Pepperl+Fuchs Blog

Photoelectric sensors use visible red light or infrared light detected by a receiver to determine the distance away an object is and the interruption in light emitted. Excellent for use in automation, photoelectric sensors provide fast, non-contact detection for multiple applications.

Many industries need to use multiple metals during manufacturing and processing. However, complications can arise when different types of metals are used with standard inductive proximity sensors. If a metal is less ferrous (less magnetic), for example, a larger proximity sensor may have to be used or the sensor may have to be moved closer to the object being detected. Production must stop to exchange and/or move the proximity sensor, using up valuable time. Reduction factor 1 (R1) inductive sensors eliminate this problem and increase productivity. Here are a few of the ways they can be applied:

Pepperl+Fuchs IO-Link photoelectric sensors have many lesser-known features. In addition to operational parameters, sensor information, and other commonly used and viewed items, many of our IO-Link photoelectric sensors include features that are helpful in multiple applications. These features include locator indication, device control, trend charts, and data collection interval.

Companies place more than product on their conveyor systems. They also rely on this technology to improve productivity and lower material handling costs. If conveyor technology remains outdated, however, the burden on maintenance staff increases as does energy consumption. The G20 ZPA motor control module from Pepperl+Fuchs provides the reliability and cost savings that companies depend on.

Hygienic Ultrasonic Sensors for the Food Industry

The food and beverage industry imposes extremely strict regulations on the design of machines and their components. According to EHEDG hygienic design principles, machines and their components must be:

One of the biggest advancements in automation was the incorporation of time-of-flight technology into photoelectric sensors. Pepperl+Fuchs took that technology and improved on it, creating the advanced time-of-flight measurement known as Pulse Ranging Technology (PRT). PRT provides continuous measurement of a target’s distance by using the speed of light as a constant while sending out extremely short but very powerful pulses of light and calculating the duration between the time a pulse is sent and the time it is received.

Sensors with Pulse Ranging Technology have wider measuring ranges, higher detection ranges, and incredible precision, and neither external light nor variations in reflection characteristics affect sensor function. The sensors also offer a great deal of versatility. Whether an application is fast-paced, requires reliable detection of irregular surfaces, or ensures accurate positioning, sensors with PRT use the same measurement process to provide the precision you need.

Want to learn more? Check out how PRT is used in one of our photoelectric sensors in our blog post:

According to the global transport and logistics insurer TT Club, container ship fires happen every 60 days. Half of these fires start in the engine room, and most of them are caused by pressurized system leaks. However, fires can occur anywhere where there is air, fuel, and heat. When a fire does happen on a vessel, crew members’ lives depend on the speed and reliability of the ship’s alert system.

Industries from automotive to pharmaceuticals share the goal of increasing workflow efficiency on factory floors and in distribution centers. Many are turning to industrial automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to better their intralogistics. With the help of sensor technology from specialists like Pepperl+Fuchs, AGV systems benefit manufacturers in the following ways: