Smart Proximity Sensors Improve Predictive Maintenance

Contact avoidance is essential for maximizing uptime: 70 percent of unexpected equipment downtime is caused by component failures, of which proximity sensors account for a large proportion. Omron Automation Americas (Hoffman Estates, IL) added over 2,500 new models of their E2E NEXT proximity sensor series that feature exceptionally long sensing distances and IoT functionality. These sensors help manufacturers reduce potential causes of unplanned downtime while benefiting from the sensors’ environmental resistance. Their enhanced sensing distance minimizes target contact during production and IoT capabilities improve predictive maintenance. The addition of IO-Link functionality enables the sensors to reduce recovery time by indicating the location and cause of failures. They can also detect warning signs of impending failures and notify users via the network. The combination of IoT capabilities, long sensing distance and oil-resistant sheathing reduces the risk of sudden equipment shutdowns by a factor of three.

These new E2E NEXT proximity sensors are:

• Stable. Their long sensing distance prevents unexpected equipment downtime caused by target contact, making the continued operations more stable.
• Flexible. The extra-long sensing distance makes it possible to solve size-limited applications with smaller form factor sensors.
• IoT-enabled. The DC 3-wire models use IO-Link to help identify the location and cause of failures in real-time.
• Oil-resistant. E2E sensors are resistant to cutting oil, which accounts for approximately 30 percent of unexpected component failures.
• Easy to use. The sensors’ user-friendly design makes it easy to confirm detection status and ensures that your facility can recover quickly without requiring advanced support.

Omron Automation Americas, 2895 Greenspoint Parkway, Suite 200, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169, 847-843-7900, automation.omron.com.