The order will put SP load cells into 23 LGH rental facilities in the US and Canada.

US lifting equipment rental specialist Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) has initiated a major overhaul of its load cell fleet and placed a landmark order with manufacturer Straightpoint.

The order, the value of which is not disclosed, will be delivered in a piecemeal fashion over a two-to-three-year period and will result in 23 LGH rental facilities in the US and Canada stocking exclusively SP product.

The order is for the Radiolink plus line, which is the UK manufacturer's top-selling load cell, capable of both weighing and dynamic load monitoring and other applications.

LGH will take a variety of models, including standard long-range (2,300 ft. / 700 m) wireless versions and a number of Bluetooth units, predominantly for internal use. SP only recently updated its Bluetooth capability and launched an enhanced version of its popular app. The upgrade from Bluetooth 4.1 to 4.2 facilitated two improvements over the original version, namely increased range and the volume of smart devices that can be connected to a load cell.

The switch to SP follows LGH's use of its wireless compression load cells, which offer the same range and cableless benefits as the Radiolink plus products. Additionally, LGH operations in mainland Europe and the UK have recently committed to SP's range of force measurement products and reported on their robustness and suitability to rental applications.

Dan Pittman, business sales manager at LGH, says that constant evolution of the SP range was a key factor in partnering with the manufacturer.

And, explaining the timing of the order, he adds: "Business is good and the economy is growing. The forecast for the next several years gives us much cause for optimism. Heavy commercial and industrial construction are certainly marketplaces to note, and US infrastructure projects will continue to require accurate information about the varied loads they lift on a daily basis."

SP will continue to supply load cells through its existing and extensive North American distribution network.