Online magazine for design and development

Here you will find everything that the designer needs for his design and the development engineer for his new development, from the draft to quality assurance in production, such as new products, their applications, new technologies or research results. Company reports as well as topics on technological and megatrends in all industrial sectors complete our range of industry news. Let's start with the news.

Company News

Ebm-Papst wants to sell industrial drive technology to Siemens
The Ebm-Papst Group has announced that it will sell its Industrial Drive Technology (IDT) division to Siemens AG. Both sides have signed a corresponding agreement.
Jumo's new Sensilo plant construction is progressing
Jumo is building a factory in the technology park for the production of temperature and pressure sensors with a production area of ​​around 13 m². At around 000 million euros, the new building is the largest investment in the company's history.
3DExperience Word 2024 in Dallas
At 3DExperience World 2024 in February in Dallas, Texas, Dassault Systèmes celebrated the event's 25th anniversary. The annual user meeting supports the global community in the development of future-proof products and processes.
Michael Koch GmbH moves into a new workshop
There is now more space available in Michael Koch's “Factory” for the assembly of customer- and machine-specific safe braking resistors. The new, modern hall was recently “taken by storm” by the employees.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI for profit-making
Elon Musk files a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of breach of contract because the company, which was originally designed as a nonprofit, is now operating for profit.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Industry news for your design and development from the specialist areas

communication technology

communication technology

World's first Omlox testing laboratory put into operation

The first Omlox testing laboratory in the world has been launched. The PI granted the Fraunhofer Institute Lemgo approval as a PI test laboratory for Omlox.

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switch cabinet

switch cabinet

On to the intelligent drive train for predictive maintenance

The Roba-brake-checker module or the torque-measuring shaft coupling from Mayr ensure intelligent safety in smart production.

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plastics

plastics

The first 100 Igus bikes hit the streets

The first 100 Igus Urban Bikes hit the streets and an in-house production facility with a capacity of 10.000 bicycles is set up in Cologne.

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Couplings

Couplings

Torque measuring shaft coupling

The smart steel multi-plate coupling Roba-drive-checker from Mayr can do more than just transmit torque and compensate for shaft misalignment.

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INDUSTRY SPECIALS

Industry news for your design and development from the branches

food technology

food technology

Lubrication and sealing-optimized linear guide

Schaeffler presents linear guides for food technology with optimized seals, wipers and long-term lubrication units.

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Mobile Machinery

Mobile Machinery

Flexible, customizable gateway for agricultural technology

IFM Electronic is presenting the Isobus Gateway at the Hannover Messe, which is designed for agricultural equipment and can be specifically adapted.

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Energy Technology

Energy Technology

All Electric Society – vision of the future of connectivity

At the Hannover Messe Preview, Harting gives an outlook on the Hannover Messe and draws the future picture of an “All Electric Society”.

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Inverter

Inverter

Certified servo controller with Profisafe interface

At Logimat, Wittenstein is presenting a safety-certified servo controller with a Profisafe interface and integrated safety card for AGVs.

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EXHIBITION SPECIALS

Industry fair news

Hannover Messe promotes energy for sustainable industry
As a networked industrial ecosystem, the exhibitors demonstrate how climate neutrality can be achieved through the use of electrification, digitalization and automation under the guiding theme of Energizing a sustainable Industry.
Control Fair 2024 | The industry is already looking forward to Stuttgart
Control 2024, the important international trade fair for quality assurance, will take place from April 23rd to 26th in Stuttgart. The trade fair places a particular focus on automation and digitalization.
SPS Nuremberg: Now in 16 halls!
The SPS – Smart Production Solutions from November 14th to 16.11th. 2023 will see significant growth in the trade fair compared to the previous year and is on the way to pre-Corona levels.

steute20417Explosion protection, functional safety and adverse environmental conditions such as moisture, cold and corrosive media are applications that require very special switching devices. Such switching devices are available in the Steute Extreme range, including the position switches "Ex 99", "Ex 97", the safety switches "Ex AZ 16" and the safety sensors "Ex RC SI M 30".



On offshore installations such as drilling rigs, the requirements of explosion protection must be taken into account. All electrical equipment is exposed to moisture. In many maritime oil fields there are permanently negative temperatures. In addition, there are areas and machines that have to be protected by fencing for reasons of occupational safety and where access to or access from safety switchgear must be monitored.

Looking at the overall market of safety switching devices, this is a real niche application. With the combination of explosion protection and frost and / or moisture one can even speak of the niche in the niche. Nevertheless, there is this need, which requires sophisticated developments of such safety switching devices. In the Extreme program of the manufacturer there are novelties for such applications.

Position switch for the extreme

One of these innovations is the Ex 99 series. The position switches corresponding to the dimensions of DIN EN 50041 were developed from the ground up for extreme areas of application and also for safety-related uses. They have been tested and approved in accordance with Atex and Iecex for use in gas Ex zones 1 and 2 and dust Ex zones 21 and 22. In addition, they are suitable for temperatures down to -60 ° C, which places high demands on the housing design and sealing in particular.


Steute wireless networkEnergy-efficient radio network for the Industry 4.0 factory


The housing of the position switches are therefore made of high-quality glass fiber reinforced plastic. This material ensures that even with an 7 Joule shock test at -60 ° C, the high degree of protection of the switching devices (IP 66) is maintained. The designers also paid great attention to the sealing. The seal of the housing cover is fully vulcanised. The sealing of the switch tappet takes place via a redundant sealing system, which consists of an external low-temperature sealing collar and an internal Teflon sealing ring.

As is customary with the manufacturer's position switches, a wide range of actuators is available, such as tappets, roller tappets, roller levers, parallel levers, rotary levers, adjustable rotary levers and feeler springs. As switching inserts, the user can also choose between different variants for functional safety applications. The standard dimensions create the conditions for the new Extreme switch series to be well integrated into the surrounding construction.

Position switches for gas Ex and dust Ex areas

steute10417The Ex 97 series, which is also new, has a very similar property profile. Their dimensions correspond to DIN EN 50047, they are suitable for gas Ex and dust Ex areas (zones 1 and 2 as well as 21 and 22) as well as for temperatures down to -60 ° C.

The sealing materials are approved by the manufacturers up to -95 ° C and the lubricants up to -75 ° C. Thus, there is a sufficient "safety distance" to the admission temperature of -60 ° C. This gives the user the certainty that the position switches work reliably under real extreme conditions. Of course, this also applies if they are used for functional safety tasks such as monitoring the position of protective doors and flaps under extreme conditions.

Safety switch in robust design

steute30417It is one of the manufacturer's principles to offer the user alternatives whenever possible. Therefore, for the "classic" application of safety switchgear under Ex conditions, in addition to the new Ex 97 and Ex 99 series, a "classic" switch type is also available: The safety switch with separate actuator Ex AZ 16 is now available in new versions.

This series is not suitable for as wide a temperature range as the position switches. But she is also suitable for extreme situations. In order to comply with the requirements of explosion protection, a separate terminal compartment with type of protection "Ex e" is provided for the cable connection. On request, the Ex AZ 16 is also supplied with a pre-fabricated cable. The user has the choice between versions with two and three contacts. New in the program is the switch insert variant with two NC contacts and one NO contact. The available versions also include movable actuators, which are used with narrow opening angles of the protective door.

Non-contact safety sensors

steute40417As an alternative to the electromechanical switching devices described so far, there are also Ex safety sensors Ex RC SI M 30 in a cylindrical metal housing. Due to their contactless operating principle, they can also be used in areas in which electromechanical devices reach their limits. They are perfectly sealed and have a very long service life even in very dusty environments. The innovations in the Extreme range also include a sensor in a plastic housing, which, like the new position switches, has a safety function for use in extreme temperatures down to -60 oC was developed.

This means that even in these very special niche areas for switchgear, the user can make the fundamental decision between electromechanical switchgear and sensor technology. The author Rainer Lumme is Product Manager Extreme, Steute Schaltgeräte GmbH & Co. KG, Löhne.

Picture above: For safety-related applications in hazardous areas and at low temperatures: the Ex 99 series


The author Rainer Lumme is Product Manager Business Unit Extreme, Steute Schaltgeräte GmbH + Co. KG, Löhne.