Checking back!

Playing it safe in the event of a fault: The LCAM 308 IP camera from Leuze monitors hidden areas on stacker cranes and conveyor lines. This allows operators of logistics centres to trace back events reliably and rectify faults quickly and efficiently

Even in modern logistics centers, it is not always possible to fully rule out faults. However, system operators can take steps to guard against this: The new LCAM 308 IP camera from Leuze records the 60 seconds prior to a fault in full HD. This enables events to be easily traced back. This is important if you want to rectify a malfunction quickly and efficiently. The camera is flexible in use and is suitable for visually monitoring hidden areas on stacker cranes and conveyor lines.

Diverse functions.
Thanks to the comprehensive range of functions, system operators are equipped for every situation: For example, a live stream in HD resolution can be called up if required. Furthermore, the snapshot mode allows individual images to be captured, e.g. content of a box. This feature can be used during order picking to document whether the goods in the box were complete. Practical: Standard browsers or standard streaming tools are all that's needed for transmission of the 60-second recording or the live stream. No additional software is required. Operators are also spared having to deal with a flood of data: The LCAM 308 IP camera has a ring memory so that only the period before and after an event remains saved.

With its robust metal housing, the LCAM 308 industrial IP camera has an IP65 protection rating. Dust cannot get inside and the device is water-jet proof. The advantage for mounting: Dovetail, threaded holes and a wide range of mounting accessories enable universal installation.

@TheSensorPeople @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing 

Switches for wet or dusty applications.

Omron Electronics Components Europe has announced two new fully sealed, miniature micro switches offering an exceptionally compact and flexible solution for applications exposed to water spray or high levels of dust. The D2GW and D2AW are ideal for vending machines, smart meters, EV charging stations, security systems, HVAC equipment, white goods and similar applications where space is at a premium.

The new Omron D2GW is fully sealed to IP67 and can operate in temperatures of up to 85°C. It is set apart by its exceptionally small size (8.3mm × 6.5mm × 5.3mm) and is potentially the smallest switch of its type in the industry. Omron is offering the D2GW in a wide variety of styles, with a choice of mounting structures, actuators and terminal specifications to maximise application flexibility. The options include press-fit terminals to enable solder-less PCB installation, as well as solder terminals, PCB terminals and moulded wire leads. The D2GW features a symmetrical shape with the push button located in the centre, allowing levers to be added in either direction.

Omron has also announced a new version of its standard basic switch, the D2AW, also sealed to IP67. This switch features compact dimensions (13.3mm × 7.0mm × 5.3mm) and high insulation resistance of 100MΩ. A version of the switch, known as the D2AW-R, features an integrated internal resistor allowing the detection of four states: on, off, open circuit and short circuit. The switches are available with solder terminals, spade terminals and moulded wire leads.

Both the D2AW and the D2GW feature a unique contact design to maximise performance. A sliding contact construction achieves quiet operation and high contact reliability, wiping away any dust or other impurities. Both also have double contacts, to improve reliability.

@OmronEurope @OmronAutomation @NeeshamPR #PAuto 

Self-laminating SBP labels.

Wrap-around markers for wire and cable print easily and able to withstand extreme heat to 110 Deg C.

TE Connectivity (TE) has made improvements to its SBP vinyl label liner to work seamlessly with TE thermal transfer printers having movable sensor positions. These labels are used to identify wire and cable in harsh industrial environments.

TE’s SBP labels are now available in two liner formats. For thermal transfer printers with a movable sensor, the left edge sensor slot on the liner provides the sensor detection for printing accuracy. Our original liner for SBP labels is still available for printing with thermal transfer printers having a fixed sensor position. These labels have three reference holes for printer sensor detection. When ordering SBP labels, a ‘T-200’ is used at the end of its description to reference the three hole liner.

The SBP labels withstand temperatures from minus 40 degrees Celsius up to 110 degrees Celsius (minus 40 F to 230 F). The label also is qualified against standards for flammability, resistance to harsh chemicals and weather. In addition, the labels have certification under the UL 817 standard for power cords as well as the UL 2238 standard for cable assemblies. The UL 817 category recognizes the flexibility of SBP labels to wrap around cables, so they are more logical and straightforward for buyers.

SBP labels can be applied indoors or outdoors as self-laminating wrap-around labels that sit flat around cables for a tidy finish or as flagging labels that stand out from cables so that maintenance technicians can sort them with ease. Their ability to withstand exposure to oil, solvents and water makes them ideal for defense, industrial, telecoms, electrical, electronics and automotive applications.

The SBP labels are based on a thermal transfer printable vinyl film with a permanent acrylic adhesive. They have a white printable area that can be over-laminated with a transparent section. The over lamination protects the printed area and enables a higher level of print durability. TE’s SBP labels come in a variety of sizes and are usable down to a 2.0mm diameter, even on Fluoropolymer wire jackets.

The labels are fully free of substances of very high concern (SVHC), in line with TE’s drive to comply with the European Community’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation. SBP labels do not contain any declarable or prohibited substances from the UNIFE Railway Industry Substances List. See further information covering RoHS and REACH compliance here.

@TEConnectivity #PAuto 

Robust switchgear passes tests!

Many of the switchgear series from the .steute "Extreme" range are suitable for use in damp, wet or even saltwater environments. Corresponding corrosion tests, for example the saltspray test to DIN EN ISO 9227, control the quality of such devices and make them comparable to others regarding these features.

But how do the switching devices perform in practice? How are they really affected by intermittent waves or underwater fouling, for example? These are crucial questions for steute because the steute "Extreme" switches are often used in maritime applications – on ships, on oil rigs, in quayside anchoring systems, or at seaport container terminals.

In order to find answers to these questions, steute commissioned the Fraunhofer IFAM (Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials) in Bremen (D) to conduct a 1-year exposure test at its site on the small German island of Helgoland. The test procedure was as follows: several samples from each selected "Extreme" switchgear series – including position switches, foot switches and pull wire switches – were fastened to the exposed South mole, where the North Sea waves splashed them for one year. Some of the devices were installed in the tidal range, meaning that they were sometimes submerged and sometimes not. Any potential limitations of the devices in moving saltwater would thus be revealed. Where would fouling be evident, and would it affect the functional capacity of the switches?

These are ambient conditions which switching devices are hardly ever exposed to in practice. Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Lumme, steute Product Manager "Extreme": "The objective of these tests was to expose the switchgear to conditions so extreme that they went beyond all tests required by the approval bodies, allowing us to better understand any possible weak points."

These threshold tests have now been completed. The final IFAM report is not yet available, but the appearance of the switching devices after one year of exposure to saltwater and spray, as well as some initial tests at steute of their functional capacity, have revealed the following: in all the different series, the devices are saltwater-resistant and still completely functional 12 months on. Even the labels and the laser-inscribed lettering are still legible. The pre-treated and powder-coated housings, for example of the foot switches, presented in a very good condition, and the "inner workings", such as switching inserts, plungers and pedal axes, are also free of corrosion. This is testament to the high quality of both the surface coatings and the sealing.

steute will evaluate the IFAM test results in detail as soon as they are available, and will use them for further optimization of existing switchgear series, as well as the development of new "Extreme" devices. Rainer Lumme: "We now have the confirmation we needed that the plastics we use for our housings and actuators are unrestrictedly suited to Extreme requirements. We shall therefore intensify our efforts to replace metal with plastic – also in our more heavy-duty devices."

#.stuete #Marine @FraunhoferIFAM

Robust laser module.

The FLEXPOINT® laser module ILM12IP from Laser Components is specially designed for outdoor use. Its housing complies with protection class IP67. This means that even the finest dust particles cannot penetrate the housing.

Even a half an hour of submersion in water does not bother the module. This has been confirmed by DIN-EN 60529:2014-09 tests performed by the TÜV inspection board.

With its M12 external thread made of stainless steel, the ILM12IP can be screwed in and connected quickly and easily. This makes it particularly suitable for adjustments or the alignment of machines (e.g., when positioning a drill on a workpiece). The module is available with green (520 nm) and red (635 nm) dot, cross-hair, and line lasers. The focus can either be set to a fixed distance or to infinity.

@LCGermany #PAuto 

On the podium!

After more than 5,000 kilometers and 10 stages across Peruvian dunes, deserts and rocky terrain, the 41st edition of the world’s most difficult race has come to an end. But crossing the finish line of the Dakar rally is not a given and FPT Industrial again demonstrated, the durability, reliability and power of its engines.

FPT Industrial’s Cursor 13 engines equipped the four Petronas Team De Rooy IVECO trucks, which all finished the race inside the top 10. Gerard de Rooy finished third, giving the brand another podium. Federico Villagra completed the rally in fourth place, while Van Genugten and Van den Heuvel finished in seventh and tenth place respectively.

The Cursor 13 engines demonstrated their characteristic durability and reliability during all ten stages, but gave their best in stage six, when Gerard De Rooy was first by a margin of some 30 seconds over Federico Villagra, who arrived second in San Juan de Marcona. This is a real feat, as this stage was among the famous and treacherous Tanaka Dunes, composed of 75% sand, and which extend across 155 square kilometers between the Pacific Ocean and the Peruvian Andes in the central southern region of the country.

The FPT Industrial engine was conceived to deliver high performance and outstanding efficiency, all while respecting the environment, in industrial applications; it has also proven itself in racing. The IVECO vehicles’ Cursor 13 engines were specifically engineered for such a challenging rally. The customization was undertaken at the FPT Industrial Arbon Research & Development center. The 13-liter engine is renowned for its reliability in on-road long haul missions, as well as in agricultural applications, such as in large tractors and combine harvesters. The Cursor 13s’ power far exceeds 1,000 hp. FPT Industrial specialized technical staff supported the team for the entire duration of the rally. Moreover, a mechanical technician from Arbon travelled with the Petronas Team De Rooy IVECO during every rally stage to provide swift intervention when required.

FPT Industrial would like to congratulate the Petronas Team De Rooy IVECO, for their passion, courage and strength.

• See Photogallery here
• See also Tough Travel (9/1/2019).

@FPTIndustrial #Transport

Tough travel.

Not strictly instrumentation but if you love competition, fascinating landscapes and roaring tours..!

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. FPT Industrial is taking part in the annual, world-famous Dakar rally, and is a 2019 sponsor, equipping the four trucks of the Petronas Team De Rooy IVECO with its Cursor 13 engines.

The Dakar rally is one of the most extreme competitions in the world, but it is not for the fainthearted: it requires passion, technology and endurance, and the FPT Industrial Cursor 13 has all of these features. While the FPT Industrial engine was conceived to deliver high performance and top efficiency, all while respecting the environment, in industrial applications, it has also proven itself in racing. The IVECO vehicles’ Cursor 13 engines were especially engineered for such a challenging rally.

The customization was undertaken at the FPT Industrial Arbon Research & Development center. The 13-liter engine is renowned for its reliability in on-road long haul missions, as well as in agricultural applications, such as for large tractors and harvesters. The IVECO vehicles’ Cursor 13 engines were especially engineered for such a challenging rally and can reach a maximum power of up to 1,000 hp. The engines have proven their reliability, robustness and top performance by conquering the most challenging stages and terrain in past Dakar rallies. FPT Industrial specialized technical staff will support the team for the entire duration of the rally.

The 2019 Dakar rally marks the 41st running of this annual event, and this year will cross Peru for an epic adventure: 5,000 km, 10 stages (from January 6 to January 17), across dunes, sand and rocky terrain. It will start in Lima, the Peruvian capital city, and then move to Pisco, on the Pacific Ocean. Then the tour will bring the trucks to Arequipa, also known as the White City, at almost 2,300 meters above sea level and this terrain will be the toughest for the trucks. The most extreme stages need a powerful engine and the Cursor 13 responds optimally to high altitude, maintaining the same turbo speed and providing full control of this feature. The rally will finally end in Lima on January 17.

"Stay tuned on our social networks and follow the De Rooy team’s performance during the Dakar rally. If you love competition, fascinating landscapes and roaring tours, follow FPT Industrial and #FPTracing: you can even experience life on board and be part of the exciting Dakar experience through the stories from FPT Industrial special correspondents."

@FPTIndustrial #Transport