ABB 3BSE004203R1 PFTL 101B-20.0 Pressductor Pillow Block Load Cell 20 kN

The ABB 3BSE004203R1 is the ordering number for the
PFTL 101B-20.0 Pressductor Pillow Block Load Cell from ABB.
It is designed for horizontal tension measurement in continuous web processes
where accurate and reliable force measurement is required.

The PFTL 101 series belongs to ABB’s Pressductor family of force measurement
products and is intended for demanding industrial applications involving
continuous materials such as paper, plastic film, foil and metal strip.
The PFTL 101B-20.0 version has a nominal load capacity of
20.0 kN, equivalent to approximately 4500 lb.

ABB 3BSE004203R1 Product Overview

ABB 3BSE004203R1 is a high-capacity load cell designed for tension measurement
applications in industrial web-processing systems. Its PFTL 101B configuration
uses a pillow block installation concept, allowing the load cell to be integrated
into the mechanical support structure of a measuring roll.

The sensor measures the horizontal force component acting in the measurement
direction. This characteristic is particularly useful in applications where
the web tension must be measured accurately even when the measuring roll is
relatively heavy or when the process contains varying mechanical forces.

The PFTL 101B-20.0 is one of the higher-capacity variants in the PFTL 101B
range. ABB’s product documentation lists PFTL 101B models with nominal loads
of 2.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 kN, with 3BSE004203R1 corresponding specifically
to the 20.0 kN model.

Technical Specifications

Pressductor Measurement Technology

The ABB PFTL 101B-20.0 uses Pressductor technology, an electromagnetic
measurement principle developed for industrial force and tension measurement.
Instead of relying on a conventional strain-gauge arrangement, the Pressductor
principle uses changes in magnetic properties associated with mechanical force
to produce the measurement signal.

This measurement principle is well suited to industrial tension-control
applications where sensors must operate continuously in demanding production
environments. ABB developed the Pressductor platform for applications requiring
reliable force measurement and stable performance over long operating periods.

The PFTL 101 series is specifically optimized for horizontal measurement.
This makes it suitable for installations where the tension force from the
moving web is transferred through a pillow block and measuring roll assembly.

20 kN Nominal Load Capacity

The defining characteristic of ABB 3BSE004203R1 is its 20.0 kN nominal load
capacity. This corresponds to approximately 4500 lb and makes the sensor suitable
for higher-load web tension measurement applications.

The 20 kN rating should be understood as the nominal measurement capacity in
the horizontal measurement direction. ABB technical data also specifies a
permitted transverse load of 40 kN and an overload capacity of 80 kN in the
measurement direction under the specified conditions.

These mechanical ratings provide useful reference points when designing the
mechanical installation around the load cell. The actual forces in the
application should always be evaluated according to the complete roll,
bearing, web and machine configuration.

Web Tension Measurement Applications

The PFTL 101B-20.0 is designed for continuous web-processing applications.
Such systems require precise control of material tension while the web moves
continuously through multiple processing stages.

Typical materials include paper, plastic film, foil and metal strip. During
production, excessive tension can damage the material or affect dimensional
stability, while insufficient tension can lead to wrinkles, tracking problems
and unstable processing.

A load cell such as the ABB 3BSE004203R1 measures the force transmitted through
the measuring roll assembly. The resulting signal can then be processed by a
compatible tension measurement controller and used as feedback for the machine’s
tension-control system.

Pillow Block Mechanical Configuration

The PFTL 101B uses a pillow block load cell configuration. The sensor is
mechanically integrated into the support structure of a roll or bearing housing.
The load transferred through the bearing assembly creates a measurable force
within the load cell.

This mechanical arrangement allows the sensor to be incorporated into existing
roll structures while maintaining a defined horizontal measurement direction.
It is particularly useful for industrial web machines where large rolls and
significant mechanical forces are present.

Correct mechanical alignment is important for obtaining reliable measurements.
Installation should ensure that the intended force is transferred through the
sensor in the specified measurement direction and that unwanted mechanical
loads are minimized.

Accuracy and Repeatability

ABB technical documentation specifies an accuracy class of 0.5 for the PFTL
101B series and a repeatability error of less than ±0.05 percent under the
applicable conditions. These characteristics are important in closed-loop
tension control, where measurement consistency directly affects process
stability.

The load cell is supplied calibrated according to the product documentation.
Calibration provides the reference necessary for integrating the sensor into
the associated tension measurement system.

For an industrial tension-control application, sensor accuracy should be
considered together with mechanical installation, signal processing, controller
configuration and the overall machine design.

Industrial Operating Environment

The PFTL 101B series is intended for industrial environments where mechanical
loads and continuous operation can be demanding. The standard version has
an IP65 degree of protection according to the applicable technical
documentation.

The specified working temperature range extends from -10 to 105 °C. This broad
temperature range allows the sensor to be considered for industrial processing
environments where temperatures may vary significantly during production.

For applications involving corrosive environments or particularly demanding
mill conditions, ABB also provides other PFTL 101 variants with different
mechanical and connection configurations. The exact suffix should therefore be
checked when selecting a sensor for a specific installation.

Typical Applications

• Paper production and converting machines
• Plastic film processing lines
• Metal strip processing equipment
• Foil production and processing
• Web tension control systems
• Continuous material handling systems
• Rolling and coating machinery
• Industrial winding and unwinding equipment
• High-load measuring roll assemblies
• Closed-loop tension control applications

Integration with Tension Control Systems

The ABB 3BSE004203R1 is normally used as part of a complete web tension
measurement and control system rather than as an independent measurement
instrument. The load cell detects the mechanical force generated by the
moving web, while compatible tension electronics process the sensor signal.

ABB’s web tension systems can combine PFTL 101 load cells with dedicated
tension measurement electronics and controllers. This arrangement allows
measured tension to be used as feedback in automatic tension-control loops.

When specifying a replacement load cell, the nominal load, mechanical design,
measurement direction, connection arrangement and exact product number should
all be checked. Similar-looking PFTL models can have different load capacities
or connection configurations.

Product Identification

Correct product identification is particularly important within the ABB PFTL
101 family because several versions use similar model names. The ABB ordering
number 3BSE004203R1 corresponds specifically to
PFTL 101B-20.0.

The 20.0 kN version should not be confused with the PFTL 101B-2.0,
PFTL 101B-5.0 or PFTL 101B-10.0 versions. These models share the same basic
PFTL 101B product family but have different nominal measurement capacities.

ABB’s technical documentation lists the corresponding ordering numbers for
the different PFTL 101B load ranges, confirming that 3BSE004203R1 is the
20.0 kN configuration.

Conclusion

The ABB 3BSE004203R1, identified as
PFTL 101B-20.0, is a Pressductor Pillow Block Load Cell
designed for horizontal web tension measurement in demanding industrial
processes. Its 20.0 kN nominal load capacity makes it suitable for
high-load tension measurement applications involving continuous materials.

The sensor uses ABB Pressductor electromagnetic technology and is designed
around a pillow block mechanical configuration. With an accuracy class of
0.5, repeatability error below ±0.05 percent and an industrial IP65
protection rating for the standard version, it provides a specialized
measurement solution for continuous web-processing equipment.

When specifying the ABB 3BSE004203R1, the complete ordering number,
PFTL 101B model designation and 20.0 kN nominal load rating should be
verified. Mechanical installation conditions and the requirements of the
associated tension-control electronics should also be considered as part
of the complete system design.