Product category:
Proximity Sensors
News Release from: Contrinex UK | Subject: 700 Series
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 October 2003
Low-cost sensors cost dear in the long
run
Managers, engineers and buyers in major companies within the British manufacturing industry are wasting thousands of pounds a year by buying low-cost industrial sensors.
"Managers, engineers and buyers in major companies within the British manufacturing industry are wasting thousands of pounds a year by buying low-cost industrial sensors" So says Martyn Wheatley, Managing Director of Contrinex UK, the UK subsidiary of the leading Swiss proximity sensor company
Sensors fitted to manufacturing equipment to detect position and movement of material and parts are an important and integral part of manufacturing process machinery.
The front faces of conventional sensors are normally made of plastic and are just not tough enough for many environments, even when covered with a protective coating.
The detecting efficiency of sensors soon becomes impaired by collision and abrasion damage and weld spatter that can easily burn through the sensor face.
In 1999, Contrinex introduced a new range of proximity sensors, known as the Contrinex 700 Series.
These use a new, patented, technology known as Condet that provides characteristics far superior to those of contemporary inductive proximity switches.
With three times the sensing distance of conventional products, there can be greater clearance between the sensor and the target, thus greatly reducing the chance of accidental collision damage.
In addition, the one-piece stainless-steel housing brings new levels of ruggedness and reliability to the industry.
The stainless-steel housing is completely sealed against fluids, and the sensor face is impervious to all liquids and gases that do not corrode stainless steel.
There is no danger from weld spatter, and it will withstand the severest impacts - even on the sensing face.
Wheatley adds: "The worldwide growth in sales of this new sensor is truly remarkable, although the UK seems to be lagging behind.
Although it can costs three times as much as conventional, low-cost products, the reduction in replacement, maintenance and downtime costs results in huge overall savings".
One major European car manufacturer used to replace 6000 old-type sensors every year.
Over the past two years, that company has replaced those vulnerable devices with 1500 S700 type sensors, none of which has failed to date.
The replacement-cost savings alone will refund the extra cost of the new sensors; but in addition there have been huge savings from the reduction in stoppages and production line downtime.
With downtime costs that can run to many thousands of pounds a minute these savings are a truly significant financial benefit to this customer.
It is hardly surprising that the managers of this plant, one of the largest of its type in Europe, have made the S700 mandatory on all of their plants.
"Basic component costs are obviously an important part of the purchasing cycle, but only a part.
Occasionally a new product comes along that changes the rationale.
The Contrinex S700 stainless-steel sensor is such a product, and its success in mainland Europe, the USA and Japan represents the recognition of many major companies that, although more expensive, they provide the lowest cost solution for manufacturers".
• Contrinex UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
