SICK (UK) LTD

The OD5000 displacement sensor has been launched by SICK to provide high-performance measurement at frequencies of up to 80kHz even with fast-moving and rotating objects, and in high-speed production. The sensor also has an outstanding capability for thickness measurement of surface coatings and transparent materials.

Returning to the UKIVA Machine Vision Conference, SICK will be bringing the news of its pioneering AppSpace programming environment and how the concept is starting to bear fruit for automation and robotics development. At last year’s event, SICK successfully launched AppSpace, an open software platform that allows free and flexible customisation of applications on SICK programmable sensors and devices. 

Expanding its next-gen microScan3 family SICK has introduced the addition of EtherNet/IP and PROFINET compatible variants to enable easy integration of safety laser scanners into a safe network. This also facilitates simultaneous field evaluation of up to four fields, instead of the single field offered by standard I/O scanners. The SICK microScan3 Core – EtherNet/IP is the first safety laser scanner to support CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP and the microScan3 Core – PROFINET enables safe and reliable bus communication using the PROFIsafe protocol over PROFINET.

At the 2018 MACH show SICK will be demonstrating its UK SafetyIQ concept, the company’s universal approach to ensuring safe, compliant personnel protection without compromising on machine availability, efficiency and productivity. SICK’s machinery safety experts will be on hand on stand H18-421 to discuss SafetyIQ, a full suite of safety products, services and systems underpinned by networking and integration that enables customers to achieve Industry 4.0-ready functional safety in automated production.

New standards have been set with SICK’s use of multiple light beams to safeguard the area surrounding hazardous machinery with the launch of the deTem Core family of safety light curtains for applications up to SIL3 / PL ‘e’ (Type 4). The deTem2 Core and deTem4 Core multi-beam range complement SICK’s popular deTec4 and deTec2 light curtain range. The deTem’s long range and space-saving capability enable the safety distances around machines to be minimised without compromising productivity.

With Industry 4.0 on our door step and smart factories predicted to be the next big thing, SICK has got its head screwed on and is concentrating on intelligent and communicative sensors and sensor solutions for use in smart factories at this year’s SPS Drives show in Nuremberg. With years of experience under its belt, combined with intensive research and development work, SICK has a range of products and solutions that help to lay the foundation for more flexible, transparent processes in a variety of ways. 

The SureSense family of user-customisable photo-electric sensors have been developed by SICK as a concept that enables machine builders and plant engineers to specify from a wide-range of sensing options all within a standard technology, set-up, mounting and housing. The durable SureSense sensors can reliably detect nearly any object in any environment – ensuring machines and lines stay up and running at full capacity. 

In order to provide robust solutions in hygienic processing environments with rigorous high pressure, high temperature wash-down procedures, SICK has introduced IP69K-rated versions of its deTec and deTem safety light curtains. Protected by specially-developed IP69K enclosures, the SICK deTec and deTem light curtains will not be compromised by aggressive regimes such as Clean- and Sterilise-in-Place (CIP and SIP). Additionally, cleaning is quicker, easier and less costly than with mechanical safety protection such as access gates or safety fencing.

To provide users with a versatile and economical user-configurable motion control sensor, SICK has launched the DUS60 incremental encoder and DUV60 measuring wheel encoder with DIP switch programmability. The shaft-mounted SICK DUS60 rotary incremental encoder can be installed and commissioned quickly for a wide-variety of conveying and rotation monitoring applications in automated processing and production. 

The new SICK OD5000 displacement sets new performance standards when accurate, wafer-thin measurement is needed in electronics and solar photovoltaic manufacture. With a high measuring frequency up to 80kHz and resolutions down to 0.003µm, the OD5000 promises consistent and reliable laser-based displacement measurement of coatings, deposits, gaps and glass layers.

Setting new standards in high-precision distance measurement, the SICK OD1000 displacement sensor has extremely long 1m scanning range and a resolution down to 450µm. Developed by SICK to achieve high consistency and linearity in measurement results on many different surfaces and colours, even at high production speeds, the OD1000 goes the extra distance for performance and value.

Opening up its HIPERFACE DSL (Digital-Servo-Link) interface SICK has announced it will be available to all its users. When launched six years ago, the interface made a single cable servomotor a reliable proposition for the very first time.  Following the rapid adoption of the revolutionary One Cable Technology, SICK has decided that the interface it invented will now be available as an open protocol.

  The KTS/KTX family of contrast sensors have been launched by SICK, to deliver a powerful next-generation technology which will break new ground in reliability, accuracy and versatility for print, labelling, converting and packaging applications.

Launching an open software platform for programmable sensors, SICK AppSpace, SICK UK has designed for system integrators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to use to develop and implement tailor-made application solutions on SICK programmable devices. The first UKIVA Machine Vision Conference on 27th April in Milton Keynes will be a launch pad for SICK AppSpace and an early opportunity for developers and end-users to experience its far-reaching programming potential first hand.

The TR10 Lock has been introduced by SICK, for highly-reliable mechanical locking of moveable safety protection on machinery, such as guards, hoods, flaps, doors and screens. The SICK TR10 Lock is a safety locking device providing PLe (EN ISO 13849) SIL3 (IEC 61508) protection for personnel and processes through physical locking of moveable safety equipment such as guards and screens to prevent access to, or interference with, machinery in a hazardous area.

Finding the potential for sensor intelligence to power forward the fourth industrial revolution in sectors such as factory, logistics and process automation, is the theme appearing on SICK UK’s stand at the Industry 4.0 Summit in Manchester on 4th-5th April. Automation experts on SICK’s stand no: R20 will demonstrate typical applications that use Smart Sensors as the essential building blocks to deliver the data needed for a fully-connected and safe Industry 4.0 environment. 

At the first UKIVA Machine Vision Conference on 27th April in Milton Keynes, SICK UK will be revealing standout developments to its machine vision and imaging capabilities. The conference is set to open new doors for Industry 4.0-ready manufacturing and logistics.

  Adding to its Inspector 2D vision family, SICK has developed the InspectorP, its first fully user-programmable range of 2D cameras with the performance and flexibility needed for critical vision duties in verification, inspection and quality control.

A Transponder Safety Switch has been launched by SICK to use non-contact RFID technology which provides reliable and tamper-proof personnel protection on removable guards to PLe/SIL3, with easy installation and safety system integration. The SICK STR1 can be installed individually or in series with up to 30 units, using T-junctions or the SICK Flexi Loop safety sensor cascade whilst still achieving PLe (EN ISO 13849) and SIL3 (IEC62061).

Developed for precision measurement of continuous and sheet fed materials in conveying applications, is SICK’s DBV50 Measuring Wheel, suitable for a wide range of industries from logistics to textiles, paper and card, and timber materials in an easy-mount, plug-and-play unit.