Pepperl+Fuchs Blog

Industry 4.0 applications require sensors that do more than just deliver process data to the PLC. Sensors must also be able to communicate with PLCs and higher-level SCADA or cloud systems. Pepperl+Fuchs IO-Link masters make this possible.

The safety integrity level, or SIL for short, is an indicator that makes risk reduction quantifiable. Plant and machinery can pose risks that are so dangerous that people and the environment should not be exposed to them under any circumstances. If such a hazard exists, the associated risks must be mitigated to meet the need for safety.

SIL is a core element of functional safety and simultaneously the object of many misconceptions. Pepperl+Fuchs clarifies three of the most common misunderstandings.

Digitalization can be daunting. But with the right technologies, you can take the following steps to prepare your factory for Industry 4.0:

Double sheet sensors are used to monitor layers of materials as they are fed into machines. While the default settings for Pepperl+Fuchs’ double sheet sensors are suitable for over 90% of all usable materials, it is important to consider the following factors before choosing which settings to use: environmental conditions, material characteristics, and alignment accuracy. Each of these can affect measurement accuracy in double sheet detection and must be accounted for.

What does it mean to have an OPC UA server combined with an IO-Link master with MultiLink™? And, more importantly, what can you DO with it?

Pepperl+Fuchs mobile equipment connectivity products must withstand the world’s toughest environments. In many applications, extreme temperatures, heavy contamination, aggressive substances, and mechanical stress play a major role. Connectors have to be sufficiently rugged and resistant and are tested above and beyond these requirements. But how can Pepperl+Fuchs maintain the promised quality of its products? In this blog post, we explain which tests our mobile equipment connectivity products go through to meet our high quality standards.

Networking different systems from diverse manufacturers—all of which feature different interfaces, profiles, and communication mechanisms—is the challenge of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This is where OPC UA comes in. It creates a uniform basis for continuous information exchange from the field to the cloud.

Safe Switch-On with Line Fault Transparency

Highly automated systems in sensitive areas of the process industry must ensure that pumps, valves, and active cooling systems are switched on safely at all times. All signal circuits must be monitored for possible line faults on the field side to ensure that all installed safety functions operate correctly if there is a fault. In this blog post, we explain the advantages plant operators have with using line fault transparency (LFT) modules from Pepperl+Fuchs ...

No matter the industry, application, or metal target, Pepperl+Fuchs has an inductive proximity sensor that can provide reliable object detection. Ranging from Basic Series sensors, which combine accuracy, durability, and cost effectiveness, to the ruggedized metal face Pile Driver and Mobile Equipment Series, choosing the best inductive sensor from our broad portfolio depends entirely on the needs of your application.

There are many types of protection available for your electrical control panel. Increased Safety (Ex e) and flameproof (Ex d) are two common protection types for electrical control panel enclosures installed in hazardous locations. Choosing the correct type of enclosure can be difficult and depends on many factors, including: