Adding an edge to PPMA Show

Sensor specialist ifm electronics will be showcasing the edgeGateway - a reliable connection between sensors and IT - at this year’s PPMA Show (28-30 September, NEC, Birmingham).

Visitors to ifm’s stand A74 will be able to see the edgeGateway technology in action,d as well as automation solutions for making food safely, error-proofing the production process and sending data analytics securely to the cloud.  

edgeGateway provides an easy and convenient way to send sensor data to the cloud, says the company. "The system does this by first translating the sensor data into readable information and then sends it to the IT infrastructure. It’s easy to integrate into your existing systems, as it supports Miscrosoft Azure, Google, AWS and Cumulocity."

Safe mounting in harsh environments

Designed with ease of use in mind, edgeGateway benefits from intuitive on-device set-up, thanks to its 12-inch’ multitouch display. Alternatively, users can opt for quick set-up via the web front-end. "Robust and reliable, edgeGateway enables safe mounting even in harsh environments, with high ingress protection to IP 65 and can withstand extended temperature ranges," adds ifm electronics.

Visitors to the PPMA show will also be able to see ifm's specially developed sensing solutions for safer food processing – particularly hygiene and temperature. For use in CIP (cleaning-in-place) applications, the LDL201 conductivity sensors have a 77 mm long sensing tip ,which makes them versatile and easy to install in a variety of hygienic process connections. "In addition, the tip features solid PEEK construction, which virtually eliminates the risk of breakage, even if the sensor is subjected to high levels of stress."

Self-checking temperature sensors

For processes where accurate temperature control is essential and deviations could have costly implications, TCC self-checking temperature sensors provide "an invaluable added level of assurance." The sensor continually monitors its own performance and, if an internal failure occurs or excessive drift is detected in measurement accuracy, it gives a visual warning and sends an alert message to the plant control system, so that immediate action can then be taken to minimise the impact of the problem.

The ifm team will be on hand at PPMA - from 28-30 September, NEC, Birmingham - to discuss how specially developed food application sensors, such as position sensors, process sensors, control systems and connection technology, can support strict hygiene requirements and achieve maximum uptime.