Description
🔧 Product Overview
The ABB PFTL201C is a Pressductor PillowBlock load cell designed for horizontal force measurement and strip tension measurement in industrial web-processing equipment.
The 50 kN version has a nominal measuring load of 50 kN (11,250 lb) and an extended measuring range of 75 kN (16,875 lb). Its horizontal measurement principle allows the load cell to measure strip tension while minimizing the influence of the roll’s tare weight.
The PFTL201C is particularly suited to process lines such as annealing, pickling and galvanizing lines. The load cell uses ABB Pressductor electromagnetic technology and a robust stainless-steel construction for demanding industrial environments.
⚙️ Main Features
- ABB Pressductor PillowBlock load cell
- Model: PFTL201C
- Nominal measuring load: 50 kN
- Extended measuring load: 75 kN
- Horizontal force measurement
- Electromagnetic Pressductor technology
- Accuracy class: 0.5%
- Repeatability error: < ±0.05%
- Deflection at nominal load: 0.05 mm
- Spring constant: 1000 kN/mm
- Stainless-steel construction
- High overload capability
- Suitable for strip/web tension measurement
- Cannon connector configuration
- Designed for industrial process lines
📋 Product Datasheet
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | ABB |
| Model | PFTL201C |
| Product Type | Pressductor PillowBlock Load Cell |
| Measurement Direction | Horizontal |
| Nominal Load | 50 kN / 11,250 lb |
| Extended Load | 75 kN / 16,875 lb |
| Permitted Transverse Load | 250 kN |
| Overload Capacity – Measuring Direction | 500 kN |
| Overload Capacity – Transverse Direction | 250 kN |
| Deflection at Nominal Load | 0.05 mm |
| Spring Constant | 1000 kN/mm |
| Accuracy Class | 0.5% |
| Repeatability Error | < ±0.05% |
| Operating Principle | Electromagnetic Pressductor Technology |
| Construction | Stainless Steel |
| Working Temperature | -10 to +90°C |
| Connector | Cannon connector |
| Typical Application | Strip tension / web tension measurement |
ABB specifies the 50 kN PFTL201C/CE version with a 0.05 mm nominal-load deflection, 1000 kN/mm spring constant, 500 kN overload capacity in the measuring direction and 250 kN permitted transverse load.
📏 Mechanical Characteristics
The PFTL201C is a large industrial load-cell assembly intended to be integrated into the pillow-block bearing arrangement of a process roll.
ABB documentation gives the PFTL201C overall dimensions as approximately 450 mm length × 125 mm height, with M24 mounting holes. The side profile is approximately 110 mm deep. The load-cell weight for the 50 kN PFTL201C version is approximately 26 kg without the connection cable.
The mechanical mounting arrangement is important. This is not a conventional small-scale load cell that can simply be bolted onto a general-purpose weighing platform.
📐 50 kN Measuring Capacity
For the 50 kN PFTL201C:
- Rated measuring capacity: 50 kN
- Extended measuring capacity: 75 kN
- Measuring-direction overload: 500 kN
- Permitted transverse load: 250 kN
- Transverse overload capacity: 250 kN
- Nominal deflection: 0.05 mm
The 75 kN extended range is intended to provide additional operating flexibility. ABB notes that measurement accuracy can decline somewhat when operating above the nominal load within the extended range.
🎛️ Pressductor Measurement Technology
The PFTL201C uses ABB Pressductor electromagnetic technology rather than a conventional strain-gauge load-cell arrangement.
Its horizontal measurement configuration is useful when the strip tension produces a horizontal force component on the process roll. This arrangement can help separate strip-tension measurement from the static weight of the roll.
The high spring constant and very small mechanical deflection also make the sensor suitable for applications where maintaining the mechanical geometry of the roll system is important.
🏭 Typical Applications
The PFTL201C can be used in industrial web and strip-processing systems such as:
- Steel strip processing lines
- Annealing lines
- Pickling lines
- Galvanizing lines
- Continuous process lines
- Web tension control systems
- Strip tension measurement
- Mill and rolling-process equipment
- Roll tension measurement systems
- Industrial tension-control equipment
ABB specifically identifies the PFTL201 family for horizontal force measurement in process lines and web tension applications.
🔩 Installation & Replacement
Before replacing an existing unit, check the complete part number and mechanical configuration.
Recommended procedure:
- Confirm the existing load-cell model and rated capacity.
- Verify that the required measurement direction is horizontal.
- Check mounting-hole dimensions and roll geometry.
- Inspect the connector and cable arrangement.
- Verify the load direction before applying mechanical force.
- Connect the sensor according to the original ABB system documentation.
- Perform zero and calibration checks after installation.
- Confirm the tension measurement signal before returning the line to normal operation.
The PFTL201C and PFTL201CE are not automatically interchangeable simply because both are 50 kN versions. The C version uses a Cannon connector, while the CE version is designed with a fixed protected connection cable for mill-duty applications.
🔄 Compatibility & Replacement Notes
The closest variants in the same ABB family include:
- PFTL201C – 10 kN
- PFTL201C – 20 kN
- PFTL201C – 50 kN
- PFTL201CE – 10 kN
- PFTL201CE – 20 kN
- PFTL201CE – 50 kN
- PFTL201D – 50 kN
- PFTL201D – 100 kN
- PFTL201DE – 50 kN
- PFTL201DE – 100 kN
Capacity, mechanical dimensions and connection arrangements differ between these versions, so replacement should be based on the complete model and application rather than load capacity alone.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the 50 kN rating mean?
A: It is the nominal measuring capacity in the horizontal measurement direction. The 50 kN version corresponds to approximately 11,250 lb.
Q: Can it measure strip tension directly?
A: Yes. It is designed to measure the horizontal force component generated by strip tension on the process roll.
Q: What is the extended measuring range?
A: The 50 kN version has an extended measuring load of 75 kN.
Q: What is the overload capacity?
A: In the horizontal measuring direction, the specified overload capacity is 500 kN.
Q: What is the difference between PFTL201C and PFTL201CE?
A: The PFTL201C uses a Cannon connector. The PFTL201CE uses a fixed connection cable with protective tubing and is intended for mill-duty environments.
Q: Is PFTL201C a PLC or electronic control module?
A: No. It is a force transducer/load cell used as part of an industrial strip-tension measurement system.
Q: Is 50 kN the maximum load it can withstand?
A: No. 50 kN is the nominal measuring capacity. ABB specifies a 75 kN extended measuring range and substantially higher overload capacity.
🔧 Recommended ABB Models
- ABB PFTL201C 10 kN Pressductor Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201C 20 kN Pressductor Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201C 50 kN Pressductor Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201CE 50 kN Mill-Duty Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201D 50 kN PillowBlock Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201D 100 kN PillowBlock Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201DE 50 kN Mill-Duty Load Cell
- ABB PFTL201DE 100 kN Mill-Duty Load Cell
- ABB PFCL201 Vertical Force Load Cell
- ABB Pressductor Web Tension Measurement System
🧪 Inspection Before Shipment
For a PFTL201C intended for industrial replacement service, inspection should include:
- Model and capacity verification
- Nameplate and identification check
- Connector inspection
- Cable/connector condition
- Housing and stainless-steel body inspection
- Mounting-hole inspection
- Mechanical damage inspection
- Corrosion inspection
- Sensor output verification where suitable test equipment is available
- Packaging and protection against mechanical shock
For a 50 kN replacement, the most important checks are PFTL201C identification, 50 kN rating, mounting arrangement, force direction and connector configuration.
