SICK W4 Inox Miniature Photoelectric Sensors, Small, Tough & Powerful

Size does not guarantee strength or ability and this is certainly the case with the SICK W4 Inox range, SICK’s first miniature stainless steel photoelectric Inox sensor that has been designed for use in the most demanding hygienic installations, such as Sterilise-in-Place (SIP) & Clean-in-Place (CIP). Capable and dependable, this miniature photoelectric sensor combines stainless steel-shielded durability with in-built remote sensor intelligence, ideal for use in processing plant wet areas and packaging machines such as those found in the Pharmaceutical and Food & Beverage industries.

With an impressive IP69K rating, the W4 Inox Sensor range brings the latest advances in on-board sensor processing power called ‘Smart Tasks’ to fully-hygienic production processing environments. Smart Tasks are intelligent logic functions which the sensors uses to autonomously control process tasks such as counting products, checking sealing caps and pack sizes, and switching actuators.

SICK’s UK Product Manager for Presence Detection, David Hannaby, had this to say about the W4 Inox range.

“The SICK W4 Inox offers all the long-life durability you would expect from a high-class SICK Inox sensor. With a housing made from extremely resistant stainless steel, the SICK W4 Inox is designed to be completely impervious to water ingress or aggressive cleaning media, even in the most challenging conditions.

Regardless of whether you are dealing with a CIP or SIP processes, manual exterior cleaning such as in a filling line, or sterilizing pharmaceutical sterile boxes with hydrogen peroxide, the W4 can be relied on to keep on performing during a long life, as can the all-important connectors and accessories.
Part of the trend towards ‘edge computing’ capability, Smart Tasks remove processing time and load from PLCs or other higher-level controls.

The W4 Inox’s ability to operate defined tasks autonomously and remotely will therefore be particularly attractive in high-speed food processing plants, filling and packaging lines. It offers a chance to improve production efficiency and enable greater process responsiveness including more frequent product changeovers.”

 

 

Smarter Than Your Average Sensor

SICK W4 Inox sensor in sit

The W4 Inox’s built-in Smart Tasks initiates logic functions that process the sensors signals, linking them with additional binary switching signals from an external sensor if necessary. The Smart Task utilises this processing data to generate output process signals from the sensor.
For example, the SICK W4 Inox Smart Sensor can detect and measure objects and gaps between bottles on a filling line using the ‘object and gap monitor’ ability. As opposed to the PLC interpreting data, the W4 Inox alerts the control system only if there are deviations from predetermined values while controlling the process at hand.

The W4 Inox’s “counting and debouncing” Smart Task feature enables a quick completeness check, offering extra protection against errors caused by PLC cycling time. Immune to ambient light and with excellent background suppression the W4 can detect reflective, transparent, and jet-black objects with ease.

SICK W4 Inox sensor in situ

SICK W4 Inox Miniature Photoelectric Sensor Range Features

• Built-in ‘Smart-task’ internal signal process control
• Resistant to a large variety of disinfectants and cleaning agents
• Ideal for extreme washdown applications, CIP, SIP
• Highly visible laser-like light pinpoint LED
• Background suppression
• Teach-in button and cable adjustment options
• PNP, NPN switching output versions
• Flexible sensing settings, monitoring, diagnostics
• IO-link provides easy data access via PLC, easy to set up
• Available in a range of sensing distances up to 5 metres
• Detects reflective, transparent and black objects
• 316 L Stainless steel body
• Injection moulded unibody housing
• IP69K rated, water tight construction
• Range of connectivity options

View some of the range on offer


Kempston Controls is committed to finding you the ideal solution for your application. Call us today on +44 (0) 1933 411 411, email us at sales@kempstoncontrols.co.uk, or alternatively contact us here, we will be happy to help.

Kempston Controls

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