The KOSD Load Cell
Movable Load Point - Rugged and Compact Cylindrical Force Transducer — Built for Cranes, Offshore, and On-Board Weighing
KOSD • KOSD-40 • Force Measurement • Harsh Environment • Easy Replacement • Customizable
Force Measurement Where It's Hardest to Reach
Cranes, offshore platforms, mobile equipment, and vehicle-mounted weighing systems share a common problem: they need precise, reliable force measurement in environments where most load cells will not survive. Saltwater spray, continuous vibration, dynamic shock from lifting or road conditions, temperature swings, and the practical reality that a failed sensor on a crane or offshore deck is far more expensive than the sensor itself — these conditions defeat the typical industrial load cell.
The BLH Nobel KOSD load cell is engineered specifically for this category. Available as the standard KOSD and the KOSD-40 variant, the cell combines a robust cylindrical form factor, force-measurement-grade accuracy, easy installation, and — critically — a geometry that allows fast, in-place replacement when service is needed. The standard cell can be customised to specific harsh-environment requirements, making it the right starting point for OEMs and operators with non-standard mechanical envelopes or certification demands.
The KOSD is BLH Nobel's recommended choice for lifting force measurement on cranes and hoists, force monitoring on offshore platforms and marine installations, on-board weighing in vehicles and mobile equipment, and custom industrial force-measurement applications in mining, heavy equipment, and process industries.
Core Features
ENGINEERING FOR LIFTING, OFFSHORE, and MOBILE SERVICE
Each KOSD feature directly addresses a measurable challenge in crane, offshore, and on-board weighing applications:
- Cylindrical Force-Transducer Geometry: The cylindrical body integrates directly into crane hooks, rope anchors, sheave assemblies, lifting points, suspension members, and mobile equipment hardware — fitting the geometry of the machine rather than forcing the machine to fit the sensor.
- Easy and Immediate Installation: Designed for fast, low-skill installation — critical on greenfield crane builds, offshore retrofit campaigns, and OEM vehicle production lines where installation time directly drives project cost.
- Fast In-Place Replacement: The cylindrical form factor lets the cell be removed and a new unit installed without disassembling surrounding structure, re-aligning brackets, or performing extensive mechanical recalibration — minimising downtime on high-utilisation lifting equipment.
- Force Measurement Application Class: Engineered as a force transducer rather than a static weighing cell. Delivers the response, repeatability, and dynamic range required for lifting force indication, safe load monitoring, and real-time force feedback in moving systems.
- Harsh Environment Construction: Robust mechanical design and sealing for the realities of crane decks, offshore platforms, marine installations, and mobile equipment in service — salt spray, vibration, shock, dust, and temperature cycling.
- Customisable for Specific Service: The standard KOSD is the starting point. Capacity, materials, coatings, sealing class, mounting interfaces, cable specification, and certification packages are engineered to the specific application — including subsea-rated, ATEX-classified, and OEM-specific variants.
- Two Standard Variants: KOSD covers the broad force-measurement application range. KOSD-40 is a specific configuration within the family for applications requiring the higher capacity or specific dimensional envelope of that variant.
- On-Board Weighing Track Record: BLH Nobel's established competence in on-board weighing — demonstrated by the long-running partnership with Volvo Construction Equipment for articulated hauler on-board weighing — underpins the KOSD's qualification for mobile and vehicle-mounted applications.
- Compatible with BLH Nobel G5/G6 Instruments: Integrates directly with BLH Nobel process control instruments and OEM weighing electronics for DCS, PLC, SCADA, and embedded vehicle control system integration.
Choose The Right KOSD
The KOSD family includes two standard variants, each shipped from the same proven cylindrical-transducer platform. Both share the easy-installation, easy-replacement design philosophy and the customisability for harsh-environment service.
KOSD
The standard KOSD covers the broad force-measurement application range — cranes, lifting points, offshore platforms, and general on-board weighing applications. The starting point for most KOSD projects.
- Cylindrical force transducer form factor
- Easy install and easy replacement
- Customisable for harsh environments
- Crane, offshore, on-board weighing
- Customisable capacity and dimensions
KOSD-40
The KOSD-40 is the specific configuration within the family designed for applications requiring the higher capacity or specific dimensional envelope of that variant. Engineered for the larger lifting forces seen in heavy-lift cranes, offshore deck cranes, and high-payload on-board weighing applications.
- Higher capacity within the KOSD family
- Same cylindrical form factor
- Heavy-lift cranes and offshore deck cranes
- High-payload mobile equipment
- Available with full customisation package
At a Glance
KOSD Load Cell - Specifications
Mechanical & Design
|
Variants |
KOSD, KOSD-40 |
|
Form Factor |
Cylindrical force transducer |
|
Application Class |
Force measurement |
|
Installation |
Easy and immediate — no specialised mounting required |
|
Replacement |
Cylindrical geometry facilitates fast in-place replacement |
|
Customisation |
Capacity, materials, coatings, sealing, mounting interfaces engineered to order |
|
Compatible Instruments |
BLH Nobel G5 / G6 process control instruments |
Service Environments & Use Cases
|
Primary Applications |
Cranes, offshore installations, on-board weighing |
|
Secondary Applications |
Lifting equipment, marine, mining, mobile force measurement |
|
Lifting Equipment |
Crane safe-load indication, hoist force monitoring, overload protection |
|
Offshore |
Deck cranes, mooring force monitoring, offshore lifting systems |
|
On-Board Weighing |
Articulated haulers, wheel loaders, mobile bulk handling equipment |
|
Environmental Tolerance |
Vibration, shock, salt spray, dust, temperature cycling |
|
Certification Options |
Customisable per application — ATEX, marine, lifting safety standards |
INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
WHERE THE KOSD PERFORMS
The KOSD is the BLH Nobel choice wherever robust force measurement must coexist with harsh environments, fast service, and demanding duty cycles. Typical deployment categories include:
Cranes & Lifting Equipment
As a crane load cell and lifting force load cell, the KOSD delivers the real-time lifting force data required for safe load indication, dynamic overload protection, and lifting capacity verification on cranes, hoists, and lifting systems. The cylindrical form factor integrates directly into existing crane hardware without major mechanical redesign.
- Tower crane and overhead crane safe load indication
- Hoist and winch force monitoring
- Overhead lifting equipment overload protection
- Crane scale and load monitoring systems
Offshore & Marine Installations
Specifically engineered for offshore service. The KOSD is suited to offshore deck cranes, supply vessel lifting systems, mooring force monitoring, anchor line tension measurement, and other marine force-measurement applications where saltwater, vibration, and continuous mechanical loading defeat conventional cells.
- Offshore platform deck cranes
- Supply vessel cargo lifting systems
- Mooring and anchor line force monitoring
- Subsea lifting (with customised marine specification)
On-Board & Mobile Weighing
BLH Nobel's positioning for robust on-board weighing applications puts the KOSD in articulated haulers, wheel loaders, dump trucks, and other mobile equipment requiring payload weight measurement under real road and terrain conditions. The cylindrical form factor integrates well into vehicle suspension points, lifting cylinders, and payload measurement hardware.
- Articulated hauler payload measurement
- Wheel loader bucket force monitoring
- Dump truck and on-highway vehicle weighing
- Mobile construction equipment force feedback
Mining & Heavy Equipment
As a heavy duty load cell for mining and heavy industrial applications, the KOSD withstands the impact loading, dust, vibration, and continuous duty of mining equipment, ore handling systems, and other harsh-environment industrial force measurement applications.
- Mining lifting equipment force monitoring
- Ore handling system force measurement
- Drag line and haul truck applications
- Mineral processing equipment
Custom & OEM Applications
The KOSD is also the BLH Nobel platform for custom force-measurement projects — OEM-specific variants, application-engineered cells for unusual mechanical envelopes, and certification-engineered units for specific market requirements. The standard cell is the starting point; the production unit is engineered to the application.
- OEM force sensor integration
- Custom certification packages (ATEX, marine, lifting safety)
- Specific dimensional envelopes for retrofit projects
- Subsea, hazardous-area, and severe-service variants
Why Choose the KOSD?
The KOSD offers clear advantages over standard force transducers and load pins in crane, offshore, and on-board weighing applications:
|
Capability |
KOSD |
Standard Force Transducer |
|
Cylindrical Drop-In Geometry |
✓ Engineered for fast replacement |
Variable — often requires bracket disassembly |
|
Crane Application Suitability |
✓ Engineered specifically for cranes |
Often a generic industrial force sensor |
|
Offshore / Marine Track Record |
✓ BLH Nobel offshore product line |
Variable — not always marine-qualified |
|
On-Board Weighing Heritage |
✓ Volvo CE partnership platform |
Industrial-stationary heritage typical |
|
Customisation for Application |
✓ Standard cell engineered to project |
Off-the-shelf, take-it-or-leave-it |
|
Fast In-Place Replacement |
✓ Cylindrical geometry minimises downtime |
Often requires structural disassembly |
|
Harsh Environment Service |
✓ Specified for severe service |
Variable rating, often industrial-only |
KOSD in Action
Representative deployments drawn from the industries where BLH Nobel customers most often specify the KOSD load cell:
Lifting Force Monitoring on Overhead Crane
A heavy-industry operator needed real-time lifting force monitoring on a series of overhead cranes for safe load indication, dynamic overload protection, and operator feedback. The application required force measurement integrated into existing crane lifting hardware with minimal structural redesign.
KOSD load cells integrated directly into the crane lifting points via the cylindrical mounting geometry — delivering the force data required for the safety system without modifying the crane structure. When service was eventually required, replacement units installed in a fraction of the time of conventional bracket-mounted sensors.
See all KOSD ProductsMarine Lifting Force Measurement
An offshore operator required reliable force measurement on platform deck cranes for safe lifting operations in saltwater, continuous vibration, and demanding weather conditions. Conventional force transducers had shown unacceptable service life in the marine environment.
Customised KOSD load cells engineered with marine-grade materials and sealing delivered the service life required for offshore lifting. The cylindrical geometry also accommodated the limited installation space available within the existing crane structure, avoiding a costly mechanical redesign.
See all KOSD ProductsPayload Measurement on Mobile Equipment
A mobile equipment OEM needed an integrated on-board weighing solution for a new heavy hauler platform — real-time payload measurement, certification readiness for relevant safety standards, and a sensor that would survive the mechanical environment of an off-road vehicle in commercial service.
BLH Nobel's established on-board weighing capability — demonstrated by the long-running Volvo CE articulated hauler partnership — underpinned the KOSD specification. The cylindrical force transducer integrated cleanly into the vehicle hardware and held its accuracy across the vibration and shock conditions of road and site service.
See all KOSD ProductsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ENGINEERS ASK US MOST ABOUT KOSD Load Cell
Which load cell can be used for measuring lifting force on cranes and hoists for safe load indication and overload protection?
The KOSD is one of the BLH Nobel cells specifically engineered for crane applications. As a force measurement transducer, it provides the real-time lifting-force data needed for safe load indication, dynamic overload protection, and lifting capacity verification — all mandatory functions on modern cranes operating under EN, ISO, and OSHA safety standards. The cylindrical form factor allows it to be integrated directly into existing crane hardware (rope anchors, sheave assemblies, lifting hooks, suspension points) without major mechanical redesign. This is the natural choice for crane builders, retrofitters, and lifting equipment OEMs who need a force sensor that fits the geometry of their machine rather than forcing the machine to fit the sensor.
Which load cell is suitable for offshore platforms and marine installations where corrosion, vibration, and harsh weather are constant?
The KOSD is explicitly positioned by BLH Nobel for offshore installations — one of only a handful of load cell families specifically called out for this environment. Offshore platforms, marine cranes, anchor lines, mooring systems, and supply vessel deck equipment all subject the cell to saltwater spray, continuous vibration, mechanical shock from wave action, and temperature cycling. The KOSD's robust construction and BLH Nobel's established marine and offshore engineering track record make it a credible, qualified choice for offshore force measurement. The cylindrical shape also reduces points where saltwater can pool and accelerate corrosion compared to bracket-mounted alternatives.
Which load cell suits on-board weighing in trucks, mobile equipment, and vehicle-mounted weighing systems?
The KOSD is part of BLH Nobel's positioned offer for robust on-board weighing — a category with very specific demands: continuous vibration, mechanical shock from road and terrain conditions, wide temperature variation, and the limited mechanical real estate available on a moving vehicle. The cylindrical, easy-to-install form factor integrates well into vehicle suspension points, lifting cylinders, and payload measurement hardware. BLH Nobel's established competence in on-board weighing — including the Volvo Construction Equipment articulated hauler partnership — means the KOSD is engineered around realistic vehicle service conditions rather than retrofitted from a stationary industrial design.
Which load cell can be replaced quickly to minimise downtime in critical lifting or offshore operations?
This is one of the KOSD's quietly important commercial advantages. On a crane, an offshore platform, or a piece of mobile equipment, downtime is the single largest cost when a sensor fails — often dwarfing the price of the load cell itself. The KOSD's cylindrical geometry is specifically designed to facilitate replacement: the cell can be removed and a new one installed without disassembling surrounding structure, re-aligning brackets, or performing extensive mechanical recalibration. For operators of high-utilisation lifting equipment and offshore systems, this translates directly into shorter maintenance windows, lower lifecycle cost, and higher equipment availability.
Can the load cell be customised for specific harsh-environment requirements in marine, offshore, mining, or heavy industrial service?
Yes. BLH Nobel explicitly positions the KOSD under "customized equipment for harsh environmental conditions" — meaning the standard cell is the starting point, with capacity, materials, coatings, cable specification, sealing class, mounting interfaces, and certification packages engineered to the specific application. This is the right answer for OEMs and operators who cannot find an off-the-shelf load cell that matches their exact mechanical envelope, certification requirements, or environmental specification. Examples include subsea-rated versions, ATEX-classified variants for offshore hazardous areas, custom capacities for specific crane SWL ratings, and corrosion-engineered specifications for marine deck equipment.
SPECIFY THE RIGHT FORCE MEASUREMNT LOAD CELL
Our application engineers help you specify the right KOSD configuration, capacity, customisation package, and certifications for your specific application — cranes, lifting equipment, offshore installations, on-board weighing, or custom force measurement. Contact us for a technical consultation or custom project quote.
