• Transport and infrastructure

Sensor sensation

Strainstall develops cross-brand ATEX wireless solution (Zone 1 & 2).

Strainstall makes a wide range of load sensors that go into a range of hazardous (ATEX) environments to collect and transmit data. Typically, these are hardwired (fully cabled) systems and this presents routing and cable-protection difficulties, as well as limiting flexibility when moving or adding additional sensors.

During the development for the SmartLoad® wireless product range for their sister company Scotload in Aberdeen, the Strainstall team realised there was a gap in the market for an ATEX wireless telemetry solution that acquires and transmits data wirelessly, and that can be adapted to be used with any sensor, not just Strainstall’s.

Adrian Coventry, who led the project from concept to delivery of the first ATEX wireless prototype, says:

“It’s been a real team effort and shows how our unique skills and capabilities can be applied to the whole spectrum of sensing and data transfer, no matter how challenging the environment.”

The system has already generated significant interest among major oilfield service companies. The next stage is a full scale launch of this newly developed ATEX telemetry solution with an oil and gas sector partner, once IECex and UL certification have been achieved.