Digitisation has branched into industry under the keyword Industry 4.0. IO-Link offers significant advantages when it comes to reliably controlling the entire system technology in process control with a vast number of measuring points, control devices and operating elements. The new dimension of hygienic measurement technology is hybrid and modular.
Anderson-Negele’s ITM-51 incorporates flex-hybrid technology with IO-Link and 4-20 mA, which allows data from the sensor to be transmitted digitally, as an analog signal, or in parallel. The bidirectional communication enables status control and preventive maintenance at any time to avoid production downtimes. Installation and commissioning are time and cost-saving thanks to plug-and-play technology, and sensor replacement is easier thanks to ‘Smart Replace Design’ with automatic detection, configuration and parameterisation.
Modular sensor platform
IO-Link alone is a big step towards industry 4.0 in hygienic process technology. The flex-hybrid connection of digital and analog communication enables the simultaneous use of both to create flexibility. With its application-specific configuration, the modular sensor platform offers equipment that is tailored to requirements and cost optimised. It enables simple replacement of individual components such as display or electronics. The optional remote version also features separate sensors and electronics housings. The electronics are identical for all sensor types and recognise them independently, while each sensing device can be replaced simply by exchanging and connecting, and only one replacement unit of electronics housing and cable is necessary for all sensor types.
Benefits in the production process
ITM-51 enables active automated phase separation of milk and milk products, beer and yeast, by inline analysis of the turbidity and active switching of the process.
The passive phase separation by means of time or volume control always needs a safety margin. Therefore, in every process step product is lost or quality is affected. Advantages with ITM-51 include:
• Minimisation of the loss of raw material and thus of value.
• The filling of tanks with incorrect medium is reliably avoided.
• Less cost for wastewater treatment.
• Best possible concentration and thus a constantly high quality of the product.
• Efficient separator control in breweries for uniform quality of beer.
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