Load Cells Weigh RNLI Equipment
For Saving Lives At Sea
T
he Royal National Lifeboat
purposes—to weigh critical components,
“A robust and corrosion-resistant
Institution (RNLI) uses a load
assemblies and complete boats; and
component was a requirement.”
cell to weigh and test boats
to provide data from destructive and
and other components
non-destructive load testing of critical
critical to the ongoing work of the charity
components and assemblies as part of
that saves lives at sea.
ongoing research and development. The
A 5t Wirelink Plus and Handheld Plus
digital display were recently delivered to
the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre (ILC).
The ILC is respected across the globe as
a centre of excellence for the building
and maintenance of inflatable and
rigid inflatable lifeboats, including the
B class and D class lifeboats, and the
Atlantic 85, for example, weighs 2.2t, while
the D-Class weighs in at 440kg.
Urry said: “The load cell and display
contributes to good health and safety
practice by allowing operation from a safe
working distance, outside of the lift area
and clear of any equipment such as cranes,
davits, tractors and trailers.”
lifeguards’ inshore rescue boat, the Arancia
Manufactured from aerospace grade
(constructed under licence from Arancia
aluminium and utilising an advanced
of New Zealand). A team of over 70
internal design structure, the range of non-
boat-builders, fitters and electricians are
indicating load cells are lightweight, easy
employed at ILC, including apprentices
to handle and are used worldwide in an
and supporting office staff.
array of industries for lifting, pulling, proof
John Urry, technical support manager
and structural load testing.
for the RNLI ILC, explained that the load
Urry, who is responsible for the acquisition
cell and display are used for two specific
of such equipment at ILC, said:
The Wirelink Plus is supplied with a
10-metre cable as standard, but usable
cable length varies and is available to 1,500
metres depending on output format.