The A series universal strain gauges are optimised for transducer manufacturers. Combining the most common constantan measuring grid foils with a high-performance modified PEEK carrier material provides strain gauges that unite easy handling with high accuracy and outstanding humidity behavior.
A series comes in different geometries, resistance values, and grid lengths as standard. Custom designs can be developed in just a few weeks.
Combining MODCO (modulus compensated) measuring grid foils with high-performance modified PEEK carrier material provides strain gauges that unite easy handling with high accuracy and outstanding humidity behavior. U series strain gauges also offer a compensated modulus of elasticity, increased sensitivity, and enhanced fatigue strength at high strains.
Designing a reliable strain gauge-based sensor requires far more than selecting a gauge pattern. Long-term stability, thermal behavior, creep compensation, fatigue resistance, adhesive selection, signal quality, and manufacturing repeatability all directly influence final sensor performance.
HBK OEM strain gauges are engineered as part of a complete measurement approach — helping manufacturers develop force, torque, pressure, weighing, and custom transducers for demanding industrial environments.
With decades of experience in industrial sensor engineering and precision measurement, HBK supports OEM manufacturers throughout the complete development process — from early prototyping to scalable industrial production supported by our European manufacturing facilities in Darmstadt (Germany) and Porto (Portugal).
Proven Sensor Expertise
Decades of experience designing high-precision industrial transducers for demanding applications.
Repeatable Performance
Engineered for stable electrical behavior, batch consistency, and reliable long-term performance.
Engineering Partnership
Application guidance and transducer expertise to support sensor development and optimisation.
Industrial Reliability
Designed for dynamic environments involving vibration, thermal variation, and cyclic loading.
Applications range from industrial automation and process control to aerospace, energy systems, test benches, advanced machinery, medical devices, and next-generation intelligent equipment.
As industrial systems become increasingly connected, automated, and data-driven, stable and reliable physical measurement becomes even more critical to overall system performance.
HBK OEM strain gauges are developed for manufacturers designing:
Precise force measurement requires stable signal behavior, reliable compensation, and long-term repeatability.
HBK strain gauges support force sensor designs used in industrial automation, material testing, assembly systems, and process control.
Torque sensor performance depends heavily on thermal stability, fatigue resistance, and mechanical integration quality.
HBK supports OEM manufacturers developing torque measurement solutions for rotating machinery, automotive systems, industrial equipment, and test benches.
Industrial weighing applications require excellent creep behavior, high repeatability, and long-term measurement stability.
HBK has decades of expertise in load cell engineering for industrial weighing systems and precision measurement applications.
Pressure sensor performance often depends on highly stable strain measurement under very small mechanical deformations.
HBK strain gauges support pressure sensor development requiring accuracy, repeatability, and reliable thermal behavior.
Multi-axis sensing requires precise measurement of forces and moments across multiple directions simultaneously while minimising cross-axis interference.
HBK strain gauges support multi-axis sensor designs requiring high sensitivity, stable signal behavior, reliable compensation, and consistent measurement performance under complex loading conditions.
Many OEM applications require customised strain gauge configurations adapted to specific geometries, materials, or environmental constraints. HBK supports custom transducer development projects for specialised industrial applications. Besides the pure custom design of the gauge, many options are available to customize your strain gauge, whether with cables, tin-plated solder pads, pre-applied adhesive or as a ready-to-use assembly with a flexible PCB attached by HBK.
Engineering Blueprint for High-Performance Sensor Design
Discover the key principles behind reliable force, torque, pressure, and load sensor design. This free engineering guide explores strain gauge integration, compensation methods, signal optimisation, and practical transducer development strategies for stable and repeatable sensor performance.
Designing a high-performance strain gauge-based sensor requires balancing multiple engineering parameters simultaneously.
Temperature variation can significantly affect sensor accuracy and long-term stability. Proper strain gauge selection and compensation strategies help minimise thermal drift and improve measurement consistency across varying operating conditions.
Creep behavior directly impacts weighing systems, force sensors, and long-duration measurements. Optimised gauge integration and compensation approaches help improve long-term stability and repeatability.
Modern industrial systems increasingly operate under cyclic and dynamic loading conditions. Sensor durability depends on proper gauge selection, adhesive systems, and mechanical integration.
Stable signal behavior is essential for accurate calibration and repeatable industrial production. Consistent strain gauge quality helps reduce manufacturing variation and improve calibration consistency.
Many suppliers manufacture strain gauges.
HBK brings something different: deep transducer engineering expertise built through decades of real-world industrial measurement experience.
Because HBK also develops complete force sensors, torque transducers, load cells, industrial measurement systems, electronics, and calibration solutions, we understand the engineering challenges that directly influence final sensor performance, manufacturability, and long-term stability.
HBK understands the complete measurement chain, from strain gauge integration and bridge configuration to compensation strategy, signal conditioning, calibration stability, and long-term transducer behavior.
This system-level approach helps optimise overall sensor accuracy, repeatability, and measurement reliability.
HBK supports OEM manufacturers developing force, torque, weighing, pressure, and multi-axis sensing technologies operating under demanding industrial conditions.
This includes applications involving dynamic loading, vibration, thermal variation, fatigue stress, and high-duty-cycle operation.
High-performance transducer design requires balancing multiple engineering parameters simultaneously. HBK helps OEM manufacturers optimise:
Moving from prototype validation to scalable production requires more than measurement accuracy alone.
HBK helps OEM manufacturers reduce development complexity, improve production repeatability, and accelerate industrialisation through application-oriented engineering support and globally scalable manufacturing capabilities.
Selecting a strain gauge supplier is not only about choosing a component. For OEM manufacturers, long-term sensor performance depends on the ability to optimise the complete measurement system — from gauge integration and compensation strategy to calibration stability and scalable production. HBK combines strain gauge manufacturing expertise with decades of real-world transducer engineering experience.
| Component Supplier Approach | HBK Engineering Approach |
| Focus on gauge delivery | Support for complete sensor development |
| Product-only interaction | Application engineering collaboration |
| Limited system understanding | Transducer-level expertise |
| Component optimisation | Sensor performance optimisation |
| Generic recommendations | Application-oriented guidance |
| Prototype-oriented support | Industrial scalability support |
| Isolated component perspective | Complete measurement chain understanding |
Developing a successful strain gauge-based sensor requires more than component selection alone. Manufacturing consistency, application understanding, and long-term production reliability all play a critical role in final sensor performance.
HBK combines decades of transducer experience with a global industrial organisation supporting OEM manufacturers from development to production scale-up.
With engineering and production facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia — including a new manufacturing facility in Portugal — HBK supports international OEM operations with consistent quality standards, reliable supply continuity, and long-term industrial support.
Whether supporting a new sensor concept or an existing transducer platform, HBK helps manufacturers improve production repeatability, reduce integration challenges, and accelerate industrial deployment.
Looking for support on your next sensor project?
An OEM strain gauge is a strain gauge designed for integration into custom sensors such as force sensors, load cells, torque transducers, or pressure sensors manufactured by OEM companies.
Strain gauges convert mechanical deformation into an electrical signal. When bonded to a structure, they measure strain generated by force, pressure, torque, or load.
Long-term sensor stability depends on several combined factors including strain gauge quality, thermal compensation strategy, adhesive selection, mechanical design, creep behavior, and manufacturing consistency. Proper integration and calibration are essential to minimise drift and maintain repeatable measurement performance over time.
Temperature variation affects both the strain gauge and the mechanical structure of the sensor. Without proper thermal compensation, temperature changes can introduce offset drift, sensitivity variation, and measurement instability. Optimised compensation helps maintain accuracy across changing operating conditions.
Creep causes the sensor output to slowly change while a constant load is applied. In industrial weighing and force measurement applications, poor creep performance can reduce accuracy and long-term stability. Sensor design, strain gauge selection, adhesive systems, and compensation methods all influence creep behavior.
Selecting a strain gauge is only one part of sensor development. Overall transducer performance also depends on mechanical integration, thermal behavior, signal conditioning, fatigue resistance, calibration strategy, and production repeatability. Optimising the complete measurement chain is essential for reliable industrial sensor performance.
Dynamic applications involving vibration, cyclic loading, or rapid force variation place additional stress on the sensor structure and bonding system. These conditions can affect fatigue life, signal stability, and long-term durability. Proper gauge integration and mechanical design help maintain stable performance under dynamic operating conditions.
Moving from prototype validation to industrial production requires consistent strain gauge quality, repeatable manufacturing processes, stable calibration behavior, and reliable supply continuity. Batch-to-batch consistency becomes critical for maintaining repeatable sensor performance at scale.
HBK combines strain gauge manufacturing expertise with decades of experience designing industrial transducers, calibration systems, and precision measurement solutions. This system-level understanding helps OEM manufacturers optimise sensor stability, compensation behavior, production repeatability, and long-term industrial reliability.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, MicroStrain and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
