Welcome

Welcome to the Western Regional Strain Gage Committee (WRSGC). We are a Technical Division of the national Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) and are established to promote a free interchange of information about strain measurement techniques using strain gages.

  • State-of-the-art strain gage research
  • Development and application of strain gages in all environments
  • Strain measurement techniques
  • Strain gage based transducers
  • Associated signal conditioning
  • Connecting techniques
  • Data acquisition and handling systems
  • Computer applications and associated software for testing using strain gages

Conferences

The Western Regional Strain Gage Committee meets twice a year for two days, typically in Spring and Fall.

Come hear technical papers, participate in workshops and manufacturer’s seminars (given by sponsors of the committee), participate on panels and tour a test facility in the area!

  • Conferences are a key function of the committee, as this venue provides valuable opportunities to learn about new developments and research in strain gages and mechanical testing, and also provides access to networking and discussions with experts in this field.
  • Technical papers and presentations are a key part of the WRSGC conferences.   Presentations topics cover a wide range of topics, including:
    • Research in the advancement of strain gage measuring
    • New product development
    • Applications and techniques of measurement
    • Refreshers on core aspects of testing and measurement

 We are currently looking for papers and presentations to be presented at our next conferences.   We welcome contributions from any person, whether previously involved in the WRSGC or not.  The paper and presentation criteria and process are somewhat flexible, as many companies have legal, export, or proprietary limitations on what information can be submitted.  The general process includes:  

  • Contact the Programming Chair at Membership@WRSGC.org to discuss your topic and conference schedule.  We would be happy to schedule you for an upcoming conference.
  • Prepare a 30-50 minute presentation – preferably on PowerPoint or other computer media, or notify the Programming Chair of your presentation equipment needs.  Demonstration equipment is welcome.  Typically 45-60 minutes are allotted for each presentation:  25-45 minutes for presenting, 5-10 minutes for questions and answers following your presentation.
  • Submit a paper or documentation to support your presentation.  This will be included in the WRSGC Proceedings DVD which is distributed as a technical reference to attendees of the conferences. In cases where legal, export, or proprietary limitations apply, WRSGC can accept whatever content is allowed by your company.

2019 Fall Conference                  September 9-11, 2019
Embassy Suites Hotel St. Louis
St. Charles, Missouri

  The hotel is located in historic St. Charles, MO approximately 7 miles (15 minutes) west of the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, and is in close proximity to a number of restaurants.

  Please coordinate all arrangements activities through Aida Rahim, our current Arrangements Chair.  Please pay attention to the due dates for registration in the attachment.

Please consider giving a paper at the conference.
The sharing of knowledge is at the root of what keeps this organization alive.

MORE DETAILS
Registration Form

Pay the $300 conference fee through PayPal here:

Members

  The Western Regional Strain Gage Committee (WRSGC) consists of members from companies and government agencies mostly from the Western United States.  Our members include:

  • Major Aircraft Companies
  • National Laboratories
  • Propulsion Engine Manufacturers
  • Government Facilities
  • Aerospace Research and Development firms
  • Strain Gage, Transducers and Instrumentation manufacturers.
    Organizations from other regions are also members.

WRSGC Member Companies

Advanced Hi-Temp Strain Sensors
B. F. Goodrich
Boeing D&S – St. Louis
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Test & Evaluation – Seattle
Boeing D&S – Huntington Beach
Cleveland Electric Laboratories
CIT Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dragon Wings/Minebea
Frontline Management, Inc.
Hamilton Precision Metals
HBM, Inc.
HITEC Corp.
Honeywell Engines & Systems
Honeywell/FM&T – Kansas City
HPI
Instrumentation Consultant – John Quinley
Interface, Inc.
Lebow Products
Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics
Lockheed-Martin Space Systems
Lockheed-Martin Tactical Aircraft

Los Alamos National Laboratory
Luna Innovations
Micron Optics
MTS Systems Corp.
NACCO Materials Handling Group
NASA Dryden F.R.C.
NASA LARC
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
Rdf Corp.
Sandia National Laboratory – Albuquerque
Sandia National Laboratory – California
Solar Turbines
Stein Engineering Services, Inc.
Strain Gage and Instrumentation Services
Stresscoat, Inc.
Tovey Engineering, Inc.
Valid Measurements
Vishay Precision Gages
Micro-Measurements
VTI Instruments Corporation

WRSGC Sponsoring Companies

WRSGClogo
DSCN8482
luna-logo
VPG
mts
Tovey Engineering
Precision Filters Inc.
kyowa2
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hbm
HPI (2)
ni



  AMETEK Specialty Metal Products is a global leader in the production of metal powders, master alloys, clad metals, specialty wire products, metal strip, engineered shaped components, thermal management products, foil, and precision strip. These materials are used in a variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, defense, medical and general industrial.
Website | Contact Dr. Mark Robinson

  • VTI Instruments delivers precision modular instrumentation and systems for electronic signal distribution, acquisition, and monitoring, used in the world’s most demanding test applications. The company’s products and systems are used to monitor and record data that characterizes the physical integrity and performance of aircraft, engines, and other large structures, as well as automate the functional testing of complex electronic systems.
      VTI is recognized as an industry leader with a reputation of providing reliable data, first time, every time. A sustained focus on innovation and technology enables VTIs customers to optimize their capital investment through product longevity, while ensuring unmatched measurement integrity and data reliability. An AMETEK SMP family of companies.
    Website     | Contact Chris Gibson


Gantner Instruments is a global leader in the development of flexible DAQ measurement and control systems targeted at industrial applications. By delivering the high-speed, high-accuracy data acquisition products required in today’s demanding testing environments, Gantner Instruments is able to provide complete and open platform test and measurement solutions for OEM’s, systems integrators, and end users alike.
Website | Contact Stephen Ploegman


HBM Test and Measurement is the technology and market leader and offers products and services for an extensive range of measurement applications in many industries.
  Users worldwide rely on the perfectly matched components of the complete measurement chain that guarantees maximum accuracy of measurement results and enables optimization of the complete product life cycle: from the development through the testing stages, as well as in manufacturing and production.
  HBM‘s product range covers sensors, transducers, strain gauges, amplifiers and data acquisition systems as well as software for structural durability investigations, tests and analysis. The potential fields of application can be found in every branch of engineering and industry in both virtual and physical test and measurement.
Website | Contact Bart Morrick | Contact Walt Farchmin


HITEC was established in 1971 to provide a wide range of Specialized Engineering Services for elevated temperature and extreme environment sensor installations and measurements. Specific advances by the founders of the company include the development of various sensor application techniques that contribute to our success in the sensor industry. Throughout the years we have expanded our capabilities to offer custom transducerization of components to a wide variety of industries and custom OEM transducers from design to production in large quantities.
Now called HITEC Sensor Solutions, as of 2010, we are proudly part of Safety Technology Holdings, Inc.
Website | Contact Domenic El-Achkar

HPI is a leading manufacturer and global supplier of Strain Gages.
Used extensively for dynamic and static strain measurement in high temperature and waterproof applications, HPI strain gages can be purchased as pre-assembled units for easy field installation and strain measurement. Our products can be customized with many options to fit your application needs.
  Aerospace, transportation, civil engineering and industrial organizations worldwide rely on our strain gages for critical strain measurement applications. Universities and government agencies purchase our products for use in experimental stress analysis projects for engineering and research programs.
Website | Contact Vince Wnuk

Interface Inc. is the trusted world leader in force measurement solutions; designing, manufacturing, and guaranteeing the highest quality performance load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, and related instrumentation available. Our engineers provide solutions to the aerospace/government, automotive, energy, industrial, medical, test and measurement, and university industries — from grams to millions of pounds — in hundreds of configurations using Interface proprietary alloy strain gages.
  We are the preeminent supplier to Fortune 100 companies and thousands of certified calibration labs worldwide. Our in-house calibration labs, certified to ISO-17025 and ANSI Z540.1, support a variety test standards including ASTM E74, ISO-376, and many others.
Website | Contact Ken Vining

KYOWA commercialized strain gauges first in Japan. Based on abundant experiences and technologies accumulated throughout over 60 years since 1951 the first Japanese-made strain gauges were commercialized, KYOWA manufactures a variety of high-performance strain gauges, strain-gauge transducers, measuring instruments and systems. These products have been used in various countries and regions.
Website | Contact Kazuhiko Morishima


Luna is the leader in fiber optic sensing technology with unique platforms ideal for applications in aerospace, automotive and energy. Products based on the high definition fiber optic sensing (HD-FOS) technology include network inspection tools (used within telecommunications and aerospace industries), strain and temperature sensors, and data acquisition systems used by all of the major aerospace companies for ground based component and assembly testing. Luna’s technology ensures better, faster, and more cost effective testing throughout the entire structural validation cycle.
Website | Contact Aida Rahim


Micron Optics, Inc., is an established leader of innovative optical components and laser-based equipment that advance the quality of optical measurements, allowing the sensing, imaging and telecommunications industries to make the critical measurements they need. The Micron Optics comprehensive product portfolio of tunable optical filters, swept lasers, optical sensors and sensing interrogators delivers the highest degree of measurement precision, resolution, and accuracy required for customers to yield superior, advanced solutions.
Website | Contact Tom Graver |


 

Measurement. Accuracy. Certainty. These concepts allow engineers in research, product development and manufacturing to turn mere ideas into tangible, working results. MTS Systems Corporation is dedicated to making this transformation faster, easier and more successful. Since 1966, we have worked side-by-side with engineers in a wide range of industries to solve complex challenges. Today, our high-performance testing and sensing solutions are deployed around the world, enabling precise control of forces and motions as well as real-time feedback that optimizes performance. But our technology is only half the story. Our team brings unparalleled expertise to every engagement. With more than four decades of real-world experience, we are uniquely equipped to help our customers adapt to change, anticipate new requirements and take on even the most difficult tasks with speed and confidence.
Website | Contact Glenn Lucachick | Contact Rick Bearden


 

National Instruments provides powerful, flexible technology solutions that accelerate productivity and drive rapid innovation. Customers in nearly every industry—from healthcare and automotive to consumer electronics and particle physics—use NI’s integrated hardware and software platform to improve our world.  For strain gage applications, NI provides a broad range of high performance data acquisition platforms and industry leading software tools, including LabVIEW™, for any testing needs.
Website | Contact David Ashlock

 

 

 

Pacific Instruments, Inc. is an industry leader in the design, manufacture and support of state-of-the-art, computer-automated physical measurement systems. Major aerospace and vehicle companies, government-funded research agencies and the military use these systems to measure, store and analyze information and results from research and development projects. Pacific Instruments‘ advanced computer technology is enabling these companies to efficiently solve real-world problems in such areas as passenger safety, earthquake building design and survivability, explosives technology and containment, aircraft engine and airfoil design and general scientific research.
Website | Contact Scott Swinford | Contact Chris Lloyd


 

Founded in 1975, Precision Filters, Inc. (PFI), an ISO 9001:2015 certificated company, is a manufacturer and global distributor of high performance instrumentation for test measurements. PFI designs and manufactures precision product solutions that include a family of analog signal conditioning, filtering and switching systems. The 28000 Signal Conditioning System provides a complete range of transducer conditioning with up to 256 channels per chassis. PFI’s C Series signal conditioning modules adds new measurement system possibilities to the cDAQ and cRIO platforms. Precision’s solid-state switch provides up to 256×256 cross-point switching and replaces tedious manual patch panels. The PF-1U provides 8 or 16 channels of high performance filter/amplifiers in a compact package with Ethernet control.
Website | Contact Doug Firth


 

PCB Piezotronics, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of microphones, vibration, pressure, force, torque, load, and strain sensors, as well as the pioneer of ICP® technology. PCB’s high quality, precision rod end, s-type, fatigue rated, dual bridge load cells, torque transducers, telemetry systems, and fastener torque-tension test systems are used by design engineers worldwide for testing and measurement in automotive, aerospace, industrial, R&D, military, educational, commercial, and OEM applications.
  In addition to a vast product portfolio, PCB® also offers many services including: A2LA Accredited Calibration Services for torque, force, and related instrumentation. With a worldwide customer support team, 24-hour SensorLine®, and a global distribution network – PCB® is committed to Total Customer Satisfaction.
Website | Contact Jay Mendoza


 

Tovey Engineering was founded in 1995 to advance the state-of-the-art in high performance load cells and to provide a sophisticated force measurement resource for mechanical test engineers and force and torque metrology labs. The Company has generated significant growth in both revenues and number of customers since inception, with particularly rapid growth over the last few years.
  Our commitment to a strong technical foundation is reflected in our customer base. Tovey currently manufactures load cells for many major test machine makers and sells very high performance load cells on a private label basis to select calibration and branded load cell firms. Our customers include domestic and international measurement firms, research and standards labs, aerospace and automotive industries.
Website | Contact Mike Tovey


 

  VPG Vishay Precision Group is an internationally recognized designer, manufacturer and marketer of resistive foil technology, sensors, and sensor-based systems to niche, industrial applications.  Our products, systems and solutions are marketed under a variety of brand names that have a very high level of precision and quality.
  Our vision is to be the leading provider of foil components, sensors, and sensor-based systems with the highest precision, quality, and service for measuring force (weight, pressure, torque, acceleration) and current.  Our strategy is to achieve corporate growth and shareholder value by expanding our existing product portfolio, as well as by acquiring complementary technology products.
Website | Contact Tom Rummage | Contact Darryl Peterson