For conveyors that go round bends: Multiflex pulley

Our Multiflex 4R pulley enables emergency pull-wire switches to follow conveyors round bends. It has been developed especially for curved conveyors and non-linear hazardous areas. Whether for luggage conveyors or conveyors transporting stripped material out of tunnels: the Multiflex 4R pulley is flexible, not only in the directions it can take.

Highlights:

• Completely flexible head rotation for perfect wire guiding
• Minimal friction through 4 plastic rollers inside pulley cavity
• Simple and universal mounting

Compact, safe and versatile: our new Ex 97 command devices

Our innovative Ex command devices feature a compact design and a wide range of application options, ideal for integration in machine and plant enclosures within Ex zones 1 and 21.

Highlights:

• Standardised dimensions (EN 50047)
• Separate terminal compartment (ignition protection class Ex e)
• Installation diameter just 22.5 mm

These features facilitate simple integration and flexible cable connection directly inside the terminal compartment of the command device.

New wireless solution for belt alignment monitoring

"Heavy duty meets wireless" – our new, robust and wireless switching system combines our well-established, heavy-duty ZS 92 SR belt alignment switch with a separate RF I/O radio module, opening up a range of new options for rough environments.

Highlights:

• Reliable and efficient monitoring of conveyor belts
• 4-channel RF I/O radio module facilitates signal transmission of data from two belt alignment switches with advance warning and shutdown
• Wireless range of up to 400 metres – or even greater using repeaters

With flexible switching points for flush and non-flush mounting

Wireless inductive sensors with added flexibility

On the outside, nothing has changed. But the completely reworked RF IS FL wireless inductive sensors, which steute steute business division Controltec will be presenting at the SPS 2025, feature new high-utility functions for users in mechanical and plant engineering, as well as industrial manufacturing.

Two goals were at the heart of the re-design. Firstly, the cylindrical sensors in diameters M 8, M 12, M 18 and M 30 are now also suitable for flush mounting. To date, this was not possible because battery-powered wireless inductive sensors with a fixed switching point would detect the surrounding metallic material and switch accordingly. This unfortunately often ruled out their use in some applications – e.g. the detection of material handling in robot grippers, or the detection of workpieces in machine tools or assembly and handling units.

The steute engineers have managed to open up these additional application fields by developing their latest generation as FLexible sensors with digital autocalibration. The inductive sensors now no longer have a fixed switching point, but adjust their switching point automatically and dynamically to the situation in question. And this includes the distinction between flush and non-flush mounting. The sensors can even adjust to dynamic changes, such as increasing dirt levels. The sensors are thus always fit for use and only switch when required by the situation or the user.

The second goal – reduced power consumption – has also been achieved. Certain measures now considerably lengthen the battery lifetime in the universal radio modules, suitable for connection to up to four RF IS FL. Overall, the power requirement could be reduced by as much as 80%, compared to the previous model.

The steute business division Controltec has expanded its range of wireless foot switches to include a variant developed specifically for heavy-duty applications such as welding stations.

In such applications, wireless foot switches really make sense because the lifetime of cabled foot switches can be limited due to weld spatter damaging the cables. And during normal work processes, the cables can also be a tripping hazard.

Conventional foot switches are not suitable here, however, because their protective shields are not large enough for the reinforced safety shoes worn by many operators, who still need to be able to actuate the pedals freely.

Especially for heavy-duty applications similar to these, steute has now engineered a robust and extremely enlarged protective shield from powder-coated steel. The shield is fixed to the wireless foot switch and provides enough space to operate both pedals even when wearing reinforced safety shoes as protection against weld spatter. The protective shield also guards against any unintentional actuation of the pedals. A carrying handle facilitates flexible positioning of the foot switch.

An RF GFS 2 XL wireless transmitter has been integrated in the protective shield – well protected from mechanical impact and so that its signals can reliably reach the antenna of the corresponding receiver unit.

The sWave wireless technology used facilitates ranges of up to 45 metres indoors, even in adverse industrial conditions. The RF GFS 2 XL is one of the first switches to be equipped with this wireless technology – SW2.4LE-IND – in serial production.

This new wireless foot switch was originally developed as a customised project for a company producing welded structures. Having been successfully tried and tested in that application, it is now available within the steute standard range of wireless switching devices.

For conveyors that go round bends: Multiflex pulley

Our Multiflex 4R pulley enables emergency pull-wire switches to follow conveyors round bends. It has been developed especially for curved conveyors and non-linear hazardous areas. Whether for luggage conveyors or conveyors transporting stripped material out of tunnels: the Multiflex 4R pulley is flexible, not only in the directions it can take.

Highlights:

• Completely flexible head rotation for perfect wire guiding
• Minimal friction through 4 plastic rollers inside pulley cavity
• Simple and universal mounting

Compact, safe and versatile: our new Ex 97 command devices

Our innovative Ex command devices feature a compact design and a wide range of application options, ideal for integration in machine and plant enclosures within Ex zones 1 and 21.

Highlights:

• Standardised dimensions (EN 50047)
• Separate terminal compartment (ignition protection class Ex e)
• Installation diameter just 22.5 mm

These features facilitate simple integration and flexible cable connection directly inside the terminal compartment of the command device.

New wireless solution for belt alignment monitoring

"Heavy duty meets wireless" – our new, robust and wireless switching system combines our well-established, heavy-duty ZS 92 SR belt alignment switch with a separate RF I/O radio module, opening up a range of new options for rough environments.

Highlights:

• Reliable and efficient monitoring of conveyor belts
• 4-channel RF I/O radio module facilitates signal transmission of data from two belt alignment switches with advance warning and shutdown
• Wireless range of up to 400 metres – or even greater using repeaters