OEM Weighing Solutions for Agricultural Machinery
Load Cells & Force Sensors for Tillage, Draft Control, Balers, Seed Drills, Harvesters & Animal Feed Mixers - Maximizing Yield, Ensuring Equipment Safety & Preventing Tipping
Global challenges demand ingenious agricultural solutions. As climate patterns shift and the world's population grows, farmers need precision technology to maximize crop yields while minimizing waste and equipment downtime. VPG Force Sensors delivers custom-engineered force measurement solutions that empower agricultural equipment manufacturers to build smarter, safer, and more productive machinery. With over 60 years of strain gauge expertise and deep experience partnering with leading agricultural OEMs worldwide, we design and manufacture load cells, force sensors, and weighing transducers that optimize every stage of the farming cycle—from tillage and planting to harvesting and feed production.
Our advanced force measurement technology addresses the agricultural industry's most pressing challenges: achieving consistent tillage depth for optimal seed germination, preventing equipment tipping and damage through real-time weight monitoring, maximizing harvest efficiency with precision yield mapping, and ensuring accurate feed mixing ratios for livestock health. Whether you manufacture tractors, combines, balers, sprayers, or feed mixers, VPG Force Sensors engineers tailor-made solutions that integrate seamlessly into your equipment, withstand the harshest field conditions, and deliver the accuracy and reliability demanded by modern precision agriculture.
Core Features: Precision Agriculture Through Advanced Force Measurement
Custom Agricultural Engineering
Our dedicated agricultural engineering team designs bespoke force measurement solutions tailored to your equipment's unique challenges. From concept through field testing to full production, we partner with you to solve problems and optimize performance. No agricultural application is too complex or demanding.
Harsh Environment Durability
Purpose-built for agricultural conditions with our proprietary EDOC coating that provides superior corrosion resistance against fertilizers, pesticides, mud, moisture, and manure. Fully sealed construction withstands temperature extremes, dust ingress, vibration, and mechanical shock found in field operations.
Proprietary Strain Gauge Technology
Utilizing VPG's internally-manufactured foil-based strain gauges, our load cells deliver exceptional accuracy (up to ±0.02% of rated capacity), long-term stability, and superior repeatability. Advanced temperature compensation ensures consistent measurements from pre-dawn planting to midday harvest operations.
Precision Agriculture Integration
Full compatibility with CAN bus (CANopen, SAE J1939), ISOBUS, and other agricultural communication protocols. Our sensors integrate seamlessly with GPS systems, yield monitors, variable rate controllers, and farm management software for complete precision agriculture solutions.
Robust Mechanical Design
Heavy-duty zinc-plated hardened alloy steel construction handles extreme loads, side forces, and impact loading inherent in agricultural operations. Our draft pins withstand forces up to 60 kN with safe overload capability to 250 kN, while maintaining measurement accuracy season after season.
Real-Time Performance Monitoring
Continuous force measurement enables instant operator feedback and automatic equipment adjustments. Real-time data collection supports precision agriculture applications including yield mapping, variable rate application, draft control optimization, and predictive maintenance scheduling.
Equipment Safety & Longevity
Overload protection prevents costly equipment damage and dangerous tipping situations. Force monitoring detects abnormal conditions like implement jamming, bearing failures, and structural fatigue before catastrophic failures occur, maximizing equipment uptime and operator safety.
Proven OEM Partnership
Decades of successful collaboration with major agricultural equipment manufacturers worldwide. We understand tractor hydraulics, implement dynamics, and the unique requirements of row crop, grain handling, and livestock operations. Your engineering team gains a trusted extension partner.
Industry-Specific Applications: Optimizing Every Agricultural Operation
Modern agriculture depends on accurate force and weight measurement to improve efficiency, reduce input costs, and maximize yield. VPG Force Sensors supports precision agriculture with proven sensing solutions across tillage, planting, harvesting, feeding, and material handling equipment.
Tillage Equipment & Draft Control Systems
Application Overview
Precision tillage is the foundation of successful crop production. Draft force measurement enables intelligent control systems that automatically adjust implement depth based on changing soil conditions, ensuring consistent field preparation while protecting equipment.
Industry Challenge
Soil resistance varies significantly across a field, causing inconsistent tillage depth, uneven seedbeds, excessive fuel consumption, and increased operator workload. Manual depth adjustments reduce productivity and accelerate drivetrain wear.
VPG Solution
VPG draft load pins provide real-time force feedback from tractor rear hitch arms, enabling automated draft control systems to maintain optimal working depth regardless of soil variability.
Proven Results
- Consistent tillage depth across the entire field
- Up to 15% fuel savings
- 23% increase in productivity
- Reduced drivetrain overload and maintenance costs
Typical Applications
Moldboard plows, chisel plows, disk harrows, cultivators, and subsoilers across all major tractor platforms.
Seed Drills & Precision Planters
Application Overview
Accurate seed placement is critical to achieving uniform crop emergence and maximizing yield potential. Force measurement enables precise control of downforce and real-time monitoring of planter performance.
Industry Challenge
Maintaining consistent seed depth across varying soil types, field contours, and planting speeds is difficult. Undetected row-unit malfunctions, blockages, or incorrect downforce settings lead to yield loss and wasted seed.
VPG Solution
Custom low-profile force sensors mounted on seed opener mechanisms continuously monitor row-unit downforce. Automated systems adjust pneumatic pressure in real time to maintain optimal seed depth while detecting blockages and mechanical faults.
Proven Results
- 8–12% improvement in yield consistency
- Immediate detection of row-unit failures
- Reduced seed waste and replanting
- Deployed in more than 50,000 planters worldwide
Combine Harvesters & Yield Monitoring
Application Overview
Harvest operations present a critical opportunity to capture valuable agronomic data. Force-based grain flow measurement enables accurate, location-specific yield mapping for data-driven decision making.
Industry Challenge
Traditional yield monitors often lack accuracy, require frequent recalibration, and struggle in harsh combine environments involving heat, dust, and debris.
VPG Solution
VPG grain flow sensors measure the force of harvested grain impacting the elevator system. When combined with GPS and moisture data, the system produces precise yield maps tied to exact field locations.
Proven Results
- ±2% yield measurement accuracy
- Industry-standard solution deployed in over 100,000 combines
- 10–15% increase in overall farm profitability through optimized input application
Additional Applications
Rotor load monitoring, threshing cylinder protection, and automatic header height control.
Balers & Forage Equipment
Application Overview
Consistent bale density is essential for efficient storage, transportation, and feed quality. Force measurement enables real-time control of compression systems during baling operations.
Industry Challenge
Crop moisture and density variations lead to inconsistent bale weight, equipment jams, and excessive maintenance.
VPG Solution
Compression load cells monitor chamber pressure in real time, automatically adjusting force to maintain uniform bale density. Belt tension and plunger force monitoring further prevent jams and wrapping issues.
Proven Results
- Uniform bale weight and density
- Reduced downtime and maintenance
- Improved feed quality and storage efficiency
Animal Feed Mixers & TMR Systems
Application Overview
Livestock performance depends on precise feed formulation. Accurate weighing during mixing ensures consistent rations and protects feed quality.
Industry Challenge
Mobile feed mixers operate under extreme vibration, corrosive silage acids, and frequent washdowns while requiring high weighing accuracy for commercial feed operations.
VPG Solution
Ruggedized load cell systems provide precise weight measurement throughout the mixing process, maintaining accuracy despite harsh environmental conditions.
Proven Results
- ±0.1% weighing accuracy in severe environments
- Reduced feed waste and over-mixing
- Improved animal health and performance
- Full traceability and regulatory compliance
Sprayers & Fertilizer Applicators
Application Overview
Variable-rate application relies on accurate payload measurement to ensure correct delivery of liquid and dry inputs.
Industry Challenge
Estimating tank contents leads to over-application, wasted inputs, environmental harm, and reduced crop effectiveness.
VPG Solution
Load cell arrays continuously monitor tank weight, enabling precise application rate adjustments based on actual material usage rather than estimates.
Proven Results
- Accurate variable-rate application
- Reduced chemical and fertilizer waste
- Documented input accountability
- Improved environmental stewardship
Agricultural Loaders & Material Handling
Application Overview
Real-time load measurement improves safety and productivity in agricultural material handling operations.
Industry Challenge
Operators often rely on guesswork when loading grain, feed, fertilizer, and manure, increasing the risk of tipping accidents and inefficient cycles.
VPG Solution
On-board weighing systems provide instant load feedback and automatic overload protection, maximizing payload efficiency while maintaining safe operation.
Proven Results
- Improved operator safety
- Faster loading cycles
- Optimized payload utilization
- Reduced equipment wear
Supported Agricultural Equipment
VPG Force Sensors solutions are deployed across a wide range of agricultural machinery, including:
- Tractors and telehandlers
- Combines and forage harvesters
- Tillage and planting equipment
- Balers and material handling systems
- Sprayers and fertilizer spreaders
- Feed mixers, grain carts, silage wagons, and manure spreaders
Partner with VPG Force Sensors to integrate industry-leading load cells and force transducers into your agricultural systems. Our application engineers are ready to discuss your specific requirements and recommend the optimal solution.
Get Expert Guidance for Your Application
Finding the right load cell for your system requires careful consideration of capacity, accuracy, environment, and installation factors. Our experienced engineers are ready to help you choose the optimal solution.
