The Industry 4.0 solution is said to reduce installation costs, deliver real-time data streaming, and support advanced analytics for improved efficiency without the need for expensive cabling.
Working with Sick’s sensors and actuators, the IO-Link Wireless Gateway is expected to reduce installation and cut downtime while enhancing flexibility and safety. It is also claimed to enable real-time data streaming to enterprise and cloud platforms for advanced analytics, predictive maintenance and greater operational efficiency.
Ideally suited to applications where wired connections are impractical or impossible, Sick’s IO-Link Wireless Gateway is the next evolution of the IO-Link global, bi-directional, smart, industrial communication standard. It is said to enable new machine designs that were not previously possible and is also simple to retrofit to existing technology.
Comprising the IO-Link Bridge, IO-Link Hub and the IO-Link Master, the new suite of wireless IO-Link solutions available from Sick can make sensors and actuators wireless. Both the Bridge and the Hub can be used to feed data back to the master, with the IO-Link Hubs facilitating multi-sensor connectivity through their four IO-Link ports. The IO-Link Master can support up to 16 sensors at once, with the Sick Wireless IO-Link Gateway delivering smart connectivity at a distance of up to 20 m, with low latency of 5 ms.
According to Sick, the IO-Link Wireless Gateway offers simple installation with its ‘plug-and-play’ functionality, eliminating the need for programming or complex wiring. Sensors can be configured remotely via the IO-Link Wireless Gateway and the IO-Link Wireless network, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission and accurate data collection through dynamic frequency hopping and blacklisting. Localized power cabinets reduce interference, voltage drops, and electrical noise to further safeguard data accuracy.
The point-to-point wireless communication system adapts to any existing data infrastructure on the PLC while ensuring accurate data transmission. Using the ‘Connect X’ platform, it provides access to various Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) interfaces, such as REST API and MQTT, as well as multiple fieldbuses, including Profinet, EtherNet/IP, and EtherCat.
The flexibility offered by the Sick IO-Link Wireless Gateway is ideal for automation solutions where wired connections are impractical or unfeasible across a range of industry sectors, with applications, including:
Helping food & beverage manufacturers uphold strict hygiene standards by eliminating cabling, which can harbour bacteria and cause cross-contamination Providing cost-effective scalability to conveyors & cross belt sorters by supporting more sensors over longer distances, enabling additional sorting stations and extensions without costly hardware upgrades Enabling real-time device-to-device communication among devices like AMRs, AGVs, and forklifts with low latency and data integrity, ensuring cohesive coordination and high flexibility with no cabling to minimise downtimeCharlie Walker, Sick UK data solutions consultant, said: “Now more than ever, wireless industrial communication systems, particularly IO-Link Wireless, are pivotal in realising smart factories. This technology provides all the benefits of Sick sensor intelligence with cable-free, simplified machine designs that enhance functionality and scalability. The Sick IO-Link Wireless Gateway also delivers versatility and mobility through remote control and configuration.
“IO-Link Wireless Gateways are part of fostering an advanced, adaptive manufacturing industry, bringing operations into the Industry 4.0 era and achieving unprecedented operational performance.”