ifm's exceptionally large product range does not only consider all relevant standard solutions, but also the specific requirements of individual industries. Apart from position and process sensors, this product range also includes sensors for motion control and safety technology. In addition to this, ifm offers products for industrial image processing and communication as well as identification systems for mobile machines.

POSITION SENSORS : Position sensors being an indispensable element in industrial applications is reliable to detect positions on machines. As compared to mechanical switches, inductive, capacitive and magnetic sensors offer almost ideal conditions: operation without contact and wear as well as high switching frequencies and accuracy. In addition, they are insensitive to vibration, dust and moisture.Cylinder sensors are used for position detection of pistons in pneumatic cylinders.In industrial processes where liquids, air or gases are used, valves are needed for dosing and control. Valve sensors have reliable signal that signals the positions of valve actuators, valves, slides and flaps.

SENSORS FOR MOTION CONTROL : In industrial applications where it is necessary to monitor drives for rotational speed or standstill, measure speeds, frequencies, distances, angles or positions and display, process and transmit current process values ifm sensors play a major role. In the automotive, food, steel and mining industries, speed sensors are used to safely detect standstill, overspeed and underspeed of drives or belt break on conveyors and on mobile machines such as fork-lift trucks, speed sensors serve as speed pick-ups they are extensively used. In the materials handling and wood industry, encoders have become established as reliable instruments for position and linear measurement.

INDUSTRIAL IMAGING : In automation technology visions sensors are an integral part of assembly and manufacturing tasks as well as quality control. In a robust, industrially compatible housing, the vision sensors combine lighting, lens, camera chip, evaluation and process connections for the integration in the higher-level controller.Applications can be found in the area of packaging, storage and materials handling, airport logistics, collision avoidance, robotics, and monitoring of space and persons.The illumination units generate a homogeneous light field with visible red or invisible infrared light - either for virtually shadow-free object illumination or for emphasising surface characteristics such as dot-peened codes, scratches or nicks.

SAFETY TECHNOLOGY : The ifm product range comprises a multitude of safety products including electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE), door switches, actuators and control systems. Unlike conventional safety switches, inductive safety sensors directly detect metal - without requiring a special target. Safety light curtains and safety light grids are used where hazardous areas must be secured. They are optoelectronic safety devices consisting of one transmitter and one receiver. They conform to the safety requirements of type 2 / SIL 1 or type 4 / SIL 3. AS-i door switches with guard locking have the function to keep moving protective equipment such as protective grating, protective guards and other covers closed as long as a dangerous state is present. The safe mushroom-headed E-stop buttons and other protective switches force a machine or installation to stop or shut down in a hazardous situation.

PROCESS SENSORS : Flow sensors monitor the coolant and lubricant supply of machines, power units and industrial furnaces or ensure ventilation of installations and buildings. Electronic level sensors monitor filling levels of liquids or bulk materials in containers, tanks and silos.In the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, temperature sensors are used to ensure that products are at the correct temperature. In machine tool and automotive applications, the temperature or temperature difference measured at drives, gears and motors plays an important role as an indicator of the machine condition. In the steel, metal and glass industries, temperature monitoring of cooling circuits serves to prevent overheating of plants.

INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATION : The actuator-sensor interface (AS-i) is a manufacturer-independent standard for the connection of actuators and sensors of the first field level. AS-Interface has become established as an economic wiring system in industrial automation. A two-wire flat cable transmits data and energy. This considerably reduces wiring complexity since conventional parallel wiring of each sensor or actuator to the controller is no longer necessary. It also saves the user a great number of terminals, splitter boxes, input/output cards and cable lines. AS-i gateways with integrated PLC function control the data exchange to the sensor/actuator level and communicate rapidly with the superior control level. They can be used as independent, decentralised controllers or as gateways to all common fieldbus systems. The range includes interfaces with EtherNet/IP, Profibus, Profinet, EtherCAT or CANopen.

IO LINK : IO-Link is a manufacturer-independent point-to-point communication system used to connect sensors and actuators to an automation system. An IO-Link system consists of an IO-Link master and several IO-Link devices. The IO-Link master represents the interface to the controller or fieldbus level and communicates with the connected IO-Link devices. IO-Link is capable of processing switching signals of binary sensors, process values of analogue sensors and their parameters in a purely digital form based on a 24 V signal. This eliminates measuring value errors associated with the transmission and conversion of analogue signals.

IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS : In production, intralogistics and conveying, automated identification based on 1D/2D codes or RFID labels has become a standard. Such automated identification systems enable the requirements-driven distribution of goods or assembly components as well as their traceability in real time. As a result, manufacturing and supply processes can be fully automatically controlled and seamlessly documented. In RF identification systems, workpiece or goods carriers are marked by RFID transponders, i.e., ID tags. Antennas enable non-contact reading from and/or writing to such ID tags. These data are immediately transferred to an RFID evaluation unit, where they are processed. The RFID evaluation unit transmits the data to the PLC via fieldbus interfaces such as PROFIBUS DP, PROFINET, Ethernet IP, Ethernet TCP/IP or EtherCAT. Applications are found in production lines, where the units are used for material flow control.

CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEMS : Condition monitoring systems are used for condition-based maintenance of machines and installations. They help to detect machine damage in good time and prevent costly consequential damage. The ifm product range comprises systems for monitoring vibration, oil quality, compressed air and water consumption. Vibration sensors detect damage to rolling element bearings and gears or unbalance in drives and rotating machine parts. Systems for oil quality monitoring assist in the early detection of water and abrasion particles in hydraulic liquids and lubricants to prevent operational disturbances or damage to hydraulic power units, pumps, valves, cylinders and machines.

SYSTEMS FOR MOBILE MACHINES : The extensive ecomatmobile control system includes a range of products to meet the special requirements of mobile applications. Even in extreme conditions such as heat, cold, moisture, dust and vibration maximum reliability is required. The product range includes controllers, displays and I/O modules. Telematics systems enable efficient fleet management and reliable remote maintenance and diagnosis. Main fields of application include construction machines, agricultural and forestry machinery, municipal vehicles and vehicles for transport and logistics.

CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY : ifm's ecolink series comprises sockets, cable plugs, jumper cables and splitter boxes in M8 and M12 design. The range is complemented by adapter sockets, adapter plugs, valve plugs and wirable sockets and plugs.Even when fastened by hand, a perfect lasting seal of sensor, actuator and splitter connections is guaranteed. The integrated end stop protects the O-ring against destruction caused by over-tightening the nut. Even in harsh industrial environments, the connectors are protected against unintended loosening by a special vibration protection. Some types are fitted with highly visible LEDs for operation and switching status indication.

IIOT SOFTWARE

POWER SUPPLIES : ifm power supplies for control cabinet installation provide power to the connected controllers, modules, sensors and actuators. They provide high noise immunity and sufficient power reserves to reliably handle short current spikes.The compact housing takes up very little space in the control cabinet. Thanks to their high degree of efficiency, the units save energy costs and reduce waste heat in the control cabinet. If the user wants to switch higher currents or even alternating currents, he must use a switching amplifier. For use in potentially explosive atmosphere switching amplifiers for NAMUR sensors are offered

ACCESSORIES : Correct mounting and a secure fit of the sensor are essential for reliable functioning. The wide range of accessories includes angle brackets, clamps, mounting plates, a variety of adapters and complete mounting sets.
Adapters and T-pieces provide easy, fast and reliable installation of process sensors in tanks or piping systems. ifm offers a wide range of process connections for use in industrial or hygienic applications. Protective devices shield the electronics, housings and displays of pressure, flow, level and temperature sensors from dirt, overheating, shocks and impacts.