SICK has unveiled its new IO-Link Wireless Gateway, which brings greater freedom and flexibility to industrial operations. Without the need for expensive cabling, the solution reduces installation costs, provides real-time data streaming and supports advanced analytics for improved efficiency.
As the demand for wireless connectivity and data communication grows, SICK is meeting the industry's evolving needs for intelligent industrial communication and IIoT technology with a robust, easy-to-install wireless IO-Link solution that enables data to be collected and analysed from multiple sensors.
The IO-Link Wireless Gateway works in harmony with SICK sensors and actuators. It reduces installation time and downtime, while increasing flexibility and safety. For advanced analytics, predictive maintenance and greater operational efficiency, it features an intuitive design and enables real-time data streaming to enterprise and cloud platforms.
Simple retrofit solution
Ideal for applications where wired connections are impractical or impossible, SICK's IO-Link Wireless Gateway is the next evolution of the global, bi-directional, intelligent industrial communication standard IO-Link. It enables innovative new machine designs that weren't possible before and easily retrofits existing technology for unparalleled flexibility, future-proof automation and greater scalability.
Comprising the IO-Link Bridge, IO-Link Hub and IO-Link Master, the new suite of wireless IO-Link solutions is an easy way to 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 enabling multi-sensor connectivity via their four IO-Link ports. The IO-Link Master can support up to 16 sensors simultaneously, with the SICK Wireless IO-Link Gateway providing intelligent connectivity at distances of up to 20 m with a low latency of 5 ms.
Seamless integration for accurate, uninterrupted data acquisition
With its plug-and-play functionality, the SICK IO-Link Wireless Gateway eliminates the need for programming or complex wiring, making installation easy and hassle-free. Sensors can be easily configured remotely via the IO-Link Wireless Gateway, and the IO-Link Wireless network ensures uninterrupted data transmission and accurate data collection through dynamic frequency hopping and blacklisting. To further ensure data accuracy, localised power cabinets reduce interference, voltage drops and electrical noise.
The point-to-point wireless communication system adapts to any existing data infrastructure on the PLC, ensuring accurate data transmission. It provides access to various IIoT interfaces, such as REST API and MQTT, and multiple fieldbuses, including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and EtherCat, using the 'Connect X' platform.
The exceptional flexibility of the IO-Link Wireless Gateway is ideal for automation solutions where wired connections are impractical or not possible in a wide range of industries, with applications such as
- Helping food and beverage manufacturers meet stringent hygiene standards by eliminating the need for cabling, which can be a source of bacteria and cross-contamination.
- Providing fast, cost-effective scalability for conveyors and cross-belt sorters by supporting more sensors over longer distances, allowing for additional sortation stations and expansion without the need for costly hardware upgrades.
- Enable real-time device-to-device communication between devices such as AMRs, AGVs and forklifts with low latency and data integrity, ensuring cohesive co-ordination and high flexibility with no cabling to minimise downtime.
