated movable load point absorbs lateral motion within the cell itself, eliminating an entire layer of mechanical hardware. On retrofit projects this typically translates into faster commissioning, lower installed cost, and significantly less structural rework. The 1,200-ton iron pellet silo case study above is a representative example: the KIMD-M was specified in part because its low profile and customisable load button allowed it to fit the customer's existing silo structures without modification.
Which load cell is recommended for very large silo, tank, and vessel weighing applications with high load capacities?
The KIMD family — and the KIMD-M variant in particular — is the BLH Nobel recommended solution for high capacity load cell applications in large silos, tanks, and process vessels. Standard capacities reach 300 tonnes per cell, with custom higher capacities engineered to order. The KIMD-1 handles the largest weighing loads with a movable load point design, the KIMD-6 adds overload protection for environments where shock loads are routine, and the KIMD-M combines high accuracy with the same movable load point for precision bulk weighing. Together they cover essentially every large-vessel weighing requirement in mining, chemical, agricultural, cement, pulp and paper, and food industries. For weighing applications that exceed even the KIMD range — such as steel mill ladle and tundish weighing — the BLH Nobel CLC load cell is the next step up in the product line.
Can the load cell be installed outdoors with extreme temperature variation between −40 °C and +100 °C without compensation?
Yes. The KIMD is available with an extended operating temperature range of −40 °C to +100 °C, which covers the full range of practical outdoor industrial installations — from sub-Arctic winter conditions in northern Sweden and Finland, to solar-heated metal silos in southern European summers, to unheated process buildings in industrial yards. The cell is engineered to maintain measurement accuracy across this range without requiring external temperature compensation hardware. Combined with the integrated movable load point — which absorbs the lateral thermal expansion of the vessel itself — the KIMD is one of the few standard compression load cells that can be specified for outdoor bulk storage with no environmental compromises. The iron pellet harbor silo installation referenced in the case study above is a practical example of the KIMD operating year-round in a northern Swedish climate.
Which load cell handles thermal expansion of large tanks, silos, and vessels without losing accuracy or requiring rocker pins?
The KIMD's defining feature is its integrated movable load point. Large vessels heat and cool, fill and empty, and expand and contract laterally as a result. Conventional compression cells transfer that horizontal motion straight into the sensing element — producing non-linearity, side-load error, and accelerated wear that eventually requires recalibration or sensor replacement. The standard industry workaround is to install a separate rocker pin or sliding plate between the cell and the vessel, which adds hardware cost, installation time, and a wear part to maintain. The KIMD absorbs that lateral motion within the cell itself — the rocker function is engineered into the load point geometry. The vessel can move; the load cell measures only the vertical force. The result is stable accuracy over years of service without rocker pin hardware, simpler bills of materials, and lower long-term maintenance cost. This is also why the KIMD is the BLH Nobel default specification under the company's Thermal Expansion Weighing application category.
NEED HELP SELECTING THE RIGHT KIMD LOAD CELL FOR YOUR APPLICATION?
Our application engineers help you select the right KIMD variant, capacity, certification package, mounting configuration, and compatible instrumentation for your specific vessel — mining, chemical, agricultural, cement, pulp and paper, or food industry.
