Hermetically sealed load cell

A load cell includes two beam elements and a strain gage arranged on a narrow sensing section of a beam element, on a flat planar outer surface facing outwardly away from the median plane extending longitudinally through the load cell. A cup-shaped seal cap encloses the strain gage, and is laser welded onto the outer surface of the beam element to form a hermetic seal. A wiring tunnel in the load cell body leads from inside the seal cap into an electronics cavity for wires to pass from the strain gage to electronic circuitry in the cavity. The load cell body and seal caps, made of stainless steel or titanium, are entirely hermetically sealed and suitable for use in harsh environments. The seal caps have a minimal influence on the strain development in the beam element sensing sections. The load cell has a low-end capacity of 5 kg or less.