Tire manufacturing machinery in general, and tire curing presses in particular, incorporate numerous sensors and indicators that contribute to machine efficiency. As an example, tire curing presses often use magnetostrictive linear position sensors for feedback and control of mold open/close. Overwhelmingly, sensors that provide an analog, 4-20 mA signal are used. But there's a better alternative to typical analog feedback: IO-Link.
The MDJ-100 is a fully redundant PROFIBUS-based system enabling communication in more than 50 shaft mines across eastern Europe. The network incorporates intrinsic safety (PROFIBUS PA) to cope with the explosive environment below ground, and functional safety (PROFIsafe) to ensure worker safety at all times.
Pipelines transporting various liquids in open space must often be protected against freezing by using electrical heating wires. Effectiveness and reliability are vital. ATER Logic from Olsztyn, Poland is modernizing heating pipelines systems, allowing full control and process monitoring through the use of IO-Link.
Machines in the printing industry have many interfaces to the office world. Plate setters, punch benders, and the actual printing machine must be networked together and connected to the system of the print shop. Instead of conventional point-to-point wiring, remote Profinet I/O modules collect the signals directly on the stacker and bring them to the box PC controller in the control cabinet. Transparency, diagnostics and remote maintenance are easy because it's all based on Ethernet.
A leading integrator of factory automation and robotics solutions selected the Comtrol DeviceMaster UP 2-port 2E for a production line cell for forging spindles. In this application, laser markers communicating via TCP/IP were used to apply a serial number to the spindles. The commands were sent to the marker through a PLC running Profinet.
Modern technology allows you to do a lot of things remotely. Soaking in a spa is not one of them (at least not yet). However, with eWON remote solutions, water treatment specialists Aquila Wasseraufbereitungstechnik GmbH and their sister company Autech Tesla have found a way to do maintenance and troubleshooting of their spa system “The World of Elements” from any location. PROFINET is the automation network backbone providing both determinism and openness.
When the foundry machinery manufacturer Laempe Mössner Sinto planned the new LHL machine series, it decided to implement the entire automation for this with IO-Link. This produces several benefits: Besides costs, the manufacturer also saves the time required for the installation, wiring and electrical planning, while customers benefit from a more dynamic and faster machine.
A renowned manufacturer of sophisticated mechatronic products relies on RFID technology integrated into production processes via IO-Link. The manufacturer utilizes this technology in the final assembly of the power electronics units for premium electric cars. The mobile data storage devices are suitable for the increased temperatures encountered during casting.
