Get down and dirty with Sensors & Equipment from Turck Banner

02 May 2018

The demand from industry to provide sensors and equipment that can withstand arduous conditions presents an on-going challenge for manufacturers. Not surprisingly the heavy industries such as oil, gas, mining and marine pose numerous challenges but many of the so called lighter industries are also hard on automation equipment.

Turck Banner EZLSA Safety Light Curtain

For example, the food industry with its constant need for process machinery wash-down can be a grave-yard for sensors and equipment. Such wash-down routines often follow high temperature operation with the resulting temperature shock plus the use of caustic and acidic cleaning agents taking its toll.

The most advanced electronic circuitry in the world, whether it be in a sensor, safety light curtain or LED indicator will be compromised if it cannot be protected from the demands of extreme applications.

With decades of experience in developing photoelectric sensors for harsh environments and utilising specific housing materials, Turck Banner is fully conversant with the requirements of all major industry sectors. The effective encapsulation of electronic circuitry and advanced sealing techniques has been emulated across all product sectors allowing the supply of a very comprehensive range, for all industries, whatever the environment.

The latest developments from key product sectors are highlighted below:

EZLSA Safety Light Curtains

Ensuring the operation and integrity of safety light curtains in arduous conditions presents a particular challenge. To meet this challenge Turck Banner offers the EZLSA Safety Light Curtain in a factory installed and sealed IP69K hygienic housing for use in wash-down and arduous environments.

Based on the industry tested EZ-Screen range, EZLSA utilises rugged polycarbonate enclosures with stainless steel end caps and mounting brackets.

These IP67/IP69K rated models are food industry approved and will withstand the harshest common cleaning agents. The polycarbonate housing will not discolour or become cloudy over time, ensuring reliable performance and a long lifespan.

K50 Touch Buttons

False triggering is a common problem that can be caused by a number of conditions including the build-up of detergents, oils and other foreign materials as well as exposure to direct water spray. The original K50 domed touch buttons offer exceptional immunity to false triggering and electrical noise. Now available, the next generation offers the same immunity in a compact version with a flat touch surface.

K50 Touch Buttons offer improved actuation performance with gloves and are easily actuated with the touch of a finger, hand or whole palm, requiring no physical pressure to operate and are available in 1, 2 and 3 colour models. The K50 Compact models have a low-profile (17 mm) design and are ideal for use in panels, cabinets and other space constrained applications, or where the preference is to have a touch button with a flat surface. In the K50 Compact the LED lights are concentrated closer to the window than domed models, making the indication brighter when viewed directly, even in sunlight bright conditions.

WLS27 LED Strip Light

Featuring a durable aluminum internal structure and shatterproof, UV-stabilised, polycarbonate shell, WLS27 LED strip lights are ideal for harsh indoor and outdoor applications and resist exposure to high-pressure, high-temperature water, solvents, cutting oils and a broad range of chemicals. The smooth, no-crevice design enables thorough high-pressure cleansing, vital in food and beverage applications.

WLS27 LED strip lights provide brilliant, even illumination in difficult environments.
A redundant sealing method prevents water ingress to achieve IEC IP66, IP67, and IP69K ratings. These cost-effective LED light strips will provide vivid, low-power, maintenance-free illumination throughout their 50,000+ lifespan. A unique feature of the range is the built-in automatic temperature protection. Above 50 °C, the light dims imperceptibly to manage heat and protect product lifetime.

WLS27 is available in eight lengths from 145 mm to 1130 mm, with stand-alone models or cascade types that can be "daisy-chained" together for a continuous length of lighting, with a minimum of wiring.

QS30 Opposed Mode Sensor

Engineers seeking sensing solutions in environments such as heavy fog, dust and industrial process contamination are turning to Turck Banner’s QS30. Part of the stylish QS30 series the QS30EX and QS30RX are a high-power emitter and receiver pair designed to provide maximum excess gain (burn-through) for accurate reliable sensing in poor visibility applications. Examples include car wash, traffic toll booths, bulk products handling, car component manufacture and machining processes.

Featuring innovative circuitry, these sensors offer a 213 metre sensing range and the best cross-talk, electrical noise and sunlight immunity of any sensing pair on the market today.

The sensors' rugged housings are sealed to a rating of IP69K - the standard for industrial applications requiring 1200 PSI hose-down protection. For added durability in harsh application conditions the internal components of the QS30EX and QS30RX sensors are completely epoxy-encapsulated. A unique lens design further adds to the exceptional functionality of this sensing pair by shedding water and debris to reduce the occurrence of lens contamination.

Turck Banner also offer laser distance sensing with their Q3X/Q4X ranges, giving reliable sensing from 25 – 610 mm in robust, food agency approved, stainless steel housings offering IP69K protection. These devices are easy to set up and can detect a wide variety of colours, materials and surfaces.

Manufactured and tested to extreme conditions this selection of sensors and equipment offers continuous, reliable operation in the toughest application environments. Turck Banner also manufacture a range of condition monitoring devices covering temperature, humidity and vibration, a further aid in arduous conditions.